Project Assistant | Arannayk Foundation
Arannayk Foundation, also known as the Bangladesh Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, is a not-for-profit organization established in 2003 through a joint initiative of the Governments of Bangladesh and the United States. Registered under Section 28 of the Bangladesh Companies Act 1994, it promotes the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of tropical forests across the country. The Foundation provides both financial and technical assistance to various stakeholders engaged in forest and biodiversity conservation, while also implementing projects funded by national and international development partners.
Job Context
Arannayk Foundation is going to implement a project titled “Scaling up Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) mitigation interventions, strengthening institutional linkages, and evaluating effectiveness” funded by FAO, that will be implemented in Cox’s Bazar District. The duration of the project is 12 months. The main focus of the project is to scale up and strengthen community-based HWC management systems and institutional linkages with Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) and other relevant stakeholders; and to evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of existing conflict mitigation measures, including elephant non-preferred crop interventions, community response mechanisms, and awareness initiatives.
To implement the project, Arannayk Foundation is seeking two (02) qualified candidates for the position of ‘Project Assistant’, who will be based in Cox’s Bazar with frequent field visits to the project sites.
Key Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance from the Executive Director and the Head of Programs and the supervision of the Project manager and the Senior Program Officer of Arannayk Foundation, the Project Assistant will be part of a diversified team and will be responsible for supporting Arannayk Foundation in conducting field activities of this project. S/he will also work closely with local communities, technical team, and local institutions to support the project’s planned activities.
Specific Duties
- Support the verification and updating of profiles of the previously identified 100 forest-dependent households and facilitate the identification and profiling of an additional 100 households from conflict-prone areas of Ukhiya, Teknaf, Ramu, and Cox’s Bazar Sadar, ensuring appropriate consideration of gender, vulnerability, and social inclusion.
- Facilitate the distribution of wildlife deterrent tools and provide hands-on training on HWC mitigation to support 200 HHs.
- Assist in conducting planned training on wildlife rescue tools and emergency response procedures for 200 individuals from wildlife response teams, Co-management Committees (CMCs), and BFD frontline staff.
- Support coordination meetings and stakeholder consultations to strengthen institutional collaboration and establish effective coordination mechanisms among the Bangladesh Forest Department, local government institutions, community organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Assist in planning, organizing, and facilitating meetings, workshops, awareness campaigns, focus group discussions (FGDs), and other project events in accordance with approved work plans.
- Support the verification and updating of profiles of 1,400 previously identified households and assist in organizing training sessions on wildlife non-preferred crop cultivation. Facilitate the distribution of seeds and relevant agricultural inputs on two occasions, ensuring meaningful participation of women and gender-diverse individuals.
- Collect HWC data, including crop-raiding and wildlife incursions and analysis, to assess trends and effectiveness of community-based human wildlife conflict management systems.
- Support the development, production, dissemination, and field-level distribution of standard HWC protocols, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, including posters, flyers, and audio-visual communication products such as video documentaries.
- Conduct and facilitate field demonstrations, simulation exercises, and mock drills to enhance community preparedness, awareness, and response readiness in managing wildlife conflict situations.
- Provide logistical and coordination support for training programs, workshops, exchange visits, exposure visits, and cross-learning events at community and stakeholder levels.
- Assist in documenting success stories, challenges, lessons learned, and case studies from the field.
- Support the Project Manager in preparing donor reports, progress updates, dashboards, briefs, presentations, and other project documentation by collecting, compiling, and providing quality field-level information and evidence.
- Ensure compliance with Arannayk Foundation’s policies, procedures, safeguarding standards, financial and administrative requirements, and donor compliance obligations during the implementation of all project activities.
- Maintain regular communication and coordination with project beneficiaries, local stakeholders, and relevant government agencies to ensure smooth implementation and timely resolution of operational issues.
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the Executive Director, Head of Programs, Project Lead and Project Manager as and when required.
Qualifications & Experience required for the position
Formal/Academic Education
- Bachelor’s in any discipline.
Working experience
- At least three years of professional experience.
- Proven experience working directly with rural communities and marginalized groups in participatory development programs.
- Experience in community mobilization, facilitation of meetings, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building activities.
- Experience in data collection using GPS and other field-based monitoring tools.
- Experience in conducting FGD, KII, and field surveys.
Appointment type
Full time
Additional Requirements
- Should be a good team player.
- Strong ability to work flexibly, managing change and competing priorities.
- Having non-discriminatory and gender-sensitive perceptions along with safeguarding and child protection compliances.
- To protect children, women, and people with disabilities in connection.
- Respectful of safeguarding policy.
- Computer literacy: MS Office.
- Ability to drive a motorbike and a valid driving license will be preferred.
Application Template
A cover letter summarizing skills and experiences relevant to this position, with motivation to work with the Arannayk Foundation, along with the CV in a single document.
A precise CV with a passport-sized photograph, following the template provided below:
- Name, Father’s and Mother’s Name, and address, including email and mobile number.
- Academic Qualification (last in the first order, preferably in a table).
- Training received (only relevant training will be considered).
- Job Experience (last job in first sequences)
- Additional qualification, if any.
- Name and contact details of two professional referees having work relations, preferably the most recent and previous line managers.
Apply Instruction
We welcome passionate and qualified individuals to apply for this exciting opportunity. If you believe your skills and experience align with the role, please submit your updated CV along with a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and motivation.