Project Associate

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Job Description

While graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is a testament to Bangladesh’s developmental progress, it will bring various challenges, requiring adroit policy responses to manage the transition and prepare, especially for the loss of LDC-specific trade preferences. If Bangladesh can successfully navigate and mitigate any adverse implications for its export trade following its graduation from the LDC status, the transition should not precipitate major economic consequences, but will rather represent a natural progression in economic development. However, to navigate the transition effectively, Bangladesh must adopt a dual approach: securing extended LDC-type trade preferences as a transitional buffer and bolstering export competitiveness.

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) will play a crucial role in the post-LDC scenario, despite facing limited resources—encompassing human, financial, and technical capacities—and programmatic support. The IP Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP) – II project, funded by the UK government, aims to bridge these gaps, aligning closely with national priorities for a smooth LDC graduation, particularly on Bangladesh’s trade policy and trade negotiation skills, inter-ministerial coordination on compliance issues, private sector’s competitiveness, and evidence-based policy initiatives.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will also play a crucial role in supporting ongoing growth and economic development and reaping potential benefits from the LDC graduation. In an evolving context, Bangladesh will need to improve investment facilitation, retention, and aftercare services to attract more FDI. This project, through the Research and Analytics Unit (RAU), anchored in the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) of the Prime Minister’s Office will also support evidence-based policy reforms for improved investment climate in Bangladesh.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate will be responsible for the following tasks:

Support with the overall operational management and delivery of the work plan for successful implementation:

Support the Project Manager in the overall management of the project implementation and tracking of the timeline and budget.
Support with the review and oversight of the programmatic and financial progress of the project.
Support with the coordination of Project Board meetings, recording of minutes and report writing.

Support with logistical functions:

Support with the coordination of workshops, consultations, and meetings throughout the project implementation.
Assist national and international consultants by organizing their travel schedules and arranging meetings with different stakeholders.

Support with administrative functions:

Draft necessary correspondence with local and international agencies and stakeholders;
Assist in the timely issuance of contracts and assurance of other eligible entitlements of the project personnel and consultants.
Maintain and update all Project related documents and files for future reference and record.
Maintain a roster of ongoing consultancies for timely delivery of outputs through regular follow-up.
Provide other substantive support to the team for overall implementation.

Financial functions:

Compile and verify budget and accounting data by researching files, calculating costs, and estimating anticipated expenses.
Support the Project team in preparing the annual work plans.
Assist in preparing financial status reports, progress reports, and others in line with UNDP and donor reporting requirements.
Prepare general administrative/financial/procurement documents as per specified formats.
Support in general administrative or specialized tasks related to the project which may be of a confidential nature within the assigned area of responsibility.

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 Associate will work under the supervision of the Project Manager. His/her performance will be evaluated by the Project Manager.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements:

Secondary education is required. or

University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Public Administration, Economics, Political Science, Social Sciences, Business Administration or any other related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.
Min. years of relevant work experience: Minimum 6 years (with Secondary education) or 3 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of experience inProject management and coordination.

Required skills

Experience in providing events organization support is required.
Experience with data collection, analysis, and reporting to support project implementation and ensure timely decision-making is an asset.
Experience in analyzing data, interpreting results, and preparing documents such as progress reports, project summaries, and financial statements for a range of stakeholders, including UNDP management and donors is an asset.
Experience in preparing concept notes, briefing notes, talking points, etc. is required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Prior experience working with UN organizations, international development organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with project management software (such as MS Project, Jira, or similar).
Strong skills in data management and the ability to use databases and online systems for tracking project progress and financials.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Excellent communication and presentation skills to liaise with a diverse set of stakeholders, including government counterparts, donors, and project beneficiaries.

Required Language(s)