Senior Governance Consultant for Accelerating Harmonization Process of the CHT Laws, Dhaka

Closing date: Monday, 14 March 2016

Senior Governance Consultant for Accelerating Harmonization Process of the CHT Laws
Location : Dhaka with Frequent Visits to 3 Hill Districts of CHT
Application Deadline : 14-Mar-16
Additional Category Governance and Peacebuilding
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : National Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 20-Mar-2016
Duration of Initial Contract : 30 working days
Expected Duration of Assignment : 20 March to 19 September 2016 (6 months).
Background
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) located in the south east of Bangladesh consists of three districts: Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati. The region is home to 11 ethnic groups and the Bengali population, and has a population of 1.6 million. Each ethnic group retains a unique language, culture and tradition. Furthermore, CHT is geographically distinct from most parts of plain land Bangladesh, characterized by very steep, rugged mountainous terrain and dense jungle in areas. The region is marked by 25 years of conflict which formally ended with signing of the CHT Accord in 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS). Since the signing of the Accord, CHT government institutions including the Ministry of CHT Affairs, Regional Council and Hill District Councils have been established to support the peace process - although several parts of the Accord are still to be implemented.
In 2013-2014, UNDP-CHTDF, in collaboration MoCHTA, CHTRC and HDCs, carried out a study to review the existing laws and acts applicable for CHT in order to identify clear lines of authority and responsibilities in service provisions between these institutions. The said study, in a bid to harmonize relevant laws, has recommended removing inconsistencies among three categories of laws applicable to CHT: national laws, 'Other CHT Specific Laws' (e.g. CHT Regulation 1900) and new parent laws (e.g. the CHT Accord and its subsequent acts - CHTRC Act and HDC Acts); upgrading the organograms of the CHT institutions; and transferring offices and institutions of the agreed HDCs subjects, and fiscal decentralization, accountability and transparency of CHT institution.