Project Analyst, Climate and Public Financial Management

Background

UNDP Bangladesh will implement the Initiation Plan for Sustainable Financing from 15 November 2024 to 14 May 2026. The Sustainable Financing is an initiative for advancing UNDP’s work on sustainable financing across key government agencies and non-government organizations to channel more public and private financing towards achieving the SDGs. The initiative will help advance UNDP Bangladesh’s work with the GoB on mainstreaming climate into budgetary processes and strengthen relevant government entities to enhance climate-responsive public finance management and sustainable financing.

Under Initiation Plan for Sustainable Financing, the outcome, Inclusive Budgeting and Financing for Climate Resilience (IBFCR) Phase II project builds on the achievements of Phase I to strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity to integrate climate resilience into its budgeting and financing systems. This phase focuses on promoting climate-responsive public financial management by enhancing governance, improving tools, and strengthening institutional frameworks. The IBFCR II will be instrumental in updating and institutionalizing processes to integrate climate considerations into budgetary practices, strengthening government institutions to advance climate-responsive Public Financial Management (PFM). Specifically, it will support the Finance Division, Ministry of Finance in formulating a climate Finance Strategy, updating existing climate-budget tools and guidelines, building relevant capacities, and enhancing governance for climate-related public finance.

The IBFCR II will integrate climate change considerations into Bangladesh’s planning and budgeting processes by considering climate dimensions into ministry budget management systems and aligning the Annual Development Programme (ADP) with climate change classifications from the Finance Division. The Project will support the Finance Division in updating the climate public finance tracking methodology in line with the national policies such as the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), while incorporating criteria for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and integrating gender and equity dimensions to ensure inclusivity. This updated methodology will be implemented across key ministries through comprehensive training sessions and workshops, embedding gender considerations into public climate finance tracking. Capacity-building initiatives will enhance the skills and knowledge of Finance Division staff and line ministries, enabling the effective implementation of these changes.

The IBFCR II will focus on enhancing governance structures for climate finance by improving monitoring, accountability, and the effectiveness of climate-related expenditures. This includes strengthening the institutional capacity of the Budget Management Committee (BMC) within line ministries, developing monitoring mechanisms, and improving accountability at national and parliamentary levels. A climate finance gap assessment and a tracking mechanism for climate-sensitive data will be developed to monitor the performance of line ministries. The project will also work with the Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (IMED) in improving climate indicators for effective oversight and collaborate with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG) to conduct climate performance audits, update audit curricula, and integrate social audits into government protocols.

The IBFCR II will also support the Local Government Division (LGD) in the integration of climate finance considerations into local government planning and budgeting processes, enhancing the capacity of local authorities to address climate-related challenges effectively. The project will review the legal frameworks for local government institutions (LGIs) to identify climate finance gaps, enhance LGIs’ knowledge of climate policies and resource allocation. A database of climate funding sources for LGIs will be established, with guidelines and KPIs for climate-inclusive planning and budgeting. Tracking methods will be piloted and expanded, while capacity-building ensures LGIs can monitor allocations. An analysis will also identify links between social protection and climate programmes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Analyst - Climate and Public Financial Management will work under the supervision of the Project Manager.

The Project Analyst - Climate and Public Financial Management will work closely with the Project Manager, Programme lead of the Initiation Plan for Sustainable Financing, UNDP operations unit, Programme cluster, Government officials, private sector, and civil society organizations. S/he will be responsible achieving the project’s outputs and outcomes.

Climate-Responsive Budgeting and Finance Strategy Development

• Support the Finance Division in formulating a comprehensive Climate Finance Strategy aligned with national policies such as BCCSAP, NAP, and NDC.
• Assist in updating and institutionalizing climate-budget tools and guidelines, ensuring inclusivity through gender and equity integration.
• Provide technical expertise to align the Annual Development Programme (ADP) with climate change classifications and ministry budget management systems.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of updated climate public finance tracking methodologies, incorporating Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria.
• Enhance coordination between government agencies to align public financial management practices with climate objectives.

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

• Organize training sessions and workshops to enhance the skills and knowledge of Finance Division staff, line ministries, and local government officials on climate-responsive Public Financial Management (PFM).  
•  Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Budget Management Committees (BMC) within line ministries to improve governance and accountability.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.
  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:

Business Development    

• Knowledge Generation. Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management    

• Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Working with Evidence and Data. Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Business Direction & Strategy   

• Futures and Foresight. Ability to look at information from the past and present, identify patterns and trends and use them to inform decision making with a long-term view. Being sensitive and able to scan horizons and pick up weak signals of change, explore their potential implications and assess their impact and urgency. Using creativity and imagination to communicate insights in compelling and engaging ways to challenge current mental models; ability to develop scenarios, speculative designs to present future visions or by making it experiential. Being able to facilitate debate and discussion about possible
  futures; help people to feel comfortable with the discomfort of uncertainty.

Digital    

• Alternative finance. Ability to identify potential alternative forms of finance and mobilise them for the purpose of addressing development challenges. Ability to review the skills, capacities, procedures and protocols that are needed to enable new financial mechanisms. Ability to assess the risks, limitations and implications of using new financial mechanisms.Set up the processes and structures to design, testing and implement new financial mechanisms. Managing outreach and stakeholder engagement Set up the processes and structures to design, testing and implement new financial mechanisms. Managing outreach and stakeholder engagement
   

2030 Agenda: People    

• Gender. Gender responsive Budgeting

2030 Agenda: Planet    

• Climate. Unlocking finance for climate change adaptation (public and private)
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from any reputed educational institution, in Social Science or Economy, preferably in Economics, International Relations, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics, Management or related disciplines 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 climate change and public finance management.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills in drafting concept notes and reports.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at project management levels.
• Experience in analytical skills to assess climate policies, financial frameworks, and their impact on public sector budgeting and governance.
• Relevant experience in climate finance, including tracking, allocation, and reporting on funding for sustainable development projects. 
• Experience in effective communication and collaboration skills to engage stakeholders across government, private, and international organizations.
•  Ability and prior expereince to communicate and function effectively in an international, multicultural environment.
• Experience in work effectively in a team

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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