Community Engagement Assistant

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.

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)DPHE funded Solid Waste Management and WASH improvement initiative being implemented by UNDP Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar. The host agency, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is mandated to support countries in achieving sustainable development through capacity building, governance strengthening, climate resilience, and community-focused development interventions.

The project aims to enhance safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) services and strengthen solid waste management systems in underserved communities of Bahar Chara Union under Teknaf Upazila. Key stakeholders include UNDP, ADB, local government institutions (Union Parishad and Upazila administration), implementing partners, and community groups. The intervention focuses on improving WASH infrastructure, promoting hygiene behaviour change, MRF and developing environmentally sustainable waste management facilities. The WASH Engineer will support project planning, field monitoring, reporting, and coordination with stakeholders to ensure timely and effective implementation of project activities.

UNDP has received funding to implement a project titled “Solid Waste Management and Healthcare Support Project in Rohingya Camps and Host Communities, Cox’s Bazar” The project is a response to the host communities in Bangladesh and the resulting pressing need for SWM in the host communities at Bahar Chara Union under Teknaf Upazila, Cox’s Bazar.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Solid Waste & Catchment Management Analyst, the Community Engagement Assistant will have the following scope of work:

• Support the Project Team by coordinating and facilitating consultations and dialogues with local government institutions (Union Parishads, Municipalities), WATSAN committees, scrap dealers, school committees, implementing partners, and beneficiaries in Teknaf to strengthen solid waste management activities.

• Maintain regular communication and advocacy with Union and Municipal authorities, community groups, and other local stakeholders to promote waste segregation at source, recycling initiatives, composting activities, and sustainable waste practices. Identify community engagement needs in SWM activities and provide technical inputs to address them in coordination with the project management team.

• Assist in the planning and budgeting of field-level solid waste management activities aligned with the project’s annual workplan and outputs.

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of workshops, trainings, cleaning campaigns, awareness-raising activities, and other outreach events for community groups, households, local market actors, and scrap dealers on the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Recover) and sustainable solid waste management.

• Provide technical support in developing outreach content such as awareness-raising materials, success stories, posters, case studies, and communication products promoting sustainable waste management practices.

• Assist the stakeholders in documenting and managing issues, challenges, risks and grievances related to community mobilization and report to the project management team, while offering actionable solutions based on field-level monitoring insights.

• Support the project team in preparing beneficiary and stakeholder databases, event reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, and assisting in the documentation of project activities as required.

• Support organizing events for UNDP and donor visits and high-level field missions in Teknaf, including logistical arrangements and coordination with local authorities and communities.

• Assist consultants in communication with local representatives, organizing meetings, and facilitating field data collection in support of project activities.

• Assist in monitoring the performance/engagement of scrap dealers’ associations, WATSAN committees, and other local stakeholders supported by the project, ensuring accountability, effective use of resources, and sustainability of project benefits.

• Assist the project team in gathering and analysing field-level data to assess the effectiveness of solid waste management initiatives and contribute to reporting, learning, and future project design.

• Perform other related duties within the functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Solid Waste Management Support Project.