Town Coordinator (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 Town Coordinator will be part of UNDP Bangladesh’s Democratic Governance and Institutional Programming (DGIP) portfolio and will work under the Government of Bangladesh–funded DSA activities of the Livelihoods Support for Urban Poor Communities (LIUPCP) initiative. Based in Dhaka, the Town Manager will work in selected towns and cities across Bangladesh. He will report to the Project Analyst (City Liaison) and will be responsible for leading the field-level implementation of project activities.

The project aim to improve the living conditions and resilience of the urban poor through a combined approach: (i) housing and settlement improvement (ii) Socio-economic improvement. The Town Manager is critical for ensuring effective delivery at the city level, fostering partnerships with Local Government Institutions (LGIs), and strengthening community participation.

The Town Coordinator will provide leadership and coordination at the city/town level, ensuring effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities. The role will support participatory planning with communities, mobilize LGIs, manage staff and resources, and ensure that project activities—such as housing, livelihoods, resilience, and community empowerment—are delivered effectively.

Challenges include navigating complex urban governance systems, limited LGI capacity, informal settlements with insecure tenure, and ensuring inclusive participation of women and marginalized groups. Addressing climate risks and poverty in rapidly urbanizing towns requires adaptive management, innovation, and strong collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead in overall programme planning, implementation and management of the project at City Corporation/Municipality Level 

• Frequent communication  cities  and communities and facilitate all programmatic, administrative, and financial issues for timely delivery. 
• Coordinate with the project analyst (City Liasion)Lead the implementation of  targeted activities at Town level and for delivery.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of results based work plans and result frameworks as endorsed by the project management team.
• Prepare training plans with budgets for each training courses and send to PHQ for approval and subsequent execution.
• Responsible for ensuring that community action plans are prepared and regularly reviewed to update, trace changes in well-being of poor and extreme poor people living condition after receiving support from project.
• Provide timely decisions at all levels and solving problems on time for proper implementation of project. 
• Timely identify challenges and risks that may affect project delivery and facilitate required strategies/actions at all level to overcome the challenges and make project smooth in operation. 

Finance and Administration 

• Ensure that project financial management are implemented in compliance with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the project at town/city level.
• Ensure proper utilization of all financial inputs for approved activities are disbursed to the town/city.
• Supervise proper accounting of the project resources and reporting. 
• Lead effective and efficient management of the staffs and office environment 
• Support for government permission and security for large gathering, day observation and foreign delegate’s visits and maintain coordination with High level government officials.
• Ensure that the project office has efficient office management procedures, up to date record keeping and that it is well maintained. 
• Ensure proper use and maintenance of all project vehicles/motor cycles and other equipment in the town/city.

Knowledge Management and Reporting 

• Lead the process of knowledge captures of town know-how, best practices in the subject area and production of knowledge-based products.
• Coordination of all activities with local government officials at City office and ensure their engagement in project planning and implementation.
• Document lessons learnt on field level problems solving matters and advocacy issues.
• Organize monthly town staff coordination meeting to review progress of target and plan for next months.
• Ensure that monthly meeting conducted to review progress, target and next month planning; facilitate coordination meeting between project staffs and community volunteers.
• Promote project success and visibility in the national and local level print and electronic media, ensure proper documentation of successful events which is published or broadcasted in the media.

Linkage, Partnership and Policy Support 

• Conduct collaborative & Coordination meeting with like-minded organizations for ensuring better support to the programme beneficiaries and avoid duplication of work & maximize resources.
• Ensure that local partners have received approved fund, technical and management support on time to implement partnership action plans. 
• Identify exceptional needs of community and develop/recommend necessary programme interventions to address those needs either direct delivery or partnerships with agencies having comparative strengths. 
• Liaise with the city level relevant government line agencies, private sector, training institutions, financial institutions and local commercial and industrial organizations to pro-actively promote economic opportunities for members of the urban poor communities through linkage/partnerships.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting 

• Undertake necessary field visits to monitor programme progress and performance, identify necessary actions/issues for programme delivery, provide technical advice and support to field staff, community leaders, and partners and policy advice to PHQ to make programme more successful and sustainable.
• Ensure that programme operation is being monitored by community leaders, project staff and City Corporation staffs.
• Develop reporting tools for the town staffs and community facilitators and ensure its implementation, reporting and analysis to monitor routine project progress.
• Monitoring implementation work plan and budget utilization and preparation of monthly progress reports.
• Responsible for documentation of  city level project activities

Capacity Building 

• Develop city training Gantt. Chart following training plan, budget and concept note. 
• Organize and manage all training  for elected representatives, government counterparts and community leaders, including selection of participants at city.
• Ensure high standards in the provision of technical and advisory inputs, organization of workshops, seminars, training and day observation and conference.
• Maintain inventory of project beneficiaries who receive trainings for further follow up support to convert skills and knowledge into practices and actions.
• Facilitate workshops, seminars and training for the key stakeholders, programme participants and project staffs Develop and implement other interventions to ensure capacity building of the target groups and partners. 

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

Institutional Arrangement

The Town Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of Project Analyst(City Liaison). 

The position will:

• Work with City Corporations/Pourashavas (LGIs) for implementation, governance, and resource mobilization.
• Coordinate with Community Development Committees (CDCs) for participatory planning and beneficiary engagement.
• Maintain close linkages with the team.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from any reputed educational institution, in Urban Development, Social Sciences or International Development or related discipline is required. Or, First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in building partnerships with organizations/agencies.

Required Skills:

• Prior experience in building and managing relations and  partnerships with Local Government institutions/organizations/agencies, as well as  diverse range of stakeholders.
• Experience in financial control procedures, budget and monitor cost is required.

Desired Skils:

• Willingness to travel project towns.
• Practical experience in negotiating and setting up contracts with government and  private sector entities.
• Sound knowledge and practical experience with policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks governing municipal systems in Bangladesh.
• Experience working in climate change resilience and disaster management in urban development would be an asset.
• Working experience in INGO/ International donor organizations will be preferred.
• Significant experience of community based development projects preferably in urban context.
• Experience in implementing or supporting gender-responsive programming is preferred. 
• Experience in strategic and operational planning and implementation of activities.
• Experience in report writing, making presentations and use of computers.
• Experience in riding motor cycle with having valid driving licence.
• Experience in financial control procedures, budget and monitor cost is needed.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla. 

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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