I.             Job Summary:  

CARE is one of the world's leading international humanitarian and development organizations, committed to helping people in poor communities improve their lives and alleviate poverty. Founded in 1945, CARE is working over 121 countries to fight global poverty and marginalization. CARE has been active in Bangladesh since 1949 and is one of the largest programs in CARE confederation. Women and girls are at the core of all CARE programs because they represent half of the marginalized group and it is not possible to overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE Bangladesh works to implement programs with long-term impacts that result in sustainable changes for the extreme poor and marginalized communities.

CARE Bangladesh's Humanitarian and Climate Action Program is committed to provide people affected by disasters and conflicts with life-saving assistance, with a special focus on women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by disasters. Our action also includes preparedness and early action, emergency response and recovery, and resilience and adaptation to climate change and equitable development.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has selected a CARE Bangladesh led consortium to implement the project titled 'Nature Based Adaptation towards Prosperous and Adept Lives & Livelihoods in Bangladesh (NABAPALLAB) in two Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) – the Sundarbans and Hakaluki Haor. The other consortium members are CNRS, Cordaid, C3ER-BRAC University, Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK), Friendship, Humanity & Inclusion (HI), iDE, and Practical Action.  It is a key component of the Bangladesh-UK Accord on Climate Change and will deliver the adaptation outcome of the FCDO's flagship Bangladesh Climate and Environment Programme (BCEP). The programme will make a significant contribution in Bangladesh to progress against GoB's policies and priorities e.g., National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), commitments to biodiversity conservation, ongoing 8th Five Year Plan, etc. And it will also contribute to UK's commitment to International Climate Finance (ICF).

Due to environmental sensitivity and high anthropogenic pressures such as overharvesting, overfishing, pollution and illegal logging, the Sundarbans mangrove and the Hakaluki Hoar wetland are at a vulnerable stage with climate change exacerbating the current situation. FCDO's NABAPALLAB aims to engage biodiversity and natural resource-dependent communities to strengthen the climate resilience of the ECAs, conserve biodiversity, and at the same time, diversify and improve people's livelihood through innovative nature-based (NBS) and locally led adaptation solutions.  It will increase climate resilience of more than 250,000 vulnerable households and ecosystem-based protection and restoration of 5,000km2 area in, especially in the districts of Bagerhat, Satkhira and Khulna in the Sundarbans ECA, and Maulvibazar and Sylhet in Hakaluki Haor. To achieve FCDO's NABAPALLAB goal, CARE and its partners   will work with different ministries specially , Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Department of Forest, Department of Environment (DoE), Ministry of Land, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED),  Bangladesh Water Development Board, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) etc. of the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) at the national, regional and local levels, to implement the most appropriate NbS and Locally-led Adaptations (LLA) solutions for the Sundarbans and Hakaluki haor ecosystems.
The principal purpose of the Upazila Project Officer position is to support and guide the local community and implementing partner, as well as the consortium members, in implementing nature-based and Locally-led Adaptation (LLA) solutions by fostering community-driven best practices. S/he will be responsible for the overall implementation of DIP activity and reporting for his / her upazila. She / He will closely work with the Community Mobilizer Facilitator.

II.  Responsibilities and Tasks:  

% of Time

Responsibility # 1: Implementation of Project Activities as per the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) by maintaining high standards

30%

• Plan, implement and monitor the project activities in the respective Upazila as per the   detailed implementation plan (DIP) with guidance from the Regional Manager, Climate Smart Livelihood.
• Make sure that activities' implementation follows projects and coordinate support from the technical teams and consortium to make it succinct.
• Coordinate with and guide the community mobilization facilitators for quality implementation of project activities.
• Maintain strong coordination and communication with the relevant government and other stakeholders.
• Prepare project activity progress reports and ensure timely submission to the respective lines.

Responsibility # 2: Innovation, Planning and Implementation of climate-smart livelihood solutions and disaster-resilient shelter

30%

• Apply a design thinking process throughout the project for creative problem solving to climate change, focusing on the vulnerable people CARE will be working for, pulling together what is desirable from a human point of view with what is technologically feasible and economically viable in livelihood, especially in agriculture and aquaculture sectors, and in shelter repair/reconstruction.
• Work with the RM to carry out locally-led and nature-based climate-smart livelihood solutions to drive successful climate justice across target sectors and stakeholders and equip communities and participants with tools and techniques to rejuvenate their lost livelihoods and shelters.
• Lead the assessment and participant selecting process, planning and implementation of climate/disaster resilient livelihood and shelter schemes for vulnerable and marginal communities to ensure the security of lives and livelihoods by adopting nature-based solutions and ensuring adaptation to climate change.
• Select a suitable housing model considering the local limitations and opportunities, coordinating with GoB service providers and authorities, and following Bangladesh Shelter Cluster Guidelines.
• Assess potentials and develop mechanisms for market linkage and networking with Private Sectors.

Responsibility # 3: Incorporate relevant new technologies and update the system/process, methodologies and tools for Livelihood options, Shelter repair/reconstruction & Community capacity and awareness development for climate change adaptation

15%

• Organize orientation sessions for the project participants on climate smart regenerative livelihood options in association with related governmental line departments.
• Organize orientation sessions for the project participants on low-cost disaster resilient shelter construction in association with related governmental line department.
• Introduce the community with available government service provisions and channels.
• Organize capacity development sessions for local partner and project staff.
• Introduce vertical gardening, floating gardening, salinity resilient species to support food security at household level.
• Explore and assess the potentials of global learning in solving the climate related challenges in the targeted community

Responsibility # 4: Work closely with identified stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective engagement in project implementation

10%

• Support the project team in conducting participants selection assessment.
• Ensure timely and effective communication and coordinate with Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Department of Agricultural Extension and other relevant stakeholders in designing and implementation of project activities.
• Work closely with the RM development of localized and climate-smart livelihood solutions and implementation.

Responsibility # 5: Documentation, Reporting and Knowledge Management

10%

• Support KML team in field data collection, learning documentation, knowledge management, and reporting.
• Facilitate related training module and IEC/BCC materials development, and other knowledge products in coordination with the KML team and related govt. stakeholders.
• Support RM in preparing narrative donor reports as per the requirements, in line with results frame indicators as per the donor’s prescribed template/requirement and approved activity plan as the project continues to achieve targets.
• Ensure timely collection of Local Admin. Certificate through community implementing partner organizations.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED

5%

Responsibility: Responsibilities on Safety and Security, Gender and Inclusion and Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults

As part of this role, the job holder must adhere to and support CARE Bangladesh’s Safety and Security policy and systems as part of their day-to-day duties and comply with safety & security protocols and directives, including reporting. Staff must maintain situational and self–awareness and be aware of the safety – security-related consequences of their actions upon themselves, their team, and the organization.

CARE is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and expects staff to promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults always.  CARE expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our Code of Conduct.  We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate this commitment are recruited to work with us.

Gender equality and inclusion are fundamental at CARE, promoting equal rights and challenging discriminatory norms to achieve social justice. We foster an inclusive workplace respecting diverse gender identities, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences through dialogue, training, and diversity initiatives. All CARE staff must uphold ethical standards, following codes of conduct to prevent abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and neglect. Regular monitoring ensures accountability to uphold these principles and support our mission of social justice and poverty alleviation.

III. Reporting to:  

IV. Working Conditions:  

• Qualification:

• 4 to 5 years experience in agriculture extension, natural resource management, climate adaptation, civil engineering, and community engagement in humanitarian and/or development programs.
• Experienced of working in short-term livelihood and shelter recovery projects/CCA projects/climate justice projects/DRR projects.
• Experienced of working in UN/INGOs/NGOs.
• Proficiency in both Bengali and English.
• CARE Core Competencies as noted below: