Wildlife Biology Analyst (Duty Station: Khagrachari, Bangladesh)
Rangamati
- Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
- Location: Rangamati
- Grade: Junior level - NPSA-8, National Personnel Services Agreement
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Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Biology and Chemistry
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Animal Health and Veterinary
- Natural Resource Management
- Closing Date: 2024-11-28
The 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, 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 have not 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 some 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, strengthening the population's ability to enhance resilience, development, and governance, impacting 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.
CHTWCA II is embedded under Ecosystem Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT)”- a project of the MOCHTA. Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity II (CHTWCA II), funded for five years by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is being implemented in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). USAID’s CHTWCA II is being implemented with the goal: Strengthened gender-responsive local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). 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. It has the following four Results (and 11 Interim Results):
Result 1: Strengthened Ecosystem Governance
Result 2: Resilient Livelihoods with Market Systems
Result 3: Mitigated Threats to Biodiversity
Result 4: Reduced Conflict among Communities for Ecosystem Conservation
The Wildlife Biology Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Specialist of CHTWCA, UNDP and will closely cooperate and coordinate with the implementing partners and other partners and projects, local government, communities, non-government, and civil society organizations.
The Wildlife Biology Analyst will lead the wildlife biology and conservation effort using a scientific approach in the CHT. The incumbent will provide support for the implementation of CHTWCA II funded by USAID. S/he will contribute to planning and implementing wildlife biology-related conservation activities and advocacy for targeted stakeholders. S/he will integrate the gender lens into the wildlife conservation mechanisms in CHTWCA II. S/he will be a key member of the Forest and NRM team of the CHTWCA project and will work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Specialist of the CHTWCA project in close collaboration with the Senior Management Teams of ERRD-CHT.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement project work plans aligned with objectives, monitor progress, prepare reports, and prepare project activity budget. Develop partnerships and collaborate with the forest-dependent communities and government, providing technical wildlife conservation and management support.
- Analyze policies and laws related to wildlife conservation with best practices of species protection and conservation. Develop and implement wildlife conservation and management plans by ensuring compliance with environmental and social safeguards.
- Inform and capacitate project on issues related to all wildlife trade, wildlife farming, prohibitions on hunting, possession, sale of endangered species and prohibitions on import and export of endangered species;
- Prepare species management reporting, including formulating species management plans; international successful models in zoning and co-management of protected areas and elephant corridors;
- Develop the best international models for establishing "critical habitats" for endangered species and regulating land use on which critical habitats are found.
- Integrate gender equality and social inclusion principles into project activities, ensure that project benefits reach marginalized groups, and promote gender equality.
Key Performance Indicator:
- Facilitates training and workshops with quality training materials development on wildlife conservation and management.
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
- Ability to effectively coordinate with partners in and outside the UN organizations. Knowledge of UNDP Rules and Regulations is an advantage.
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and strong leadership qualities;
- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback. Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
- 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 and technical Competencies:
Business Direction and strategy
- Strategic thinking. Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
- System thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
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
- Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Partnership management
- Relationship Management. Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Conservation Biology, Wildlife, or Environmental Studies, or other relevant field from any recognized University is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of relevant work experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in wildlife conservation is required.
- Excellent computer skill on MS Excel, MS word and PowerPoint and good experience on internet browsing; computer typing skills in both languages of English and Bangla.
- Extensive working experience of working on community-based forest management, wildlife participatory management, biodiversity conservation, environment management, or integrated watershed management;
- A good understanding on the GOB policies on forest and wildlife management, environmental management, water resource management and indigenous peoples in Bangladesh is an added advantage;
- Relevant working experience with GOB institutions, or International Development organization is an added advantage.
- Demonstrated ability to produce good quality briefs/reports in both English and Bangla;
- Experience of working in the CHT (or any comparable region) is an added advantage.
- Working Experience and understanding of wildlife trafficking, Forestry, Natural Resources Management, climate change effects in Bangladesh.
- Ability to deliver strategic insight and analysis on forestry and wildlife management, Asian elephant corridor; and challenging partnerships with governments and international partners.
- Strong training, facilitation & presentation skills.
- Ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
- Working knowledge in any of the CHT languages or Chittagonian dialects is desirable.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.