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 formal courts in Bangladesh are slow, expensive and overburdened, with a backlog of around 3.8 million cases. This pushes most people to manage petty disputes through informal means, such as shalish. These informal solutions are often biased especially against women and minorities, they are not transparent and often ineffective as they lack enforcement powers. The Village Courts (VCs) were established by the Village Courts Ordinance, 1976 to allow petty disputes to be dealt with by Union Parishads, the lowest tier of local government in rural areas. The law was not fully implemented, later the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) enacted the Village Court Act, 2006 repealing the Village Court Ordinance, 1976. The Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project (AVCB) began in 2009 as a pilot project aiming to activate VCs in 351 Union Parishads (UPs) between the Government of Bangladesh, the European Union, and UNDP Bangladesh. The positive results of the pilot led the GoB to scale-up the activation, and the second phase (AVCB-II) started in 2016, targeting a further 1,080 UPs. The tenure of AVCB-II was completed in June 2022 and a third and final phase has been approved by the GoB. The final phase will be implemented for five years (2022-2027) by the Local Government Divisions of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (MoLGRD&C).

The project will work across all UPs in Bangladesh (in 4,457 UPs), excluding CHT reflecting the GoB commitment for a national scale-up. It will have three components: first to activate Village Courts in 3,041 Union Parishads in Bangladesh; second to maintain the performance of the 1,416 courts activated under AVCB-I and AVCB-II; and third to ensure the Government has the capacity, resources and ownership to take over the management and oversight of VC services so that the project gains are sustained.  

The project’s Overall Objective is: Increased Access to Justice and Social Harmony for People in Rural Areas of Bangladesh, Especially Women and Disadvantaged Groups.

Specific Objective/Outcome 1:  Duty bearers in Bangladesh provide sustainable, fair and effective resolution for minor disputes in rural areas-

• Output 1.1 Duty bearers at national and local levels have improved capacity to ensure Village Courts function fairly and effectively
• Output 1.2  Legal and policy frameworks for Village Courts are reviewed and enhanced
• Output 1.3  Duty bearers in Bangladesh have the resources capacity and ownership to manage and administer village courts after completion of project

Specific Objective/Outcome 2: People living in rural areas, especially women, the poor and other disadvantaged groups are empowered to access Village Courts to resolve minor disputes

• Output 2.1 Local population are aware of their local VC and understand its role and functions
• Output 2.2 Evidence and knowledge sharing on VC functioning enhanced.

There are 5 technical components in the project named Project Coordination, Capacity Development, Advocacy & Communication, Legal Review and Gender and Planning, M&E and Knowledge Management. In addition, there are two more components – Operations and Finance. Involving national institutions like NILG (National Institute of Local Government), BPATC (Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center), JATI (Judicial Administration Training Institute), BPA (Bangladesh Police Academy), etc. the project has a plan to build up the capacity of the institutional stakeholders on village courts. Besides, as a part of implementation strategy NGOs/CSOs are also included to help LGD for grassroots level capacity building, social mobilization and eventually activating village courts under the technical support and supervision of Project Management Unit. To manage the Support Service and messenger’s role for the project, project management requires to recruit a staff under this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Messenger will have the following duties and responsibilities:

a)    Messenger service for daily office management:

• Operate photocopier, printer, fax machine, digital sender etc.
• Scanning and photocopying of all kinds of bills/vouchers/documents etc.
• Compiling a hard copy of bills/vouchers and putting them in the guard file as per the finance unit's Instructions.
• Carrying files, letters, other communications, reference materials, etc., from desk to desk 
  as directed.

b)    Collect and distribute incoming and outgoing documents:

• Checking the mailbox, collecting letters/documents and disseminating to the respective unit.
• Regular support in collecting chalan, bills etc. from outside stakeholders and offices.
• Deposit a small amount of cash/Accounts Payee check to the respective bank account as and when required. 
• Support in distribution of printed VC forms and Registers, Information, Education & Communication materials (IEC) and Knowledge products etc. to the project field offices
• Assist in documents or materials packing, labeling, and distribution of project materials via courier, post office or other parcel services.

c)    Provide support in organising meeting, workshop and events:

• Provide support to workshops, seminars, meetings and events in the venue such as prepare folder, carrying IEC materials and knowledge products, decoration materials, ICT equipment, stationery, collecting working food or refreshment items etc.
• Handle the event attendance sheet and handover it to the respective focal unit focal.
• Support the Admin Assistant in managing supplied food for the meeting/ workshop etc.
• Provide support for the distribution of refreshment snacks to the participants during the meeting/workshops/training/seminar etc.

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

Institutional Arrangement:

• The Project Messenger will report to the Operations Analyst and work under the overall guidance of the head of Operations to support all the project teams. The staff will also work for other project officials as needed.

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 and Strategy    Business Acumen    Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.
Administration& Operations    Documents and records 
management    -    Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy, including storing and archiving.
Ethics    UN policy knowledge – ethics    Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education is required. 

Experience:

• Experience as Support Staff or Messenger.
• Operational skills of the office equipment, i.e., photocopier, scanner, digital sender, telephone, printer, fax machine.
• Minimum knowledge of email correspondence.
• Relevant experience working in a similar role.
• Working experience with a renowned development organization specially with international organization(s).
• Computer literacy.

Required Language(s):     

• 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.

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.