Project associate

Background

The Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) is a flagship project of the Government of Bangladesh that has established a nationally recognized model for locally led climate adaptation by channeling climate finance to Local Government Institutions (LGIs) and vulnerable communities through innovative, low-transaction-cost mechanisms. LoGIC will promote local action on climate change adaptation at scale through its' Initiation Plan (IP) for phase-II. The Initiation Plan (IP) for Scaling the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) will be implemented over a 12-month period as a preparatory phase designed to bridge the gap between the completion of LoGIC I and the development, approval, and launch of LoGIC II. This phase aims to lay the groundwork for the full-scale roll-out of LoGIC II by providing targeted support to the Local Government Division (LGD) and technical assistance to the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

The IP will facilitate the national scaling of the LoGIC model by supporting LGD in institutionalizing the approach, while enabling ERD to initiate and complete critical technical studies, including cost-benefit analyses, feasibility studies, and the development of financing tools and models. It will also ensure the systematic capture of lessons learned and help establish the operational, financial, and institutional foundations required for a sustainable, government-led, and financially viable LoGIC II.

During this phase, the project will provide technical, operational, and policy support for preparing and securing funding for the Development Project Proposal (DPP) and the Project Document (ProDoc) for LoGIC II. It will further support the design of a blended finance model; strengthen institutional memory; promote community engagement; and conduct feasibility assessments related to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), community resilience, and private sector partnerships. Additional efforts will focus on developing models that link vulnerable communities to value chains, and on enhancing institutional, legal, and policy frameworks for improved service delivery and long-term sustainability.

The IP will adopt an adaptive management approach to minimize the impact of political transitions on the initiation of LoGIC II. This will include maintaining flexibility to scale the project with a combination of loans and grants as planned, or to proceed with the Government of Bangladesh's committed funds alongside development partners' grants.

Within this context, the Green Business and Innovation Associate will play a critical role in supporting the design, analysis, and coordination of green business, innovation, and value-chain components during the IP phase, ensuring that LoGIC II is ready for rapid, cost-effective, and impactful rollout at national scale.

The Admin and Finance Associate will be responsible for preparing, managing and expenditure of project annual and multi-year budget, managing audit, preparation of financial report and compliance related to financial issues as per government and UNDP policies and procedure. 

Duties and Responsibilities

i. The Project Associate (Green Business and Innovation) will be responsible for the following functions:

Summary of the key functions:

• Assist the Project Coordinator in the development and execution of the cooperatives green businesses;
• Provide support in private sector partnership development;
• Support designing and piloting climate resilient green livelihoods;
• Provide capacity building support for green business
• Cooperatives knowledge management and documentation support;
• Programme and proposal development support.

Duties and Responsibilities

ii.Green Business Development Support:

• Support the identification, assessment, and promotion of green and climate resilient business opportunities at local levels for the LoGIC climate resilient cooperatives
  • Assist in the development and refinement of green business proposals, value chains, and market linkages for local entrepreneurs, and climate resilient cooperatives
  • Facilitate establishing new green business for the LoGIC Cooperatives
  • Facilitate the growth & advancement of already established green businesses by the cooperatives.
  • Facilitate Preparation of relevant documents, like business plans, deeds, memorandum/article of association, resolutions, operation manual, etc., for the identified legal structure and facilitate the enterprise registration process. 
  • Facilitate appropriate mechanism for the green enterprise for sustainability
  • Support positioning of cooperative‑led green businesses as market‑ready and finance‑ready enterprises, including documentation of governance, operational, and financial practices relevant for engagement with financial service providers.
  • Support basic assessment of financial viability, scalability, and sustainability of green businesses, including exposure to climate and market risks.
  • Assist in preparing cooperatives to engage with financial institutions, value‑chain actors, and potential investors.

iii.Innovation and Piloting of Climate Solutions:

• Support the design and implementation of innovative pilots related to climate adaptation, green livelihoods, and local economic development
  • Assist in documenting lessons learned, best practices, and scalable innovation models under LoGIC cooperatives
  • Coordinate innovation-related activities with relevant government agencies, research institutions, and private sector actors.
  • Regular field visit, generate evidence-based report for project visibility and share feedback to the implementation team.

iv.Capacity Development and Knowledge Management:

• Contribute to the design and delivery of training and capacity building activities on green business, innovation, and entrepreneurship for LoGIC cooperatives
  • Support the development & implementation of guidelines, tools and knowledge product relate to green business and innovation
  • Assist in maintaining green business data and tracking progress under the initiative

v. Private Sector and Partnership Engagement: 

• Facilitate engagement and partnership development with private sector, academia or relevant NGOs or other organizations
  • Support partnership development for capacity building, technical assistance, and market access for green businesses.
  • Assist in organizing consultations, workshops, and meetings with private sector stakeholders.

vi.Support to FRA-LoGIC Climate Risk Finance and Insurance Activities

• Assist in integrating climate risk insurance solutions into LoGIC's green business and cooperative models.
• Coordinate with Climate Risk Finance and Insurance Unit (CRFIU) at LGD and relevant stakeholders to align green business initiatives with insurance-based risk management strategies.
• Support data collection and analysis for CVI+ and risk modelling to inform insurance product design for crops, livestock, and fisheries.
• Facilitate awareness and capacity-building sessions for cooperatives on insurance literacy and climate risk finance.
• Contribute to documentation of lessons learned and development of knowledge products on insurance-linked green business models.
• Engage with private sector actors (insurance companies, MFIs, banks) to explore bundled products combining green business financing and insurance.
• Assist in organizing advocacy events and workshops to promote institutionalization of climate risk insurance within local governance frameworks.
• Coordinate green business–related activities with project teams supporting climate risk management and risk transfer mechanisms, ensuring consistency with LoGIC's broader climate finance model.
• Support documentation of climate related business risks and loss experiences that can inform risk management and resilience building measures.
• Facilitate basic awareness and preparatory activities that enable green businesses to engage with emerging risk management and financial resilience initiatives under LoGIC.

vii.Support to Programme Development & Preparation for LoGIC Phase-II: 

• Support to develop various concept notes and programme development write-up for the project
  • Review of various reports and do analysis for various funding opportunities from the various available sources.
  • Provide support in preparing relevant documents, write-ups and proposals for LoGIC phase-II as required.
  • Perform other duties as required by the LoGIC IP Management.

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 (Green Business and Innovation) will work under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator. S/he will work in close collaboration with the field, programme and project staff, UNDP to exchange information and ensure consistent programme delivery.

Competencies

a)    Core competencies:

Achieve Results:    LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by the deadline

Think Innovatively:    LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is a 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

 

b)    Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area    Name    Definition

External Relations & Advocacy    Partnership management    Knowledge and ability to forge multi- stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms

Business Direction & Strategy    System Thinking

    Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment 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 management     Knowledge Generation    Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

    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.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements    

•    Secondary Education is required.

•    A university degree (Bachelor's degree) in Economics, Public Administration, Sociology, Development Studies, Social Sciences or any other relevant discipline will be given due consideration but not a requirement.

Min. years of relevant work experience    

•    Minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant experience in the field of climate change in development organization

•    
Required skills    

•    Ability to support inclusive and gender-responsive enterprise approaches

•    Basic knowledge of climate adaptation and environmentally sustainable practices

•    Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills/experience

•    Analytical and reporting skills/experience, including documentation of lessons and good practices.

•    Proven Ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team.

•    Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power point etc.) including typing with good speed in Bangla and English

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

•    Experience supporting innovation-related initiatives, including piloting new business models, market-based solutions, etc.

•    Working experience with UNDP or relevant international organizations will be given preference.

•    Proven experience working with climate resilient cooperatives, community-based organizations, or marginalized groups.

•    Demonstrated experience in green business promotion, climate-smart or environmentally sustainable enterprises.

•    Proven ability to develop various concept notes 

•    At least one year of experience in international organization as professional of Green Business and Innovation.

•    Experience of dealing with climate vulnerable communities affected due to climate change.

•    Desired skills in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems. 

Required Language(s)    Fluency in written and spoken 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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see