Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst

Signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997 was a major political achievement, marking the end of a protracted low-intensity conflict in the region. One of the key government strategies outlined in the 8th Five-Year Plans is to fully implement the provisions of the Peace Accord.  The government also aims at implementing accelerated development activities in the region. Despite these good intentions, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) still suffers from its remote location, diverse ethnic composition, and limited infrastructure, impacting essential services such as education, healthcare, and water access. Despite commitments, the CHT institutions haven't achieved their full potential due mainly to undefined roles and pending elections, hindering effective service delivery and regional governance. The unique biodiversity of the CHT, including forests, wildlife habitats, and waterbodies, is at risk due to the diversion of forest land for population and settlement growth, inappropriate agricultural practices, and climate change.

To continue the momentum of successful implementation of the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in CHT project (2003–2016) and Strengthening Inclusive Development in CHT (SID-CHT 2017-2023), MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from a number of Development Partners, have undertaken a new project titled “Ecosystem Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT)”. The project focuses on enhancing resilient ecosystems, development and governance in the CHT by building community and ecosystem resilience through various development and conservation outputs and activities. Support for resilient livelihoods and micro-enterprises will be combined while conserving ecosystems and biodiversity and improving local governance by empowering local communities, including women and youth and marginalized sections, and institutions in partnerships with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), counterparts, traditional leaders, and development partners.

The ERRD-CHT Project will produce results on four interlinked levels, thereby strengthening the ability of the population to enhance resilience, development and governance that impact the people’s lives and livelihoods. The main objective of ERRD-CHT project is “to strengthen gender-responsive resilience and development through improved governance and ecosystems, and adaptive livelihoods with market access.” which will be achieved through the following four Outputs:

Output 1: Improved and resilient forest ecosystems and livelihoods.
Output 2: Enhanced capacity and institutional building of the CHT institutions and strengthened democratic governance with increased people’s participation, responsive communities and more effective service delivery.
Output 3: Inclusive and gender-responsive learning and empowerment among women and girls. 
Output 4: Enabled environment for self-reliant youth development and leadership.

The project will be implemented in all 121 Unions of 26 Upazilas in the three Hill Districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. In the CHT, nearly 100,000 rural- and urban households will directly benefit from the project. It will include the extreme urban and rural poor and vulnerable groups, including women and youth.

Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity II (CHTWCA II), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is part of Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT) - a project of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA). Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity II (CHTWCA II), within ERRD-CHT project, is being implemented with the goal: Strengthened gender-responsive local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. CHTWCA II Outcome is to strengthen local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach that improves wildlife conservation and the governance of natural resources in the CHT.

ERRD-CHT is looking for a Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst to plan, implement, and coordinate the project’s GIS-related efforts and planning and field implementation for forest watersheds. 

The GIS Analyst will work under the supervision of the Chief Technical Specialist. S/he will also work closely with the ERRD-CHT programme clusters, other UNDP projects, local government, communities, non-government, and civil society organizations.

GIS Infrastructure Development and Data Management

• Implement and strengthen the GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) infrastructure within the project, including the administration of ArcGIS Server, ArcSDE, ArcView, and other GIS/RS tools.
• Develop tools, collect spatial and non-spatial data from primary and secondary sources, maintain GIS/RS databases with backups, and perform data quality control.

Spatial Analysis and Mapping

• Prepare GIS maps for forest watersheds and project sites, digitize and create vector data, perform supervised/unsupervised classification, and analyze RS imagery for land cover changes.
• Generate NDVI, track land cover changes, and create shape files, map layouts, and spatial models from tabular data.

Web-Based Mapping and Data Utilization

• Prepare a web-based mapping database of all target VCFs and micro-watersheds, download, convert, and upload GIS data from various sources.
• Capture GIS data in multiple formats using GPS, satellite images, digitizers, and other tools, ensuring high-quality GIS-based data management.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Manage training and skills development for GIS users within the project team, partners, and CHT stakeholders, and serve as the GIS technical lead.
• Provide technical support for the preparation of annual work plans, progress reports, and enhance the performance of staff and partners in GIS data management

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Measurable Outputs and Performance Indicators:

• Ensure efficient GIS data management system; 
• Capacity building measures on GIS data management initiated and implemented; 
• Performance of all relevant staff of the ERRD-CHT, CHTWCA II and partner organizations has visibly improved;
• Ensured contribution to producing quality reports;
• Best practices on the subject matter are widely disseminated.

Business Direction & Strategy    

• Effective Decision Making. Ability to make decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Development    

• Knowledge Generation. Ability to research and turn information into practical knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need
• Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Management

• Partnership Management. Ability to build and maintain partnerships with broad networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Partnership Management    

• Emerging partnerships. Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to creating and managing these new strategic partnerships. 

2030 Agenda: People 

• Gender. Gender and Institutional Development