Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

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 inclusive growth and democratic governance, 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 UNDP Plastics Sector Circularity Portfolio in Bangladesh is aimed to driving transformative change towards eradication of plastics pollution and sector circularity. At present, the portfolio consists of two initiatives: The Bangladesh TCCF Plastics Circularity Project and the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP).

The NPAP is a multistakeholder platform that gathers government, academia, researchers, industry, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil organizations in the efforts to resolve plastic pollution. NPAP serves as a catalyst to accelerate the development of solutions to the plastics value chain that are based on circularity, maintaining the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation.

NPAP Bangladesh is the most recent among 25 NPAPs globally as a part of the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), that is led and hosted by the World Economic Forum. It aims to shape a more sustainable and inclusive world through the eradication of plastic pollution. Through multistakeholder platforms designed for all, the partnership bring public, private and civil society leaders together to develop joint solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, both globally and nationally. Further insights on the framework and approach can be found on GRAP´s website: https://www.globalplasticaction.org/home. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Analyst, Communication and Engagement will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager – Circularity Portfolio

The Project Analyst, Communication and Engagement plays a critical role in plastic ecosystem stakeholder engagement, and enhancing the visibility, outreach, and of the Plastics Circularity Portfolio while supporting the strategic advancement of the Bangladesh NPAP. Given the nature of NPAP, strong action is essential to foster coherence, co-responsible action, and collaboration, and to mobilize and engage the wider stakeholder system of the civil society, policy makers and other influential actors.

The Project Analyst, Communication and Engagement plays a central role at the NPAP Secretariat to facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement across government, private sector, civil society, and informal actors, and ensuring strategic communication to meet the wider goals of plastics pollution abatement and increasing awareness of the NPAP platform and its diverse initiatives. The Specialist also supports knowledge sharing, advocacy, and the coordination of strategic partnerships to implement the NPAP Plastic Action Roadmap.

Ensure Partnership Development and Stakeholder Engagement

• Close collaboration with the NPAP Manager and the GPAP Secretariat
• Development and implementation of a multi-stakeholder engagement and partnership strategy
• Development of strategic partnerships with institutions and organizations involved in plastic management in the whole value chain.
• Organization and execution of NPAP meetings, including preparing relevant materials, in consultation with GPAP Secretariat
• Regular proactive communication and engagement with the plastic ecosystem stakeholders to support knowledge exchange, promote cross-sector collaboration, and drive joint initiatives, including co-branded campaigns.

Ensure Strategic Communication and Visibility

• Development and implementation of a country-wide plastic action communications strategy in alignment with global frameworks of GPAP and UNDP, ensuring consistent and strategic messaging.
• Development of high-quality communication materials including newsletters, success stories, infographics, factsheets, and project briefs that highlight project and NPAP achievements.
• Ensuring that branding and messaging are consistent with UNDP and GPAP guidelines and aligned with project and NPAP goals.
• Coordinate media engagement, press releases, public campaigns, and key observance days such as World Environment Day and other relevant Days.
• Manage social media content, project web pages, and communication coordination with UNDP’s Country Office communication unit, donors, and NPAP stakeholders.

Advocacy and Knowledge Dissemination

• Support the design, development, and dissemination of policy briefs, reports, case studies, and technical documents for both the project and NPAP.
• Organize and facilitate policy dialogues, roundtables, and knowledge-sharing events to inform and influence decision-makers and NPAP members.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and local innovations, promoting visibility of informal sector contributions and NPAP initiatives through inclusive storytelling, providing them as requested to GPAP secretariat

Ensure Monitoring, Reporting, and Contribution to Project Learning

• Monitor the effectiveness of communication and partnership strategies through media analytics, stakeholder feedback, and KPIs.
• Contribute quarterly and annual reports with updates on communication, outreach, partnership activities, and NPAP progress.
• Assist in compiling field data, photo documentation, and beneficiary testimonials for evidence-based reporting related to project and NPAP activities.
• Ensure communication and knowledge management activities support the project’s M&E and learning frameworks, including NPAP-related targets.
• Participate in relevant NPAP Knowledge Exchanges

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 Management           

• Communications - 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.

Partnership management     

• Multi-stakeholder engagement - Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to Resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
• Resource mobilization - Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

2030 Agenda: People              

• Gender - Gender Equality and Institutional Transformation

2030 Agenda: Prosperity       

• Inclusive Growth - Multidimensional poverty and human development

Business Direction & Strategy           

• System Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Communications       

• Creative direction and copywriting - Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development Studies, Mass Communication, Journalism, or any other relevant discipline is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be considered in lieu of the advanced 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   at the national or international level in plastic management, circular economy, communications, and/or partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and communication in development or environmental projects.

Desired skills

• Experience engaging diverse stakeholders and leading policy dialogues and community outreach on waste management and circular economy. Proven ability to lead policy dialogues, workshops, and gender-sensitive community engagement 
• Proven solid experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership building in the plastic management and circular economy sectors.
• Strong experience in communication strategy development and execution
• Demonstrated experience in strong management and research 
• Experience in business model support and creating market linkages for CMSMEs in plastic recycling.
• Proficient in MS Office, CRM systems, and effective communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience of working with development organizations, financial institutions, NGOs/ INGOs 
• Experience in establishing professional networks in the plastics sector, leveraging strong relationships to support project goals and strategic collaboration.
• Familiarity with plastic management policies, circular economy principles, and sustainability initiatives in Bangladesh.
• Experience working with digital communication platforms, CRM tools, and online stakeholder engagement systems.
• Skilled in developing communication and PR materials and facilitating gender-sensitive workshops and training sessions.
• Proven track record of strong interpersonal and negotiation skills with a gender-sensitive and inclusive approach to collaboration.

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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