Background

Twenty five years of protracted conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts have left the majority of its inhabitants in conditions of extreme poverty, and tensions over land tenure, resource access, and ethno-demographics remain challenges to sustainable development. Three quarters of the population live below the national poverty line; 50% of primary-enrolled children drop out in their first few years; and it is estimated that 40% of the CHTs’ workforce is either unemployed or underemployed.

A Peace Accord was signed in December 1997 and was recognized as a significant political achievement for the region which is home to 11 distinctive indigenous groups and Bengalis. It raised high expectations that it would serve as the cornerstone of a successful peace building process and as a means for opening up new opportunities for development. Relevant institutions have been established to support this process although not all subjects as per the CHT Peace Accord have yet been transferred to them, and several parts of the Peace Accord are yet to be implemented.

In partnership with the Government, CHT communities and NGOs, UNDP supports the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the Chittagong Hill Tracts through the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF). The CHTDF plays a very important role ensuring a successful peace building process and improving the development conditions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) people. The support is focused on:

• CHT governance institutions functioning and national systems developed in support of Peace Accord implementation;
• Confidence is built to solve long-standing problems critical to sustainable development and peace in CHT;
• Economic development opportunities enhanced for CHT;
• Literacy increased through an education scheme adapted to local context;
• Access to quality preventive and curative health services at the community level;
• Local organizations and communities empowered and their capacities enhanced to manage their own development;
  

With an annual budget of about USD 20 million and 200 staff in five offices, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF) is one of UNDP’s large interventions spanning across governance, peace-building and multiple sectors within one facility.

In addition to UNDP’s own resources, funds have been made available by the European Union, Canada (CIDA), Denmark (DANIDA), USA (USAID), Norway, Australia (AusAID) and the Embassy of Japan since the inception. The Facility manages the respective donor agreements within one programmatic framework. The CHT Development Facility is led by a Director and a Senior Management Team consisting in addition of three Chiefs leading programme sections and one Chief Operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• In consultation with the Cluster the DCEO will work for Annual Work Plans, Quarterly Work Plans of the CE Programme and preparing the budgets accordingly;
• Helping the Cluster and different Programme Officers in preparing the programme budget of the cluster.

• Reviewing the monitoring and evaluation mechanism and establishing an effective result oriented monitoring system in the district;
• Developing monitoring tools (check list, formats etc.) to be used by the Cluster members and programme stakeholders at different levels.
• Monitor the performances of the partners and provide necessary feedback regularly.

• Collecting the monthly/quarterly/annual reports from Upazilas, partner NGOs. Hill District Council and compiling them to submit to the Cluster;
• Responsible to ensure timely reporting from the district;
• Preparing the quarterly progress reports and review the progress against the AWP target;
• With the assistance of District Experts, prepare the expenditure/delivery reports of the cluster budget and monitor the progress.

• In consultation with the district senior team members the incumbent is responsible to manage the CEP programme activities in the district;
• Coordinate with the district team members, partner NGOs, Hill District Council and other stakeholders in regards to the programme planning, budgeting, LOA preparation, monitoring, reporting, programme management and implementation;
• Assisting the Cluster in reviewing programme management strategies and developing required strategies for programme implementation.
• Provide necessary feedback to cluster on the policy matters considering the local contexts.

• Contributing in developing the training plans for the project staff members, beneficiaries and stakeholders;
• Contributing in developing the necessary training materials for CEP programme;
• Participating in conducting the trainings at different levels.

• Utilising at least 40% of working time for the field visits/field activities monitoring;
• Organising and conducting project related trainings, workshops and seminars;
• Preparing monthly progress reports and analyze them to provide necessary feedbacks to the field staff members and partners;
• Ensuring proper implementation of CE programme activities and budget delivery in the respective areas;
• Sharing field observation reports with recommendations to CEP management;
• Monitor monthly progress of delivery and achievements in the assigned areas.

Competencies

• Team work
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s core values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

• Very good knowledge on the community development and livelihoods improvement;
• Excellent knowledge of project management, monitoring and evaluation;
• Very good knowledge on community managed multi-sectoral livelihood improvement projects;
• Good coordination skills with ability to handle multiple activities;
• Excellent communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English with good drafting skills;
• Very good knowledge on diversity and sensitivity of CHT;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside UNDP;
• Ability to travel to the remote places and multi-cultural areas;
• High level of computer literacy.

• Focuses on impact and result of the programme activities;
• Leads the teams effectively towards achieving the objectives;
• Builds strong relationship with the stakeholders;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters degree from a reputed University in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Agriculture Science/Economics or any other related field.

• At least 5 (five) years of experience in the implementation of development projects with 2-3 years at senior position.
• Skills in providing effective supports to team members;
• Skills in monitoring and reporting;
• Skills in developing training modules;
• Excellent in facilitation and networking;
• Experience in working with UN Agencies or International NGOs is desirable;
• Must be able to work in close collaboration with staff of multicultural background

• Excellent English written and communication skills;
• Working knowledge on any of the CHT languages would be an added advantage