Research Associate

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP's mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with Bangladesh ever since its birth and through its remarkable journey from a war-ravaged economy to a middle-income country. It remains a catalyst in Bangladesh’s journey from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. UNDP assists in building institutions and helps strengthen institutional capacities through people-centric, pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable policy making and development governance.

Context

UNDP Bangladesh’s in-house data collection team, Cox’s Bazar Analysis and Research Unit (CARU) is the only institutional provider of real-time data on violence, criminality, and social tensions in districts affected by the Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh. This second phase of the programme (2021 -2026) builds on the foundations of the project’s first phase (2017-2021) that supported Bangladesh’s efforts to understand sources of violence, changing pattern of social tension, tracking the media reports, providing briefings and presentations to the stakeholders. Research Facility of CARU: Knowledge, understanding, and insights into the drivers of conflict, violence, and extremism improved, and stronger capacity to analyse the sources and nature of disinformation, exclusion, and intolerance in Bangladesh. CARU provides a service essential for Bangladeshi policymakers, humanitarian agencies, diplomatic partners, and civil society organizations defending women, refugees, minorities, and vulnerable communities. CARU is now looking to hire a Research Associate who can support the unit in monitoring and analysing the data for promoting stability, inclusivity, and tolerance in Bangladesh Cox's Bazar District. This individual would provide substantive and administrative support to UNDP's research and data components. The Research Associate will report to the Technical Specialist, Research and Survey Analysis under the Cox’s Bazar Analysis & Research Unit (CARU) which is a part of UNDP Sub Office in Cox’s Bazar. S/he will closely coordinate with colleagues of CARU and UNDP colleagues.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Specialist: Research and Survey Analysis, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following, but not limited to, tasks: A. Assist Research Activities for the CARU in Cox’s Bazar:  Provides technical and administrative support to the Cox’s Bazar research component;  Assists activity planning, budgeting, project implementation, strategic partnerships and monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that results are delivered in accordance with work plans, and within budgetary limits and rules and regulations;  Helps coordinate internal and external research networks involving prominent experts in government, think tanks, private companies, international development organizations and the UN system, particularly the Rohingya Crisis Inter-Sectoral Coordination Group (ISCG);  Responsible for processing contracts, LOAs, and other administrative and logistic requirements as relate to Cox’s Bazar research activities, and other outcomes as required by the project; B. Regularly monitor trends in Cox’s Bazar District and contribute to bi-monthly updates:  Produce inputs and drafts of quarterly updates, as required;  Regularly monitor developments on the ground in Cox’s Bazar, and provide informal insight and updates to UNDP colleagues and to key partners;  Speak with local people, government representatives, and NGOs on the ground in Bangla, to provide additional insight into recent trends, for use in bi-monthly reports;  Coordinate with the International Technical Specialist to compile this information into a brief overview of recent trends and present it in a series of briefing notes (weekly, monthly and half yearly and annual) which summarize relevant developments and factors relating to peace and tolerance in areas affected by the Rohingya crisis;  Liaise and communicate with key stakeholders, including the ISCG and other UN Agencies, to brief them on developments as required;  Provide analysis and regularly rank and assess the comparative importance of certain drivers by their respective probability and severity of impact; C. Assist in drafting in-depth analyses and related workshop materials, presentations, etc. on potential trends in the region:  Responsible for assisting the International Technical Specialist in producing at least one PEA, and to review or substantially contribute to another PEA in partnership with other UNDP staff or a contractor, over the duration of the initial project period;  PEAs should be 20-30 pages long, incorporating information from the bi-monthly updates, surveys, and other applicable sources, but are expected to deliver additional insight and analysis not already available; the PEAs are not simply a literature review or presentation of pre-existing information, but must be an informed and comprehensive contribution to advancing the development community’s understanding of a thematic dimension of the Rohingya crisis;  Ensure top-quality substantive input to other reports, analyses, knowledge products, concept notes and other strategic documents as required, incorporating national and global trends and best-practices related to social cohesion, peacebuilding and the promotion of tolerance;  Support the hiring of sub-contractors to assist in drafting additional PEAs, as required;  Facilitate knowledge creation, dissemination, documentation of lessons learned, etc. Results/Expected Outputs :  The Research Associate is to provide integral support and boost the efficiency of the CARU team. Accurate media monitoring, data entry and analysis of information for both internal and external audiences will strengthen the capacity of the team and promote UNDP efforts in this new area. The candidate's initiative will be decisive in achieving high quality results.  Full compliance of administrative activities with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures.  Quality maintenance of internal systems and files.