NTB/UNDP Vacancy Announcement for Project Officer

1. Position Information

Project: Sustainable Tourism Project (STP)

Title: Project Officer- Infrastructure and Safeguards

Level: NPPC 8

Duty station (City and Province): Kathmandu, Bagmati Province

Type (Regular or Short term):Regular

Expected starting date:15 June 2026

Expected Duration: One year and extension until project duration

Project Description

Nepal’s tourism sector, despite its vast natural, cultural, and adventure tourism potential, remains underutilized, contributing approximately 2% to GDP and employing around 200,000 people. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the sector, reducing tourist arrivals from 1.2 million in 2019 to 0.15 million in 2021. Although recovery is underway, achieving the national target of attracting 3.5 million tourists annually by 2032 under the Nepal Tourism Decade (2023–2032) requires transformative investments in infrastructure, service quality, sustainability, digitalization, and institutional capacity.

The Sustainable Tourism Project (STP) – a joint project of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and UNDP Nepal aims to revitalise Nepal’s tourism sector post-COVID-19 and support inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic growth. The project prioritizes the improvement and climate-resilient upgrading of small-scale tourism infrastructure along three major trekking corridors—API Saipal, Manaslu Region, and Kanchenjunga Base Camp—while simultaneously creating tourism-based employment and enterprise opportunities for poor, vulnerable, and marginalized communities. It also focuses on strengthening the institutional capacity of tourism stakeholders at the federal, provincial, and local levels to foster a sustainable and inclusive tourism ecosystem. In addition, the project promotes enhanced digitalization, destination branding, and strategic marketing to improve competitiveness and visitor experience. Across all interventions, it systematically mainstreams Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and climate resilience to ensure long-term, equitable, and responsible tourism development. The following are the outputs of the project:

Output 1: Tourism-based employment opportunities created for poor, vulnerable and marginalised community people via development and/or improvement of tourism facilities.

Output 2: Enhanced capacity of tourism stakeholders to create a sustainable, empowered, and inclusive tourism ecosystem for sustainable local economic development.

Output 3: Enhanced digitization, strategic branding, and marketing of tourism destinations to promote and sustain the Nepalese tourism industry.

Project Officer- Infrastructure and Safeguards will provide the technical support required to design, estimate, supervise and quality-assure small-scale infrastructure works, ensuring alignment with national standards, social and environmental safeguards (SES), and disaster-resilience principles. The role contributes directly to the delivery of Output 1 (improved tourism facilities and services) and supports coordination between provincial and local government and private sector tourism stakeholders, implementing partners, and communities to ensure timely, cost-effective and durable infrastructure interventions.

3. Scope of Work

The incumbent’s duties are outlined below and will be fulfilled in line with the prevailing UNDP rules and procedures, as well as with due compliance with the NIM Guidelines. The key Responsibilities of the assignment are:

1. Provide technical and programmatic support for the planning, design, supervision, and quality assurance of small-scale tourism infrastructure along the priority trekking trails and other identified destinations.

• Provide support on technical review and guidance on feasibility studies, site assessments, designs, drawings, BoQs, specifications, and cost estimates;
• Ensure infrastructure design aligns with national building codes, trail standards, protected area regulations, and disaster-resilient construction principles;
• Integrate climate resilience, green building practices, energy efficiency, waste management systems, universal accessibility, and environmentally responsible design;
• Conduct regular field supervision missions to verify construction quality, timelines, cost control, and compliance with approved technical documents;
• Provide inputs in preparation of technical ToRs, procurement specifications, and evaluation;
• Strengthen the technical capacity of local governments, NGO and user committees on infrastructure planning, maintenance, and sustainability;
• Ensure timely and transparent handover of completed infrastructure assets with clear operation and maintenance (O&M) plans;
• Maintain a comprehensive infrastructure database including GIS-referenced data, progress tracking, and asset inventory;
• Ensure full compliance with UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and Government of Nepal regulatory requirements.
• Support social and environmental screening (SES) for site-specific SES conduct and any SES required project infrastructure interventions;
• Conduct site visits, risk categorization, and stakeholder consultations, including Indigenous Peoples, women, and marginalized groups;
• Assist in preparation and implementation of site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) with mitigation, monitoring, and costing provisions;
• Integrate safeguard provisions into bidding documents and contractor agreements;
• Monitor compliance with environmental laws, protected area regulations, labor standards, and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS);
• Support operationalization and documentation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM);
• Conduct training sessions for contractors, local governments, and community groups on safeguard compliance, environmental management, waste handling, and OHS;
• Serve as the Safeguards Focal Point for infrastructure-related activities under STP.
• Ensure infrastructure investments directly contribute to tourism value chain development and local employment generation.
• Align infrastructure construction with job creation and livelihood opportunities;
• Facilitate collaboration between provincial/local governments, tourism associations, user committees, conservation authorities, and private sector actors;
• Promote infrastructure solutions that enhance visitor experience, safety, digital readiness, and economic participation of local communities;
• Support establishment of sustainable asset management systems, including maintenance funds and community-based management mechanisms;
• Facilitate coordination meetings, joint monitoring visits, and stakeholder consultations;
• Contribute technical inputs to annual work plans, budgeting, and resource mobilization efforts.
• Strengthen coordination, partnerships, and institutional capacity building of tourism stakeholders for effective and sustainable infrastructure delivery.
• Strengthen partnerships with government, NGOs, user committees, academia, and private sector stakeholders;
• Facilitate capacity development on SES, DRR, climate resilience, OHS, and sustainable infrastructure practices;
• Organize coordination meetings, joint monitoring visits, and consultations to ensure quality implementation;
• Support formal handover, asset management orientation, and sustainability planning for completed infrastructure.
• Oversee systematic monitoring and reporting to ensure accountability, transparency, and results-based implementation.
• Operationalize M&E plans specific to infrastructure outputs and safeguard compliance.
• Conduct periodic site inspections and resolve implementation bottlenecks in coordination with partners.
• Track physical and financial progress against work plans and output indicators.
• Prepare technical progress reports, safeguard compliance updates, field mission reports, and documentation of lessons learned.
• Support audit processes and ensure documentation completeness.
• Contribute to knowledge products highlighting climate-resilient and inclusive infrastructure best practices.
• Support to mainstream Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in tourism infrastructure planning, design, and implementation.
• Integrate GESI considerations in planning, design, implementation, and monitoring;
• Ensure accessibility, safety, and usability for women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized groups on designing and re/construction if infrastructures;
• Support monitoring and achievement of GESI targets in collaboration with the GESI focal point;
• Promote culturally sensitive, inclusive engagement with communities.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation

4. Institutional Arrangement

The Project Officer – Infrastructure & Safeguards reports directly to the National Project Manager (STP) and works closely with the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The position liaises with local and provincial governments, implementing partners, and community committees. An organigram is attached as an annex.

5. Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

​​LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline​

Think Innovatively:

​​LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is a pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements ​

Learn Continuously:

​​LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback​

Adapt with Agility:

​​LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible ​

Act with Determination:

​​LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident​

Engage and Partner:

​​LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships​

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

​​LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination ​

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Development

Analytical Thinking

Demonstrates strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills for planning and decision making.

Business Management

Partnerships Management

Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Technical competencies

Partnership management

Relationship management

Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

2030 Agenda: Planet

Climate

Climate Change Adaptation: Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

Inclusive Growth

Urban Community Infrastructure/Assets

2030 Agenda: People

Gender

Promotes inclusive approaches and integrates gender-responsive practices in project activities

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

Inclusive Growth

Supports social inclusion and equitable development through infrastructure and capacity-building interventions.

6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPPC

Min. Education requirements

Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering or any other relevant areas or another relevant subject.

Or

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

Up to 2 years’ experience (with master’s degree) or a minimum of 2 years (with a bachelor’s degree) in community infrastructure and livelihoods recovery programs is required.

Required skills

• Proficiency in AutoCAD and relevant engineering software.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Technical expertise in infrastructure design, costing, supervision, and quality assurance.
• Strong understanding of climate-resilient and sustainable construction practices.
• Experience in environmental and social safeguard compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder infrastructure programs.
• Experience working with UNDP/UN projects or international donors is preferred.
• Experience coordinating with provincial and local governments and community-based organisations is preferred.
• Experience in tourism or trail infrastructure, waste management systems and heritage-sensitive design is preferred.
• Familiarity with GIS tools and digital infrastructure mapping is preferred.
• Experience working with protected areas and conservation authorities is desired.
• Strong project management, monitoring, and reporting skills will be an advantage.

Required Language(s)

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali.

Professional Certificates

N/A

7. The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

To Apply Visit: undp-globalcall.eva.ai