Project Associate (Data Management) at UNDP

Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

04 Aug, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

06 May, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Data Management, Data Analysis, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Stakeholder Engagement, MS Office, GIS Applications, Database Management, Data Validation, Technical Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation, Capacity Building

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Tiered Approach In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby: * Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026. * Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments * Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers * Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply. Background Bangladesh, with a GDP exceeding USD 430 billion, is the second-largest economy in South Asia and experienced strong economic growth of around 6% annually between 2000 and 2019, alongside significant social progress. During this period, the country improved key development indicators, including an increase in the Human Development Index from 0.49 to 0.68 and a reduction in the national poverty rate from over 48% in 2000 to below 19% in 2022, positioning it for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026. Despite these achievements, Bangladesh faces serious development challenges, including slow economic growth projected at 3.7% in 2025, double-digit inflation, limited private investment, weak institutional capacities, low social spending, and high vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, which threaten progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from minority groups, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities, and upholding zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, and exploitation. As a global leader in addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change, UNDP works with partners in over 170 countries to deliver integrated, long-term solutions that benefit both people and the planet. The Initiation Plan (IP) of Resilient and Inclusive Economic Growth (RINEG) programme at UNDP Bangladesh supports the development of innovative initiatives to advance resilient, green, and inclusive economic development, with a strong focus on digital transformation of land administration systems. The RINEG Initiation Plan (2026–2027) provides a foundational framework to consolidate UNDP’s climate and inclusive growth programming by integrating governance, gender and inclusion, sustainable finance, and digital innovation into a cohesive, resilience-focused portfolio. Under Output 5, the programme aims to digitize land management records in automated land management system, embarking a new era in online land governance of Bangladesh. Key components of this initiative include data collection, entry, verification, correction and validation to modernize services such as- land development tax, records of rights (RoR/Khatian) and mutation. A critical aspect is ensuring the accuracy of data. UNDP has been actively collaborating with the Ministry of Land on this digitalization effort. A critical value addition by UNDP on this initiative has been to enable online access for landowners in digital land records by creating their land profiles. Successful completion of 1st piloting phase in 8 districts across 8 divisions led to 2nd piloting phase across 6 districts (Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj and Cox’s Bazar) and 2 city corporations (Chattogram and Khulna) with much diversified data outlook. This initiative will benefit over 11.73 million citizens by ensuring secure, transparent, and equitable access to land information, empowering communities and reducing land-related disputes. The unified digital platform will enable landowners to securely store and access land records, pay land development taxes online, initiate and track mutation processes digitally, and manage their access credentials, thereby streamlining services, reducing costs, and strengthening inclusive and sustainable economic development. The Project Associate (Data Management) will provide support to Project Manager (PM) in close collaboration with the RIG Cluster, Programme Teams, Operations Teams of UNDP. H/She will be responsible for ensuring data management accuracy, integrity and timeliness to support the activities of the project. Duties and Responsibilities The Project Associate (Data Management) will be work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of Project Manager and collaborates closely with RIG Cluster, for quality assurance and technical support, Programme Teams, technical coordination teams and technical representatives of UNDP. The Project Associate (Data Management) will provide dedicated support to the Project Manager for the effective implementation and quality assurance of land data digitalization activities at the field level, with a particular focus on data entry, verification, and management, and coordination with various stakeholders. Field-Level Data Entry System and Management Support: * Provide direct technical support and oversight for data entry operations at pilot and potentially scaled-up field locations (e.g., Union Bhumi Offices, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Offices), ensuring adherence to established data collection, verification, and entry protocols. * Assist in the deployment and capacity building of data enumerators and supervisors, including hands- on training on land data structure, documentation, technical terminology, database interoperability, and digital platforms for data entry and verification. * Oversee the data collection, review, input, and verification process of holding-related information in the Land Development Tax software, including National Identification Numbers (NID) and mobile numbers of holding owners. * Supervise the data entry and verification of Recorded Khatian and Mutated Khatian in the Digital Land Record Management System, ensuring accuracy and credibility. * Ensure that Register-1 and Register-2 are consistently used as primary source documents for data validation to ensure accuracy. * Monitor the integration of land development tax, mutation records, and Records of Rights (RoR) into the digital system during data input. * Identify and document field-level data entry challenges, inconsistencies, and errors, proposing immediate mitigation measures and systematic solutions to the Project Manager. Data Quality Assurance and Validation: * Implement rigorous quality assurance protocols for all digitized land data, including Holding, Khatian, NID, and mobile number information. * Conduct regular audits and cross-checks of entered data against source documents to ensure accuracy, credibility, and transparency. * Contribute to the refinement of data entry and validation processes based on pilot findings and emerging challenges, to ensure data accuracy and contribute to land dispute mitigation. * Assist in establishing robust data cleansing and reconciliation procedures for discrepancies identified between various data sources (e.g., Register-1, Register-2, NID database). Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement: * Facilitate close coordination and day-to-day follow-up with relevant government officials, including the technical team of the software company (vendors like SoftBD Limited, Olivine Limited, Mysoft Heaven BD Limited), Upazila Land Office, and Deputy Commissioner’s Office to ensure seamless data operations and technical support. * Act as a key liaison between UNDP project personnel, field enumerators, government land officials, and the software vendor's technical team for data management and system functionalities. * Support outreach and community engagement activities related to data collection campaigns, including setting up camps at selected locations for NID and mobile number collection from holding owners. * Participate in meetings and consultations with local land office officials (e.g., Union Bhumi Office, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Office) to gather firsthand knowledge and address operational issues. Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting: * Contribute to the development and implementation of a robust monitoring system for field-level data entry and verification progress, tracking targets (e.g., number of validated and verified data sets processed). * Document findings, challenges, and lessons learned from pilot interventions, sharing them with the Project Manager and relevant officials from the Ministry of Land and project authority for full-scale implementation strategy. * Provide regular progress updates and reports on data management activities, including challenges encountered and proposed solutions. * Support the overall project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework by providing accurate and timely data from field operations. Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: * Contribute to capturing lessons learned and good practices related to land data digitalization for wider application and dissemination. * Support the establishment of knowledge platforms and innovative mechanisms for knowledge dissemination from the project. * Assist in identifying specific capacity building needs of data enumerators and local land office staff regarding digital data management. Competencies Core Competencies * 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 & Technical Competencies Business Management * Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals. * 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 Development * 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. Digital * Data Analysis - Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making. 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. Information Management & Technology * Data Management & Analytics - Knowledge in data management, data sciences, ability to structure data, develop dashboard and visualization. Design data warehouses, data lakes or data platforms concepts. Familiarity with Machine leaning, natural language processing or generation and the use of artificial intelligence to support predictive analytics. Required Skills and Experience Education: * Secondary Education is required. * University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics or a closely relevant academic discipline will be given due consideration but is not a requirement. Experience: * Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (bachelor´s degree) of practical experience at the national level in data management, data analysis, or IT support for development projects. Required skills * Demonstrated experience in operating MS Office Package and knowledge in geospatial data or GIS applications are essential. * Experience to supervise the data entry and verification of land data in the Digital Land Record Management System, ensuring accuracy and credibility. * Proven experiences in the refinement of data entry and validation processes based on pilot findings and emerging challenges, to ensure data accuracy and contribute to land dispute mitigation. Desired skills * Hands-on experience with data entry software and database management systems. * Knowledge of land administration processes and land data structures in Bangladesh is highly desirable. * Knowledge of NID integration processes and mobile-based data collection tools. * Experience in public service providing related services or e-governance initiatives will be a good advantage. * Proven experience in supporting field-level data collection and data entry systems, particularly for large-scale data digitalization projects. * Experience in coordinating with various stakeholders, including government officials (at Upazila and Deputy Commissioner levels) and technical teams from software companies. * Experience in working with or within the UN System or other international development organizations will be an added advantage. * Relevant certifications in data management, database administration, or IT support. Required Languages * Fluency in English and Bangla is required. 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 www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Responsibilities

The Project Associate will oversee field-level land data digitalization, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data entry and verification. They will coordinate between government officials, software vendors, and UNDP teams to streamline land governance services.