Mission and objectivesUNDP'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 Bangladeshโs 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.
ContextCredible, inclusive and transparent elections are a cornerstone of peaceful and prosperous societies. Around the world, they underpin public trust in institutions, enable accountability and widen civic participation so that women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups can help shape decisions that affect their lives. Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals depends on such participation and on democratic processes that leave no one behind. Bangladesh is navigating a period of political transition and has prioritized reforms that strengthen independent institutions, restore public confidence and safeguard fundamental rights. Within this context, forthcoming national elections are pivotal to stability, legitimacy and social cohesion. The Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) has committed to neutrality, professionalism and integrity in electoral management and has requested United Nations support to enhance preparedness, voter engagement and information integrity while ensuring accessibility for all voters. UNDPโs Country Programme (2022โ2026) places people centred, inclusive and accountable governance at its core. In line with the UNDP Strategic Plan and the United Nationsโ commitment to โLeave No One Behind,โ UNDP supports efforts that expand access to information and participation, strengthen rule of law based institutions and promote gender equality and inclusionโparticularly for women, youth, first time voters and persons with disabilities. UNDPโs work in Bangladesh therefore focuses on helping national partners deliver responsive, transparent services and build resilience against risks that can erode public trust. The BALLOT (Bangladeshโs Advancement for Credible, Inclusive and Transparent, Elections) project is UNDPโs programmatic response to the Election Commissionโs request. Designed in two phases, it couples immediate election support with long term institutionalization. During Phase I (January 2025โJune 2026), the project supports the Commission and the Electoral Training Institute to strengthen institutional, technical and operational capacities for election planning, staff training, field operations and election day readiness; to foster an enabling environment through civic and voter education, inclusive outreach and responsible information practices; and to convene multi stakeholder dialogue platforms that encourage peaceful participation and confidence building. Phase II (July 2026โDecember 2027) consolidates these gains by embedding standard operating procedures and continuous training, sustaining public engagement and supporting reforms that make future electoral cycles more credible, inclusive and resilient. Within this broader vision, UNDP is seeking young talent with a passion for public service and inclusion to contribute to the BALLOT projectโs delivery. The incumbent Training Associate will support practical, results oriented workโcoordinating trainings, workshops and dialogues; assisting stakeholder engagement and outreach; maintaining training databases and orderly documentation; and helping the team capture lessons that feed into evidence based decision making. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated professional to contribute to UNDPโs governance portfolio while developing hands on skills in capacity development, event coordination and inclusive public engagement.
Task DescriptionUnder the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), BALLOT Project, and in close collaboration with the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) and BEC counterparts, the UNV Training Associate will: โข Support the design and roll-out of training programmes for BEC staff, electoral officials, polling agents, and other stakeholders. โข Assist in preparing training plans, session outlines, and learning materials, ensuring content is accessible and inclusive (gender-responsive, disability-sensitive, youth-friendly). โข Coordinate logistics for training events, workshops, and learning sessions, including venue arrangements, participant communications, travel, materials preparation, and accessibility measures. โข Provide facilitation support during trainings, simulations, and workshops, and document discussions and outcomes. โข Maintain participant databases and ensure collection and reporting of sex-, age-, and disability-disaggregated data (SADDD) for training activities. โข Monitor and track progress against training workplans, documenting lessons learned and feeding them into adaptive management. โข Liaise with trainers, consultants, and partner institutions (e.g., ETI, CSOs, universities) to ensure quality assurance and timely delivery of training activities. โข Support the development of e-learning modules, digital training content, and blended learning solutions for election preparedness. โข Contribute to project reporting by drafting inputs on training and capacity-building activities. In addition to the specified tasks, the incumbent position would perform other need-based tasks assigned by the supervisor.
Competencies and valuesโข Accountability โข Adaptability and flexibility โข Building Trust โข Creativity โข Commitment and Motivation โข Commitment to Continuous Learning โข Communication โข Creativity โข Empowering Others โข Ethics and Values โข Judgement and decision-making โข Knowledge Sharing โข Leadership โข Managing Performance โข Planning and organising โข Professionalism โข Self-management โข Technological Awareness
Living conditions and remarksDhaka is located in central Bangladesh. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental services, and educational centres are available for internationals. Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another. Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March). Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.