Security Officer (Open to Internal and External Applicants), Dhaka, Bangladesh

## Security Officer (Open to Internal and External Applicants), Dhaka, Bangladesh - Organization:UNDP - United Nations Development Programme In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby: - Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026. - Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments - Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers - Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply. Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in South Asia, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 450 billion. Between 2000 and 2019, the economy grew at an average of around 6 per cent per year, accompanied by broad gains in human development. The national poverty rate fell from over 48 per cent in 2000 to about 18.7 per cent in 2022, and the Human Development Index reached 0.685 in 2023, placing Bangladesh in the medium human development category. The country is scheduled to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November 2026. Significant development challenges remain. GDP growth slowed to 3.49 per cent in fiscal year 2024-25, inflation has stayed elevated, and private investment is weak, constraining the economic diversification needed to create decent jobs. Bangladesh is also one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, highly exposed to natural and climate-induced hazards. As the UN's development agency, UNDP has worked in Bangladesh since 1972, partnering with the government to advance democratic governance, climate adaptation, environmental protection, and inclusive growth. This support spans high-quality policy and technical advice, implementation support, development financing, and knowledge sharing. The programme portfolio is organized into two clusters and a Sub-Office in Cox's Bazar; Democratic Governance, and Resilience and Inclusive Growth aligned to the Country Programme Document (CPD) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Each cluster is led by a Cluster Team Leader (functional title: Assistant Resident Representative) and Sub-Office by its head responsible for programme and project quality, results, and effective relationships with implementing partners and donors. Across both clusters, the Operations Team and the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) provide cross-cutting oversight and quality assurance, helping to ensure compliance, delivery readiness, and sound financial and operational management. The Operations Team is a key enabler of programme delivery, ensuring the right systems, resources, and processes are in place for results to happen. Working under the leadership of the Operations Advisor, it covers the full range of operational functions administration, procurement, finance, human resources, ICT, and security and collaborates closely with programme teams, extending operational support to partner UN agencies where needed. Its core focus is compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, effective internal controls, and continuous improvement of operational systems, combining sound process management with responsiveness, anticipation of programme needs, and sound judgment. UNDP Bangladesh delivers a diverse programme portfolio spanning democratic governance, climate and environment, and inclusive growth, including operations in geographically remote and security-sensitive areas such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts and coastal, disaster-prone districts. Programme delivery depends on a functioning security risk management framework that enables personnel, partners and communities to operate safely. The Host Government bears primary responsibility for the safety and security of personnel and property of organizations within the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS). UNDSS holds responsibility for United Nations system security risk management in Bangladesh, including the security risk assessments, the security risk management measures, the country security plan, the Security Operations Centre, the warden system and the issuance of advisories. The Country Office security function, working with the UNDP Security Office, the Regional Security Advisor and the Sub-Regional Security Specialist, and with UNDSS, supports UNDP compliance with that framework; it does not substitute for it. Bangladesh has been undergoing a significant political transition since August 2024. National elections and a constitutional referendum held in February 2026 returned a new elected government. The security risk management situational analyses describe the political climate as cautiously stable but fragile, with law-and-order institutions still being reconstituted and primacy for public order returning to the police and civil authorities. UNDP operations fall within seven security risk management areas. The approved general threat assessments rate crime, civil unrest and hazards as substantial or high in the Dhaka Metro, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts areas, and the security level in the Dhaka Metro and Chittagong Hill Tracts areas is 3 (Moderate). Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall security accountability of the Resident Representative and the day-to-day supervision of the Operations Advisor, and under the technical supervision of the Sub-Regional Security Specialist for Asia and the Pacific together with the Regional Security Advisor, the Security Officer provides security risk management support to Country Office management to enable effective UNDP programme delivery throughout Bangladesh, within the framework of the UNSMS and UNDP security policies and procedures. The position prepares, analyses and recommends; decisions carrying operational risk consequences are taken by the Resident Representative, the Deputy Resident Representative or the Operations Advisor. The incumbent will have the following specific duties and responsibilities:1. Security risk management and programming support - Support the preparation of security risk assessments for UNDP programmes, projects and operations across all areas of assignment, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts and other field locations, and recommend mitigation measures for the approval of the Resident Representative or the Operations Advisor. - Support the mainstreaming of security, and its costs, into all stages of programme and project design, implementation and delivery, under the technical guidance of the Regional Security Advisor and the Sub-Regional Security Specialist. - Analyse the effect of security factors and trends on programme planning and delivery, and the effect of programme design on stability and security and submit recommendations to management. - Prepare inputs for UNDSS for the preparation and periodic update of country and area-specific security risk assessments and related documentation. - Support application of the Person-Centred Approach in security risk management to address specific threats, risks or vulnerabilities identified through assessments. 2. Security plans, business continuity and compliance with the UN security framework - Support the establishment, maintenance and testing of Country Office security and contingency plans in accordance with the UN Security Policy Manual (SPM) and the country-specific Security Risk Management (SRM) process, in coordination with UNDSS. - Ensure that all UNDP personnel, including project personnel and eligible dependants, are captured in the Security Plan