Background

The UNDP Bangladesh Country Programme Document 2017–2020 sets the strategic programme and operational priorities for the country office. The country programme is aligned with the national development plan, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2017–2020, the UNDP strategic plan 2014–2017, and supports Bangladesh’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities, also known as SWAPNO, is a project under UNDP Bangladesh aimed at ensuring sustainable livelihood and food security for extreme poor and vulnerable rural women. Three major interventions of the project include: i) fixed wage contract for 18 months under public asset maintenance component ii) compulsory fixed formal savings and participation in informal saving groups, and iii) need-based life skills and livelihoods trainings. 

The first intervention facilitates the employment and wage transfer of beneficiaries in community identified public assets, part of Social Safety Net Programs (SSNP) for a fixed tenure of 18 months. The second and third interventions, while following global best practices, complements public works with mandatory savings; participation in ROSCA (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations); training on need-based life skills and livelihoods; and establishing linkages with private sector to facilitate formal sector employment. 

Description of the Assignment:
Provide research support to SWAPNO project. The Intern will directly report to National Project Manager, SWAPNO project, UNDP Bangladesh.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Managing day-to-day research activities, from planning to implementation, and monitoring quality;
  • Documenting all activities related to the project;
  • Refining survey questionnaires;
  • Supervising data collection and data-entry processes, and ensuring good quality of the data at both stages;
  • Assisting in data cleaning and preliminary analysis and ensuring ready access to all data for faculty researchers and/or supervisors;
  • Maintaining accurate records of interviews, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary;
  • Preparing progress and results reports to PIs, research partners, and funding agencies, and sharing them timely. 

 

Key Results Expected

  • Performed day-to-day research activities, Proper planning to implementation and monitoring quality report;
  • Documented SWAPNO Project all activities;
  • Refining survey questionnaires and proper feedback;
  • Data collection and data-entry processes will be more effective and ensuring good quality of the data;
  • Performed in data cleaning and preliminary analysis and ensuring ready access to all data for faculty researchers and/or supervisors;
  • Maintaining accurate records of interviews, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary;
  • Preparing progress and results reports to PIs, research partners, and funding agencies, and sharing them timely.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Strong analytical, communicational and writing skills;
  • Strong ability to effectively interact with technical and non-technical end users in a pleasant, cooperative, and helpful manner;
  • Demonstrated ability to solve problems and work independently;

Leadership and Self-Management

  • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Remains calm controlled and good humoured even under pressure;
  • Develop network skills with different levels.

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Shares knowledge and experience;
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UNDP;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme in Bachelor of Economics, public policy, or other quantitative social sciene disciplines. Only those students who will return to their studies upon completion of their internship assignments are eligible. (Letter of enrollment from school will be requested from the selected applicants);
  • Quantitative Skills: Strong technical understanding of economics and econometrics required. Demonstrated proficiency in Stata/R and Survey and experience with data management, data cleaning, and regression analysis;
  • A minimum of 1-year of work experience is desirable although not required. Experience in working with multicultural and multiracial team in developing countries strongly preferred;
  • Excellent management and organizational skills; ability to successfully completing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines, required;
  • Communication Skills: Attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills are required;
  • Language: English fluency required; Bangla desired.

UNDP Internships are NON-PAID and a minimum of 6 weeks of commitment on behalf of the applicants is required, with longer commitment considered desirable. In return, UNDP commits to assign at least 1 staff member to act as a mentor to the intern and to ensure that interns are exposed to meaningful and adequately challenging professional tasks