Project Associate- Communications (Open to all applicants)

Background

With a total gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 430 billion, Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in South Asia. Between 2000 and 2019, Bangladesh’s economy registered high GDP growth, averaging around 6% per annum. During this period, there were several notable improvements across different socioeconomic indicators, putting the country on track for a formal graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026. Bangladesh’s score on the human development index (HDI) increased from 0.49 in 2000 to 0.68, placing it among countries categorized as medium human development. The national poverty rate fell from over 48% in 2000 to less than 19% in 2022. 

Despite the progress, Bangladesh faces several development challenges, and with the current trend, the country is unlikely to meet several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Even before the political crisis in 2024, Bangladesh was grappling with double-digit inflation. According to the latest estimate, GDP is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025, much slower than the GDP growth in the past. Without an uptick in private investment, the economy cannot diversify, a necessary condition for creating decent jobs. With low social spending and weak capacities, the government is constrained from providing quality services to the people. Bangladesh is also one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and is prone to natural hazards, including climate-induced disasters.   

As the UN’s development agency, UNDP has been in Bangladesh since 1972, promoting democratic governance, climate adaptation, environmental protection and inclusive growth and, helping the country to achieve equitable and sustainable development. UNDP has been a close partner of Bangladesh in co-designing policy solutions, building national capacities, and promoting innovations to help meet its developmental aspirations.   

The Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT) Project aims to bring transformative changes through four thematic areas. These changes will improve the ability of local people to cope with environmental challenges, enhance development, and strengthen governance structures that directly affect their lives and livelihoods. The project aligns with the Government of Bangladesh’s (GoB) long-term plans outlined in the SDGs and national development plans. It focuses on empowering local communities to access better, inclusive economic opportunities, resilient livelihoods, and essential ecosystem services. The project also aims to improve local people’s capacity to manage their environment, ecosystems, habitats, and biodiversity. A key part of the project involves actively engaging women, girls, marginalized groups, and youth in sustainable livelihoods, small businesses, and ecosystem conservation efforts. The project sustains ecosystems, protects biodiversity, and promotes resilient development by encouraging skills and entrepreneurship suited to the hill environment and nature. Increased civic participation and improved interactions between communities and institutions contribute to the creation of responsive, participatory, and inclusive governance. This improves socio-economic conditions and natural resource management, increases awareness about conservation, and broadens participatory decision-making processes to include more people.

The project also strengthens the relationship between public services and local communities by enhancing the capacity of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) institutions and leaders to effectively address local priorities. It contributes to a stronger and more reliable governance framework by ensuring accountability and legitimacy in participatory management and biodiversity conservation. Additionally, the ERRD-CHT Project supports the implementation of the CHT Peace Accord, reinforcing national consensus and aligning with the goals outlined in the various GoB development plans and priorities.

The main objective of the ERRD-CHT project is to “enhance climate-adaptive livelihoods, civic engagement, and the empowerment of women, girls, and youth through gender-responsive institutions and resilient ecosystems for inclusive prosperity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts,” which will be achieved through the following four outputs:

Outputs:

Output 1: Improved ecosystems and watershed management through the development of climate-resilient communities and institutions.

Output 2: Enhanced civic participation and community stability through CHT institutions.

Output 3: Empowered women and girls through inclusive education, GBV prevention, and enhanced livelihood skills.

Output 4: Strengthened youth capacities through skill-building and employment opportunities.

The project will be implemented in all 121 unions of 26 upazilas in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban. In the CHT, nearly 100,000 rural and urban households, comprising 450,000 beneficiaries (70% tribal and 30% Bengali), will directly benefit from the project. Of these, 20% are youth and 1% are persons with disabilities. It will include the extreme urban and rural poor and vulnerable groups, including women and youth.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Project communication strategy design

• Ensure communication plans for the project are in place to adequately and positively communicate implementation highlights and success stories.
• Support for the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications strategies.
• Write stories and articles for the project.
• Develop content for print and social media following corporate guidelines. 

      2. Partnership for communication management

• Maintain close collaboration with organizational larger communications team and exchange information regularly  and Liaise with media to publish and broadcast project related materials. 
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, partners and UNDP personnel to ensure that the project’s outcomes are communicated in an effective and timely manner to support strategic positioning of the project’s actions in the country.
• Work with vendor in managing event and other activities.
• Develop partnerships with various individuals, groups and organizations, whose support is essential to the achievement of communication objectives

      3. Assist Communications unit in knowledge management and dissemination

• Be the communications focal point of the project in generating knowledge products, archiving and disseminating.
• Create and maintain the photo archive for the project.
• Draft and provide input to organizational weekly and monthly Bulletin.

      4. Visibility and corporate identity management

• Ensure that all public materials—whether printed or digital, including content shared on social media and online platforms—fully comply with the branding, visibility, and communication guidelines of the organization, the donor, and the National Partner.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Planning, Monitoring and Reporting Analyst, and the Head of Communications, the Project Associate- Communications supports the implementation of the communications and advocacy activities related to project implementation. The Project Associate - Communications promotes a client-oriented approach in UNDP.

The Project Associate- Communications works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations and project staff of the ERRD-CHT project and Country Office, as required. 

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education is required. 
• University degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in Mass Communication, Journalism, English, Development Studies, and or any other relevant subject will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in communications, public relations and or  media communications.  

Required SKills:

• Proven Experience in  strategic communication.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in developing communication strategies and planning along with the ability to articulate comprehensive proposals.
• Experience in overseeing and managing the production of written and visual/audio content in a relevant field, including digital and social media. 
• Experience in organizing the social media campaigns or similar;
• Basic knowledge of the Adobe software packages, including Adobe in Design, Adobe Premier, Adobe Illustrator (CorelDraw), Adobe Photoshop, etc.. 
• Experience in stakeholder management, presence, and interpersonal skills.
• Basic knowledge and prior expereince in graphic design;
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems;

Language:

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
• Working knowledge in any of the CHT languages or Chittagonian dialect will be added advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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