Project Associate (Gender)

Background

Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in integrating women into governance, yet persistent barriers remain in achieving full gender equality in decision-making. This journey aligns closely with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls. While Bangladesh has set a strong precedent for women’s participation in governance, achieving true gender parity requires continued commitment, institutional reforms, and cultural shifts. By breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive leadership environment, the country can accelerate its path toward fulfilling SDG 5, ensuring that women play an equal and decisive role in shaping the nation’s future.

Through its Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) initiative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh aims to develop effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels to promote peaceful, just and inclusive societies for the country’s sustainable development. SIPS aims to support the country in achieving SDG 16 by:

• Strengthening public institutions that can contribute to fulfilling national and international commitments and provide better service delivery.
• Creating a more enabling policy environment that embeds the SDGs’ core principle of “leave no one behind”. 
• Promoting new capabilities and leveraging technology and innovation for more effective, inclusive governance and public service delivery.

The project is designed around three (3) outputs:

• Output 1: Capacities of public institutions are strengthened to deliver on SDG 16 and SDG 5. 
• Output 2: Institutions of public oversight are more people-centric and effectively fulfil their mandates.
• Output 3: Enabling environment is strengthened to sustain SDG results and integrate SDGs into routine GoB operations and partnerships.

UNDP is working with the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU), the Office of the Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs), Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat (BPS), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to enhance inclusive governance, gender-responsive policies, data systems, legislative oversight, and human rights protection, to build accountable, inclusive institutions and advance gender equality, contributing effectively to the achievement of SDG 16 and SDG 5.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate – Gender will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, contribute for the issues related to gender equality, women empowerment, and gender sensitive results management. 

The Project Associate - Gender will provide dedicated support to the SIPS project by integrating a gender-sensitive approach across planning, design and implementation of all project activities. His/her responsibilities will include:

Support to Gender Mainstreaming and Technical guidance 

• Integrate gender-responsive lens into all project activities and outputs, including those involving GIU, BBS, NHRC, and the Parliament Secretariat.
• Conduct gender analyses and assessments to inform project interventions, policy briefs, institutional reforms, and citizen engagement tools.
• Provide technical inputs to ensure gender-sensitive approaches in project design and implementation.
• Promote gender-responsive workplace practices in line with UNDP’s Gender Equality Strategy (2023-2026), Gender Action Plan, and PSEAH policies.
• Plan and track progress against the Gender Action Plan and provide recommendations for advancing gender mainstreaming goals.
• Act as project focal and promote project’s gender equality efforts align with and contribute to the broader CO gender equality objectives and strategic priorities.

Support to Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement

• Support to design and conduct trainings for internal and external stakeholders on gender equality, PSEAH, and related areas.
• Support capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening gender mainstreaming in partner institutions and project stakeholders.
• Assist in the design, organization, and delivery of gender-sensitive consultations, multi-stakeholder dialogues, and policy events, including those with LNOB groups, HRDs, CSOs, and Parliamentary stakeholders.
• Support to build partnerships, mobilize resources, and advocate for gender equality within the scope of the project’s institutional and policy reform agenda.
• Provide technical inputs to ensure gender-sensitive approaches in the National Governance Assessment Framework (NGAF) and the citizen surveys.

Advocacy, Communication, and Knowledge Sharing

• Design and implement advocacy initiatives and campaigns to promote gender equality and raise awareness on gender issues.
• Contribute to the development of communication and advocacy materials that highlight the gender dimensions of SIPS interventions.
• Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices in gender mainstreaming for internal and external dissemination.
• Support initiatives to increase the visibility of the project, especially regarding its impact on underserved and marginalized communities.

Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Administration

• Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of gender-related activities across the project’s work streams.
• Track and monitor gender-related indicators in the project’s Results Framework and contribute to Result-Based Reporting (RBR) by collecting relevant data and insights.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for gender-related workshops, meetings, trainings, and field visits.
• Prepare ToRs, concept notes, and reports as needed for gender-focused activities
  The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

General (across the functions)    

• Event planning and execution. Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.

Business Development    

• Human-centered Design. Ability to develop solutions to problems involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.  Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices.

Digital     

• Innovation capacity building. Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem solving approaches to an organisation. Ability to develop, manage and evaluate a learning curriculum that raises awareness, builds 
  confidence, strengthens innovation capabilities around a certain method, tool or technique; or helps develop an innovation mindset. Ability to create the authorising environment (mandate, incentives) to embed and spread new ways of working. In-depth knowledge of one or more innovation methods, broad knowledge of innovation processes and innovation management. Ability to align a learning and development strategy with broader innovation strategy.

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Gender. Gender and Crisis. Gender Equality and Institutional Transformation Monitoring and Evaluation on Gender Equality and Women’s 
  Empowerment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required.
• University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Gender studies, Development studies, Social Science or a closely related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement. 

Experience:

•  Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant working experience in the areas related to governance, gender mainstreaming, gender equality programming, or women’s empowerment in development projects.
• Proven experience in managing projects including planning and implementation on LNOB issues and stakeholder engagement 
• Experience in organizing and facilitating training, consultations, or workshops with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in working with international development organizations and government stakeholders on gender-focused projects. 
• Familiarity with SDG 5, SDG 16, and governance reform  in Bangladesh. 
• Experience in supporting projects focused on public institutions, human rights, and policy reforms. Strong familiarity with current theories and issues in gender, development studies and human right
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills, with attention to detail.

Required languages:

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required;

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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