Project Assistant- Documentation and Reporting (Short-Term NPSA)
Qualifications:
- Location: Dhaka
- Vacancy No: 30003
- Salary: N/A
- Organization:UNDP United Nations Development Programme
- Deadline: 2025-11-15
Brief details:
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 democratic governance, climate adaptation, environmental protection and inclusive growth 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 Project Assistant- Documentation and Reporting will be part of UNDP Bangladesh’s Democratic Governance and Institutional Programming (DGIP) portfolio and will work under the GoB funded technical assistance for implementation of Livelihoods Improvement of Urban Poor Communities Project (LIUPCP), CIDCA for Livelihoods Support for Urban Poor Communities in Bangladesh, and CARA for Next-Generation Urban Resilience: Leveraging Locally Led and Nature-based Solutions.
Livelihoods Support for Urban Poor Communities in Bangladesh-funded by the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, this one-year initiative is a collaboration between UNDP Bangladesh and UNDP China, with the Local Government Division as a key national partner. The project directly targets 100 of the most vulnerable urban poor communities, benefiting nearly 30,000 households across six major City Corporations (Dhaka North, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi) and one Paurashava (Chandpur).
The project is structured around three main outputs:
Output 1: Strengthening economic resilience through vocational skills development and support for micro-enterprises;
Output 2: Enhancing the health and nutritional status of women and children through awareness, behavior change, and access to nutritious food;
Output 3: Strengthening project visibility and communication to build public support and encourage replication.
Next-Generation Urban Resilience: Leveraging Locally Led and Nature-based Solutions-under the UK Government’s Climate Action for Resilient Asia (CARA) programme, this one-year project will supports the implementation of Bangladesh’s National Urban Policy (NUP) by embedding principles of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into urban governance and infrastructure planning. The one-year initiative focuses on three strategic areas:
Component-1: Enactment and institutionalization of National Urban Policy
Component 2: Enabling implementation and embedding Locally Led Adaptation and Nature-based Solution into core urban development
Component 3: Strengthening decentralized urban governance
In addition, the Livelihoods Improvement of Urban Poor Communities Project (LIUPCP), jointly implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) and UNDP, has been working to enhance living conditions and socio-economic opportunities for marginalized urban communities across Bangladesh, with funding support from the Government of Bangladesh. Under these initiatives, UNDP will provide a comprehensive package of project management and technical assistance to complete the outstanding LIUPCP activities. This includes finalizing the implementation of low-cost housing and the selection of beneficiaries. UNDP will also strengthen and support Community Development Committees (CDCs) across the target cities, implementing socio-economic initiatives, and improving settlements, thereby boosting livelihoods and overall quality of life.
Duties and Responsibilities
I. Documentation Support
- Collect and maintain a centralized dataset of project documents, case studies, training materials, and knowledge products.
- Support the development of knowledge products for dissemination.
- Assist in organizing knowledge-sharing events, workshops, and learning sessions
- Provide documentation and reporting support for key events, such as inception workshops, inauguration events, meetings, and workshops.
- Provide support to ensure systematic documentation of best practices and lessons learned.
- Maintain organized documentation of field activities, case studies, media coverage, and events.
- Provide support in quality assurance on formatting, consistency, and branding of all project documentation.
II. Reporting Support
- Provide support to draft, edit, and finalize all types of projects reports including monitoring report, donor reports, thematic briefs, and presentations in line with UNDP quality standards and donor requirements.
- Maintain reporting schedules and support timely submission of periodic and ad hoc reports.
- Assist to Provide high quality analysis of data collected during ad hoc studies/ research.
- Coordinate with technical leads and field teams to gather relevant data and narratives for reporting.
- Assist to develop Monitoring & Evaluation Strategy and relevant guidelines for tracking Project achievements (e.g. logframe indicators, risk matrix 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 Assistant- Documentation and Reporting will work under the overall supervision of Project Analyst (City Liaison)/ Project Manager a.i. SARG-DGIP.
Competencies
| Core | |
| 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 Development | Knowledge Facilitation
| Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. |
| Business Management | Project Management | Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals. |
| Results-based Management | Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools. | |
| Monitoring & Evaluation
| Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
| |
| Data | Data Analysis | Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making |
| Digital | Data Collection | Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data). |
| Finance | Budget management | Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets Administration & Operations |
| Administration & Operations | Documents and records management | Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving |
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Urban and Regional Planning, Geography & Environment, Statistics, Economics or a related discipline will be given due consideration.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of experience with Secondary education or 2 years of experience with Bachelor’s degree in reporting, documentation and knowledge management in development intervention.
Required Skills:
- 1 year of proven experience in reporting and documentation in urban programme.
- Experience in preparing high-quality reports, PowerPoint presentations, and others is required.
Desired Skills:
- Proven experience in short surveys and rapid assessments using Kobo Toolbox, Google Survey, etc.
- Experience in using GIS software.
- Experience working in the International Development organization, preferably in urban sectors.
- Proven Experience in working with local communities, civil society partners, urban LGIs, and government officials
- Strong analytical and documentation skills.
- Ability to plan own work, setting priorities, and complete it under pressure or when faced with competing demands.
- Strong database development and management skills.
- Strong reporting skills (numerical and narrative).
- Ability to manage and analyze large, complex datasets.
- Knowledge of different national-level surveys.
- Knowledge of different survey and evaluation methods.
- Experience working with urban programmes will be given preference.
- Demonstrated experience in the facilitation of national and international knowledge dissemination seminars/workshop preferably in urban sectors.
- Demonstration experience in using design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Canva, and Video editing tools
- Strong database development and management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Language:
- Fluency in written and spoken in English and Bangla.
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.