Project Expert (Market System Development)

UNDP's mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with Bangladesh ever since its birth and through its remarkable journey from a war-ravaged economy to a middle-income country. It remains a catalyst in Bangladesh’s journey from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. UNDP assists in building institutions and helps strengthen institutional capacities through people-centric, pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable policy making and development governance.

The UNDP Circularity Portfolio in Bangladesh is driving transformative change in plastic waste management through two key initiatives: the TCCF Plastics Circularity Project and the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP). Funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the TCCF project promotes sustainable plastic waste management by establishing Circularity Hubs, engaging informal sector workers, supporting CMSMEs, and fostering gender-inclusive solutions to reduce environmental pollution. Complementing this effort, the NPAP supported by the World Economic Forum serves as a multi-stakeholder national platform to develop and implement a roadmap for transitioning to a circular plastics economy. Together, these projects advance Bangladesh’s commitment to reduce plastic leakage into nature, improve resource efficiency, and align with global sustainability goals through inclusive, data-driven, and locally grounded interventions.  

The TCCF Plastics Circularity Project aims to tackle plastic waste challenges across nine Asian countries, including Bangladesh, by promoting sustainable waste management and transitioning toward a circular economy. The project supports improved plastic collection, recycling, and reduced environmental leakage, ultimately contributing to public health, environmental protection, and inclusive green growth. 

The Bangladesh National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) is a multistakeholder platform that gathers government, academia, researchers, experts, industry, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil organizations in the efforts to resolve plastic pollution. NPAP serves as a catalyst to accelerate the development of waste management solutions that are based on circularity, maintaining the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation. 

Under the supervision of Project Manager, the Market System Development Expert will provide technical leadership and strategic guidance to support the development and strengthening of plastic waste market systems within the Circularity Portfolio. The expert will work closely with project teams, local government bodies, private sector actors, informal sector stakeholders, and development partners to promote inclusive, resilient, and sustainable market linkages for circular economy initiatives across the targeted cities.

Key Functions:

A. Market System Analysis and Strategy Development :

• Conduct comprehensive market system assessments focusing on plastic waste value chains, including informal and formal actors, business models, and enabling environment factors.
• Identify market constraints, opportunities, and leverage points for improving plastic waste recycling, collection, sorting, and reprocessing.
• Develop actionable market system development strategies aligned with circular economy principles and project goals.

B. Business Model Development and Support :

• Facilitate the design and refinement of inclusive business models for CMSMEs and other actors engaged in plastic waste management and recycling.
• Support market linkage between waste collectors, recyclers, private sector companies, and financial service providers.
• Provide technical support and capacity building to strengthen the sustainability and scalability of business operations within the plastic circular ecosystem.

C. Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement :

• Collaborate with industry associations, government agencies, informal sector groups, and development organizations to foster coordinated efforts in plastic circularity.
• Promote multi-stakeholder platforms and public-private partnerships to enhance market integration and resource mobilization.
• Assist in organizing workshops, policy dialogues, and knowledge exchange forums on market system development and plastic circularity.

D. Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Management :

• Support the development of monitoring frameworks to track market system changes and measure the impact of interventions.
• Prepare regular technical reports, market analyses, and case studies to document lessons learned and good practices.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing within project teams and with external partners to support adaptive management and continuous improvement.

E. Other Duties :

• Provide input and technical advice for project proposals, resource mobilization, and scaling strategies related to market development.
• Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Project Manager or UNDP ECCR Cluster Lead to ensure successful implementation of the project.