Project Support Officer

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.

Bangladesh is navigating a period of political transition and has prioritized reforms that strengthen independent institutions, restore public confidence and safeguard fundamental rights. Within this context, forthcoming national elections are pivotal to stability, legitimacy and social cohesion. The Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) has committed to neutrality, professionalism and integrity in electoral management and has requested United Nations support to enhance preparedness, voter engagement and information integrity while ensuring accessibility for all voters.

UNDP’s Country Programme (2022–2026) places people‑centred, inclusive and accountable governance at its core. In line with the UNDP Strategic Plan and the United Nations’ commitment to “Leave No One Behind,” UNDP supports efforts that expand access to information and participation, strengthen rule‑of‑law‑based institutions and promote gender equality and inclusion—particularly for women, youth, first‑time voters and persons with disabilities. UNDP’s work in Bangladesh therefore focuses on helping national partners deliver responsive, transparent services and build resilience against risks that can erode public trust.
The BALLOT project (Building Accountable, Legitimate and Inclusive Elections) is UNDP’s programmatic response to the Election Commission’s request. Designed in two phases, it couples immediate election support with long‑term institutionalization. During Phase I (January 2025–June 2026), the project supports the Commission and the Electoral Training Institute to strengthen institutional, technical and operational capacities for election planning, staff training, field operations and election‑day readiness; to foster an enabling environment through civic and voter education, inclusive outreach and responsible information practices; and to convene multi‑stakeholder dialogue platforms that encourage peaceful participation and confidence‑building. Phase II (July 2026–December 2027) consolidates these gains by embedding standard operating procedures and continuous training, sustaining public engagement and supporting reforms that make future electoral cycles more credible, inclusive and resilient.

Within this broader vision, UNDP is seeking young talent with a passion for public service and inclusion to contribute to the BALLOT project’s delivery. The incumbent will support practical, results‑oriented work—coordinating trainings, workshops and dialogues; assisting stakeholder engagement and outreach; maintaining simple operational trackers and orderly documentation; and helping the team capture lessons that feed into evidence‑based decision‑making. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated early‑career professional to contribute to UNDP’s governance portfolio while developing hands‑on skills in operations, events management and inclusive public engagement.

The incumbent position will work under the supervision of Chief Technical Advisor of the BALLOT Project to perform the following activities:

a) Event and logistics Planning and Coordination:

• Plan and coordinate end to end logistics for trainings, workshops, seminars and dialogue meetings, including venue arrangements, basic contracting and liaison with service providers, participant communication and travel coordination, preparation of materials, accessibility measures and on-site support

b) Stakeholder outreach and Network Management:

• Support invitations, confirmations and follow up communication with election stakeholders including civil society organizations, observer groups, media and representatives of women, youth and persons with disabilities.

• Assist in networking and coordination with partner agencies and organizations engaged in fostering inclusion of women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.

c) Project implementation:

• Assist in preparing action plans, agendas, session plans and concept notes required for the implementation of planned activities.

• Extend relevant support in the organization of learning sessions, group discussions and dialogue events; assist with travel and administrative arrangements as needed.

• Assist in monitoring progress against workplans and in documenting lessons learned.

d) Communications and Knowledge Management:

• Support communication with relevant stakeholders and networks in relation to planned activities and outreach.

• Assist the voter and civic education work with logistics for approved campaigns and com-munity sessions; compile event briefs, photo captions and consent forms; organize shared folders and archives.

In addition to the specified tasks, the incumbent position would perform other need-based tasks assigned by the supervisor.