Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
National Headquarters
684-686, Red Crescent Sarak, Bara Moghbazar, Dhaka-1217

Vacancy Announcement

The Red Cross - Red Crescent movement is the largest volunteer organization in the world. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) is a national society of the movement, constituted on 31 March 1973 by the President's Order No. 26 of 1973 with retrospective effect from 16 December 1971. This is the biggest humanitarian organization in Bangladesh. As an auxiliary to the government, the Society provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people over the last 50 years and has undertaken a wide range of activities in humanitarian response, disaster management, health, capacity building, and promoting Red Cross/Red Crescent ideals and principles.

Currently, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society is looking for a suitable Bangladeshi national for the following position of Nature Pulse Programme in Barguna district funded by the British Red Cross:

Job Title : PGI & CEA Officer.

Department: Disaster & Climate Risk Management

No. of position: 01 (One).

Salary Range: Up to BDT. 60,000/ monthly (Consolidated).

Job Nature: Contractual.

Reportable to: Assistant Project Manager – project implementation and liaison

Duration of contract: Up to 31st December 2025 (with the possibility of extension based on project funding availability).

Duty station: Barguna.

Starting Date: As soon as possible.

Organizational context

The Bangladesh Red Cross Society was constituted on 31 March 1973. The Society was recognized by ICRC on 20 September 1973 and admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on 2 November 1973. The name and emblem were changed from Red Cross to Red Crescent on 4th April 1988 vide Act 25 of 1988. BDRCS National Headquarters at Red Crescent Sarak, Boro Moghbazar, Dhaka is the Secretariat of the Society. The Secretary-General, appointed by the Managing Board, heads the Secretariat. The BDRCS has 68 Units. A Unit is constituted in each district and in the Metropolitan cities of Dhaka. Chittagong, Rajshahi & Khulna. Its vision is to `To become a leading humanitarian organization by mobilizing the power of humanity`. And mission statement is `The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, a volunteer-based humanitarian organization, endeavors to prevent and reduce human sufferings and save lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups by providing effective and efficient services through mobilizing resources in emergencies and normal times.

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), in partnership with the British Red Cross (BRC), is launching the "Nature Pulse" program to enhance the resilience and well-being of coastal communities in the Sundarbans. This program will use nature-based solutions to protect the region’s vital mangrove ecosystems, which act as a "green shield" against climate impacts like cyclones, flooding, and coastal erosion. Through community consultations and engagement, practical activities will be introduced to help restore mangroves while providing alternative livelihoods for locals, reducing their dependency on natural resources, and introducing climate-resilient WASH facilities and health awareness programs. The project aims to improve living conditions and protect the environment, while also building the skills and capacity of community members, local government, and volunteers. Partnerships with national and international organizations will further support mangrove restoration and monitoring. The program will also raise awareness about Climate Justice, helping communities understand their rights and advocate for long-term, sustainable change.

Project Summary:

 

The PGI and CEA Officer will play a vital role in integrating and coordinating Community Engagement, Accountability (CEA) and Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) initiatives within the Nature Pulse project. Working closely with the project’s technical and programmatic teams, this role will ensure that CEA and PGI approaches are seamlessly embedded across all areas of the project, from ecosystem and climate-resilient livelihoods to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), health, and WASH programs. This role will help safeguard vulnerable communities by promoting inclusive and culturally sensitive programming, particularly in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest region, where communities’ livelihoods rely on forest resources.

 Job purpose

Job duties and responsibilities


PGI and CEA officer:
1. CEA Integration and Capacity Building
  • Develop and operationalize the CEA approach within project processes, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and integration within thematic areas (NBS, climate resilience, livelihoods, health, and WASH).
  • Collaborate with Nature Pulse thematic leads to identify gaps and integrate CEA activities, such as community feedback mechanisms, risk communication, and participatory planning, to strengthen program impact.
  • Support to train staff, volunteers, and local stakeholders on CEA tools and methodologies to strengthen community feedback collection, understanding of community needs, and the adoption of community-centered approaches.
  • Regularly assess the effectiveness of CEA activities, collecting and analyzing feedback to adapt and improve program delivery.

2. Community Communication and Participation

  • Support to develop and implement communication strategies that provide clear, actionable, and accessible information to communities about project objectives, selection criteria, and services.
  • Facilitate mechanisms for continuous community feedback, including surveys, focus groups, and community events to ensure engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Support community participation in operational planning and decision-making, ensuring transparency and responsiveness to community needs.

3. Accountability Mechanisms

  • Establish, manage, and monitor feedback and complaint mechanisms, including processes to make sure feedback is analyzed, responded to and acted on WASH, health, and climate resilience initiatives to support adaptive programming.

4. Behavior and Social Change Communication (SBCC)

  • Support to the development and execution of behavior change communication (BCC) activities aimed at promoting healthy, climate-resilient practices among target communities.
  • Work with the health and WASH teams to ensure all communication is culturally relevant and supports sustainable behavior change.

5. PGI Mainstreaming and Technical Support

  • Act as the PGI focal point within Nature Pulse, providing expert guidance on integrating PGI standards, including safeguarding vulnerable groups and promoting gender-sensitive approaches across all thematic areas.
  • Conduct regular gender and diversity assessments to address specific needs and protection risks of community members.
  • Support the development and implementation of incident management and reporting mechanisms, ensuring that all staff understand and adhere to PGI policies.
  • Facilitate trainings on PGI topics for the project team, local partners, and stakeholders to promote inclusion, prevent abuse, and empower marginalized groups.

6. Community-Based Protection and Safeguarding

  • Design and implement activities that promote the dignity, access, participation, and safety (DAPS) of all community members, ensuring that marginalized voices are included in planning and decision-making.
  • Work closely with community members to identify and establish culturally appropriate protective mechanisms to enhance resilience and reduce risks within Sundarbans-dependent communities.

6. Program Monitoring and Adaptation

  • Collaborate with M&E teams to integrate CEA and PGI indicators, ensuring data collection reflects diverse community insights and measures the impact of CEA and PGI interventions.
  • Facilitate regular community consultations, focus group discussions, and perception surveys to gather feedback, adapt interventions, and strengthen community ownership.
  • Work with local communities/partners to document case studies and impact stories that showcase the effectiveness of community engagement in promoting sustainable, climate-resilient livelihoods.

7. Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Sharing

  • Actively participate in coordination meetings and build partnerships to strengthen the project’s approach to CEA and PGI across stakeholders.
  • Act as a liaison among Nature Pulse, communities, and partners for cohesive collaboration.
  • Share best practices on CEA and PGI with teams and stakeholders to enhance knowledge and project impact.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Actively work towards the achievement of the BDRCS goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Disaster Management, Public Administration, Geography and Environment, Anthropology or other relevant fields.
  • Minimum 3-5 years of experience in CEA/PGI-related roles, for example, beneficiary communication, social mobilization, community engagement, and communication for development; especially in ecosystem-based or climate-resilience or livelihood, or Health and WASH projects.
  • Experience in designing and implementing CEA/PGI approaches, including community feedback mechanisms, tools for communicating with communities (radio, social media, social mobilization etc.) and participatory planning processes, particularly in rural or forest-dependent communities.
  • Excellent communication, facilitation, and cross-cultural interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in disaster management, environmental programming, and ecosystem-based livelihoods.
  • Experience in leading community engagement and capacity-building efforts of local communities.
  • Experience of designing and implementing assessments, community consultations, research activities
  • Experience in planning targeted and appropriate behaviour change approaches
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multicultural teams and across organizational partnerships.
  • Background in working with marginalized communities, particularly in forest-dependent regions.
  • Working experience within the RCRC Movement or an international organization or NGO

Knowledge and skills:

  • Excellent computer skills ( MS Office package, Word, Excel).
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills (oral and written)
  • Excellent analytical and teamwork skills
  • Able to prioritize work, multi-task, and meet deadlines
  • Ability to work in demanding situations and sometimes under pressure and meet deadlines

Apply Instruction:

  • Departmental clearance will be required for internal candidates.

If you think you are competent enough for the position, please apply online before 5:00 pm, January 15, 2025.

BDRCS is an equal opportunity employer. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for interview.