Administrative Associate (Open to internal and external applicants)

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Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

With a total gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 430 billion, Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in South Asia. Between 2000 and 2019, Bangladesh’s economy registered high GDP growth, averaging around 6% per annum. During this period, there were several notable improvements across different socioeconomic indicators, putting the country on track for a formal graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026. Bangladesh’s score on the human development index (HDI) increased from 0.49 in 2000 to 0.68, placing it among countries categorized as medium human development. The national poverty rate fell from over 48% in 2000 to less than 19% in 2022. 

Despite the progress, Bangladesh faces several development challenges, and with the current trend, the country is unlikely to meet several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Even before the political crisis in 2024, Bangladesh was grappling with double-digit inflation. According to the latest estimate, GDP is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025, much slower than the GDP growth in the past. Without an uptick in private investment, the economy cannot diversify, a necessary condition for creating decent jobs. With low social spending and weak capacities, the government is constrained from providing quality services to the people. Bangladesh is also one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and is prone to natural hazards, including climate-induced disasters.   

As the UN’s development agency, UNDP has been in Bangladesh since 1972, promoting inclusive growth and democratic governance, and helping the country to achieve equitable and sustainable development. UNDP has been a close partner of Bangladesh in co-designing policy solutions, building national capacities, and promoting innovations to help meet its developmental aspirations.

UNDP helps the people and government of Bangladesh create a more sustainable, peaceful, innovative, and resilient economy, environment, and society. Its work helps our partners improve the quality of Bangladeshi governance and reduce poverty and inequality in cities and villages across the country. It promotes new and innovative energy and climate solutions and helps make Bangladesh a disaster preparation and management leader. It assists society’s most vulnerable, helping women, youth, and minorities access justice and opportunities to ensure no one is left behind. 

The United Nations continued to support the Government of Bangladesh in addressing one of the world’s largest and most protracted humanitarian crises, with over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees residing in Cox’s Bazar alongside vulnerable host communities. The response context remained highly complex, shaped by protracted displacement, environmental degradation, and growing exposure to climate-related hazards. Cox’s Bazar continues to face recurrent cyclones, intense monsoon rainfall, landslides, and flooding, which compound humanitarian vulnerabilities and place additional pressure on already strained services and ecosystems. 

In this setting, UNDP has been contributing to strengthening the humanitarian-development-peace nexus through integrated interventions that combined disaster risk reduction, environmental service delivery, and evidence-based planning. These efforts aimed not only to respond to immediate needs, but also to build longer-term resilience, reduce systemic risks, and support more sustainable and inclusive response systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

This position will directly report to the Head of Sub Office (Head of Field Office), UNDP Sub-office, Cox’s Bazar.

General Administration Support:

Travel and Transport Support:

Asset Management Support:

Project Management and knowledge sharing:

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Competencies

Core Competencies:

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site [link removed].

Cross-functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management    

Business Development    

General (across the functions)    

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Experience:

Required skills and competencies:

Desired additional skills and competencies:

Required Language(s) (at working level):

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection [link removed]

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.