Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility CHTDF UNDP Bangladesh Job Vacancies 26th August 2012

Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility CHTDF UNDP Bangladesh Job Vacancies 26th August 2012


The CHT region has remained outside the mainstream of development assistance to Bangladesh for more than 25 years due to the low level conflict in the area.

In the 1990s, after decades of severe turmoil in the CHT region, the people of the CHT entered a new era of relative calm with the signing of the CHT Accord between the Government of Bangladesh and the Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS) in 1997. This created space and opened opportunities for development assistance. Local people’s enthusiasm and efforts have been matched by the international donor community’s support for the resumption of development in the region.

As Convener and Chair of the Local Consultative Group (LCG) sub group on the CHT, UNDP has played a leading coordinating and facilitating role in promoting sustainable, locally-appropriate socio-economic development in the region. In 2003, UNDP further responded to the existing development needs with an official Preparatory Assistance project, culminating in a USD 50 million, 5 year programme signed with the Government in late 2005: ‘Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the CHT’. In 2008, UNDP undertook a Strategic Review of the programme to identify major achievements and opportunities for the future. In 2009, in response to the review and recognizing the valuable contribution of the programme to peace and development in the CHT the Government of Bangladesh reaffirmed their commitment to the programme and approved a continuation to September 2013 with an increased budget to USD 160.5 Million.

UNDP works closely with the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MoCHTA), the CHT Regional Council (RC), the three Hill District Councils (HDCs), the traditional institutions of the three Circle Chiefs, International, National and CHT based NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, local leaders and representatives from local community based organizations.

UNDP’s programme for the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the CHT through its Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF) works for the overall development of opportunities for all peoples and communities resident in the CHT. The development purpose of the programme is to support the Government of Bangladesh and enable the institutions of the CHT and their constituent communities to pursue accelerated, sustainable socio-economic development and regional poverty reduction, based on the principles of self reliance, local participation, and decentralized development.

The key objectives of the project are :

    Capacities of CHT institutions, including MoCHTA, the Regional Council, the three Hill District Councils, and the traditional institutions of the three Circle Chiefs, are enhanced

    Economic opportunities for small local enterprises, women, youth and farmers are improved

    Literacy is increased through improved access to a strengthened education system adapted to the local context

    Health conditions are improved through a strengthened health system supporting community outreach and localized service delivery

    Local communities are empowered and their capacities to manage their own development are enhanced

    Confidence required to find the solutions to long standing problems and encourage sustainable development and peace in the CHT is created.

Additionally, the project has adopted the following cross cutting development principles:

    Gender equity

    Knowledge management and knowledge transfer