Background

Climate change, manifesting in the form of intensified cyclones, storm surges, and sea-level rise (SLR), is accelerating saltwater intrusion into the fresh water resources of the coastal belt of Bangladesh. Climate change-induced soil and water salinity is projected to adversely impact freshwater dependent agricultural livelihoods (leading to loss of productivity or livelihoods) as well as the availability and quality of drinking water in the vulnerable coastal communities. Furthermore, given the crucial role that women play in water security and household level resilience, and their socio-economic marginalization, the climate change-induced threat to agricultural livelihoods and drinking water security of the affected coastal communities disproportionately affects women and girls.

Therefore, the key objective of the proposed project is to support the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in strengthening the adaptive capacities of coastal communities, especially women, to cope with impacts of climate change-induced salinity on their livelihoods and water security. GCF resources will be combined with GoB co-financing to address information, technical, financial and institutional barriers to implementing and managing resilient livelihoods and drinking water solutions for the vulnerable communities in the Southwestern coastal districts of Khulna and Satkhira. An estimated 719,229 people (about 245,516 direct and 473,713 indirect) will benefit from the proposed project interventions.

The proposed project will empower target communities, especially women, as ‘change-agents’ to plan, implement, and manage resilient livelihoods and drinking water solutions. The project will enable those communities to address climate change risks on livelihood and drinking water security to promote synergistic co-benefits. It will enhance the adaptive capacities of these communities in the face of worsening impacts of climate-change induced salinity on their freshwater resources which in turn adversely affect livelihood and drinking water requirements. GCF resources will be invested in promoting a diversification from currently non-adaptive, freshwater-reliant livelihoods of small-scale farmers, fishers, and agro-labourers towards climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods. GoB co-financing is leveraged to support adoption and scale of these alternative, climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods through strengthened value-chains and market linkages for their long-term viability in the face of increasing salinity and extreme weather. The project also utilizes GCF and GoB resources to support investments in and management of climate-resilient drinking water solutions to secure year-round, safe drinking water supplies for the targeted communities. Access to reliable, safe drinking water enables the communities, especially women and girls in targeted households, to invest the resulting time and cost savings and health co-benefits in enhanced livelihoods and income generating and/or educational opportunities. In turn, the enhanced incomes and livelihoods will enable the communities to sustain the investments in the drinking water supply solutions in the long-term. Finally, through investments in institutional capacities, knowledge dissemination and evidence-based learning, the project will enable pathways for replication and scale of project impact to secure livelihoods and drinking water across the vulnerable districts of the southwest coast of Bangladesh. The project yields significant environmental, social (including gender), and economic co-benefits including enhanced integrity of coastal ecosystems and freshwater resources; improved gender norms and women empowerment; and increased income and health benefits, estimated at USD15 million and USD4 million respectively over the project lifetime.

The project contributes towards GoB’s achievement of priorities outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and its climate change strategies. The project objective speaks to the top five key near-term areas of intervention identified by the INDC to address adverse impacts of climate change including: 1) Food security, livelihood and health protection (incl. water security); 2) Comprehensive disaster management, 3) Coastal Zone Management, including Salinity Intrusion control, 4) Flood Control and Erosion protection, 5) Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure.  Directly aligned to six of the fourteen broad adaptation actions prioritized by INDC, the project is implementing improved EWS, supporting climate resilient infrastructure, Tropical cyclones and storm surge protection, stress-tolerant variety improvement and cultivation, and Capacity Building at Individual and institutional level to plan and implement adaptation programmes and projects.

The Project Associate-ICT will report and will work under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager (NPM) and will supervise the IT and Logistics Assistant.  S/he will be responsible to provide support for planning, implementing and managing ICT related activities and services for the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure implementation of ICT strategies of the project

• Lead the development and implementation of ICT strategies and introduction/implementation of new technologies to establish governance structures and policy for ICT for the project;
• Develop Email servers and other servers to provide smooth IT services to the project;
• Develop and ensure implementation of ICT policy to all users’
• Design the LAN system, make it functional and smoothly running with uninterrupted services among the projects staff;
• Coordinate with project staff for smooth installation and functioning of CMIS software and systems linking with project server and other configurations.
• Provide technical supports to deployed/implement Web-based CMIS system including training and replication;

Ensure effective functioning of the CO hardware and software packages.

• Provide specialized advisory and technical support for effective functioning of the Project hardware and software packages;
• Manage and maintain the use of all sorts of ICT related equipment, accessories, camera, digital recorders etc. through proper documentation;
• Lead the project website design & its regular updating and maintenance services;
• Liaise and coordinate with UNDP CO ICT section for ensuring required alignment and synchronization;

Assist in providing automation and digitalization support for the project and supervising team-

• Lead the development of policies regarding public accessibility of information consistent with the Right to Information Act. Such as: efforts to increase public linkages via technology, such as a public eServices gateway using web page to enable members of the public to access information from and provide information to the Project;
• Ensure installation, maintenance and configuration of hardware and software systems according to UNDPs policies;
• Perform system back-up and database archiving processes to ensure data recoverability.
• Ensure data security by updating software anti-virus on regular basis.
• Perform hardware and software upgrades to achieve optimum performance level.
• Ensure routine maintenance and inspection of network and server systems.
• Ensure troubleshooting and repairing network, hardware and software components for the project.
• Lead the set-up of the project office with required ICT supports;
• Supervise ICT Personnel under ICT Team.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing-

• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in ICT
• Lead efforts to develop information sharing mechanisms both nationally and internationally

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

4.    Institutional Arrangement-

• This position will be supervised by the NPM of “Enhancing adaptive capacities of coastal communities, especially women, to cope with climate change induced salinity” Project. (Annex : Signed Project Document / Recruitment Plan 2021 supporting for this position) 
   

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:

Thematic Area    Name    Definition
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
Business Development    Human-centered Design    Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.  Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices
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
Partnership management    Relationship management    Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
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.
Information Management &
Technology    IT Customer Support     Ability to support l customers on IT related issues and generate and contribute to continuous improvement processes to deliver a great user experience. Knowledge of ISO 9001 desirable. ITIL certification or similar is
desirable
Information Management &
Technology    Network, Communication and
Infrastructure Management    Ability to develop/integrate/operate/manage
IT network, communications, Cloud or on-premise
infrastructure, and new technologies like IoT. Cisco CCIE
CCNP or similar is desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required.  Or
• University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Information systems, Information Management, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computer Science or an equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in trouble shooting for MS Office software packages, running operating system, installation of application software etc. is required.

Required  skills:

• Proven experience in developing MIS, data management, and data analysis. 
   

Desired additional skills and competencies:

• Working experience with database management systems such as MSSQL, MySQL, and Oracle will be given preference.
• Experience of software licensing and copyright policies and compliances.
• Experience in design LAN system, make it functional and smoothly running with uninterrupted services among the project staff

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla are 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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.