“Project Officer – FRA (Forest Rights Act)” at UNDP, Bhubaneswar, India.

February 19, 2025

10 minutes read

The Project Officer – Forest Rights Act (FRA) position with UNDP in Bhubaneswar, India, is a full-time role under a one-year contract with the possibility of renewal. It is part of UNDP’s efforts to support the Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes Development Department of the Government of Odisha in implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA).

Key Responsibilities:http://Project Officer – FRA (Forest Rights Act) Job Posting

Planning & Implementation:
- Provide technical support to help the government speed up the implementation of the FRA.
- Develop monitoring systems to track progress and effectiveness.
- Support the rollout of the FRA digital portal to streamline data collection and reporting.
- Conduct research on issues related to forest rights, land rights, and tribal welfare.
Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing:
- Organize training sessions and workshops for government officials and stakeholders to improve their understanding of the FRA.
- Develop training materials, guidelines, and policy briefs on tribal rights and governance.
- Monitor gender-specific aspects of FRA implementation to ensure both men and women benefit.
Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Identify and collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations working on tribal development.
- Map out key experts and resource persons who can contribute to training programs.
- Support the government in designing livelihood programs for people who receive land under the FRA.

Required Qualifications & Skills:@vacancyspaces.com

Education:
- A Master’s degree in Forestry, Anthropology, Rural Development, Development Studies, Sociology, or Social Work OR
- A Bachelor’s degree in the same fields with at least 2 years of relevant work experience.
Work Experience:
- If you have a Master’s degree, no experience is required.
- If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you need at least 2 years of experience in capacity-building for tribal rights and development.
Essential Skills:
- Knowledge of tribal governance, social justice, and forest rights laws.
- Experience in policy planning and analysis related to tribal development.
- Ability to design and deliver training programs.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Preferred Skills (Bonus Points):
- Experience working with the government or multilateral institutions.
- Experience in monitoring tribal development schemes.
- Knowledge of gender mainstreaming (ensuring both men and women benefit equally).
- Strong skills in using digital tools for data analysis and monitoring.
Language Requirement:
- Fluency in English and Odiya is mandatory.

Application & Selection Proc

Project Officer – Forest Rights Act (FRA) – UNDP, Bhubaneswar, India

Introduction to UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one of the leading global organizations working towards sustainable development, poverty reduction, and capacity-building. Established in 1965, UNDP operates in 170+ countries and works closely with national governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to implement policies that promote inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

UNDP has been actively working in India since 1951, focusing on issues such as poverty eradication, economic development, climate change, digital transformation, governance, and capacity-building. Its programs align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Indian government’s national development agenda.

The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, is one of India’s most significant pieces of legislation for tribal and forest-dwelling communities. UNDP has been actively supporting the Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes Development Department in the state of Odisha to ensure effective implementation of the FRA and other tribal welfare initiatives.

This Project Officer – FRA role has been created to provide technical assistance, research, monitoring, training, and capacity-building support to the Odisha government in implementing the FRA 2006.

Overview of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), is a landmark law in India that aims to protect the rights of tribal communities and forest dwellers. The key objectives of this Act include:

Recognizing traditional rights of forest dwellers over forest lands and resources.
Granting legal land titles to Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) who have been living in forests for generations.
Ensuring community rights, such as the right to use and manage forest resources for livelihood and conservation.
Empowering Gram Sabhas (village assemblies) to make decisions regarding forest resources.
Preventing forced evictions of forest dwellers without proper legal procedures.

Despite being a crucial legal framework, the implementation of FRA has faced challenges, such as:

Slow progress in granting forest rights due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Lack of awareness and capacity among local officials and communities.
Conflicts between forest conservation policies and tribal rights.
Limited digital tracking and data management for FRA implementation.

To address these challenges, UNDP, in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, is hiring a Project Officer – FRA to strengthen implementation, policy formulation, and monitoring mechanisms.

Role of the Project Officer – FRA

The Project Officer – FRA will be stationed in Bhubaneswar, Odisha and will work under the State PMU Coordinator and the Project Analyst, Tribal Rights, UNDP. The role involves:

Technical support for FRA implementation
Capacity-building and training of government officials and stakeholders
Monitoring and evaluation of FRA projects
Policy research and analysis
Stakeholder engagement and partnership building

The position is part of UNDP’s SDG Integration Practice Area and falls under the National Personnel Service Agreement (NPSA-8) grade.

Key Responsibilities of the Project Officer – FRA

1. Planning & Implementation Support

Assist the Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes Development Department in developing an action plan to improve the implementation of FRA in Odisha.
Provide technical support for streamlining procedures related to forest rights claims, verification, and approvals.
Develop mechanisms for tracking and monitoring FRA implementation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Support the development and rollout of a digital FRA portal to improve data collection, monitoring, and analysis.
Conduct research and analysis to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in FRA implementation.
Work with government agencies to design policies and convergence strategies for improving livelihood opportunities for FRA beneficiaries.

2. Monitoring & Data Analysis

Develop a statewide monitoring framework to track the progress of land rights distribution and community forest management.
Analyze state- and district-level data on FRA implementation and prepare progress reports for government and UNDP stakeholders.
Prepare reports, policy briefs, and technical papers related to FRA, PESA (Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act), and other tribal rights laws.
Ensure that data from the FRA digital portal is regularly updated and analyzed for decision-making.

3. Training & Capacity Building

Organize training programs, workshops, and consultations for government officials, Gram Sabha members, and community leaders.
Develop resource materials (training manuals, guidelines, SOPs) for FRA implementation at various levels.
Provide technical inputs for policy recommendations and support the government in drafting guidelines, circulars, and clarifications for better FRA enforcement.

Ensure that FRA implementation focuses on gender equality and benefits both men and women.
Conduct awareness programs on the rights of tribal women under FRA.
Identify and document best practices and success stories of FRA beneficiaries, especially women-led initiatives.

5. Stakeholder Coordination & Partnership Building

Establish partnerships with government departments, civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, research institutions, and legal experts working on FRA.
Identify and coordinate with resource persons, legal experts, and training specialists for FRA-related activities.
Strengthen community participation in forest governance and natural resource management.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Education

A Master’s degree in Forestry, Anthropology, Rural Development, Development Studies, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field.
Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in the above fields must have at least two (2) years of relevant experience.

Work Experience

For Master’s degree holders: No prior experience required.
For Bachelor’s degree holders: A minimum of two (2) years of experience in:
- Tribal development, governance, and social inclusion.
- Capacity-building on protective laws related to tribal rights.
- Policy analysis and planning in the field of natural resource governance and forest rights.

Required Skills

Strong knowledge of tribal laws and policies (FRA, PESA, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, etc.).
Experience in policy analysis, data management, and digital tools.
Experience in designing and delivering training programs.
Excellent communication, advocacy, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Skills (Desirable but Not Mandatory)

Experience working in government agencies or UN/international organizations.
Knowledge of gender mainstreaming in policy implementation.
Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Language Requirement

Fluency in English and Odiya is mandatory.

Application Process & Selection

Deadline for Application: February 21, 2025
Selection Process:
- Application Review
- Shortlisting of Candidates
- Interviews & Reference Checks
- Final Selection

Conclusion

The Project Officer – FRA role is an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about tribal rights, governance, and sustainable development. It provides a platform to make a significant impact by improving the lives of tribal communities in Odisha.

📌 Project Officer – FRA (Forest Rights Act) – UNDP, Bhubaneswar, India

🔹 About UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global organization working to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and promote sustainable development in over 170 countries. Since its establishment in 1965, UNDP has been at the forefront of capacity-building, governance, and socio-economic development, ensuring that marginalized communities, including indigenous people, have access to justice, resources, and economic opportunities.

In India, UNDP collaborates closely with the government to implement various initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some of its key focus areas include:

Poverty eradication & social protection
Climate change & environmental sustainability
Governance & capacity building
Gender equality & social inclusion
Digital transformation & innovation

One of UNDP India’s most significant projects is strengthening the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, which aims to empower tribal and forest-dwelling communities by recognizing their rights over land and forest resources.

This is where the role of a Project Officer – FRA becomes crucial. This position is designed to provide technical support, capacity-building, and policy recommendations to the Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes Development Department of Odisha for better FRA enforcement.

🌿 What is the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006?

The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, officially known as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, is one of India’s most important legislations for tribal welfare and forest governance. It was enacted to correct historical injustices faced by tribal and forest-dwelling communities who have lived in forests for centuries but lacked legal recognition of their rights.

🔹 Key Objectives of FRA

Recognizing land rights: Granting individual and community forest land ownership to Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs).
Ensuring livelihood security: Providing legal access to forest produce for livelihood.
Empowering Gram Sabhas: Strengthening village-level governance in forest management.
Protecting against forced eviction: Ensuring that tribal communities cannot be displaced without due process.
Promoting conservation: Recognizing community-based forest conservation efforts.

🔹 Types of Rights Recognized under FRA

Individual Forest Rights (IFR) – Land ownership rights for individuals and families who have been cultivating forest land.
Community Forest Rights (CFR) – Rights granted to an entire village/community to manage, use, and protect forest resources.
Community Forest Resource (CFR) Rights – Rights to conserve and manage forests traditionally used for livelihood and religious practices.
Right to Habitat – Special rights for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) over their traditional territories.
Other Rights – Includes rights over intellectual property, traditional knowledge, fishing, grazing, and seasonal resource access.

🔹 Challenges in FRA Implementation

Despite being one of the strongest legislations for tribal rights, the implementation of FRA has been slow and inconsistent due to:

Lack of awareness among tribal communities.
Delays in claim verification and approval processes.
Conflicts with forest conservation laws leading to bureaucratic resistance.
Limited capacity of government officials to handle FRA implementation.
Digitalization challenges in tracking claims and ensuring transparency.

To tackle these issues, UNDP has been working with the Odisha government to strengthen FRA implementation through capacity-building, technical support, and digital innovations.

📌 Project Officer – FRA: Role & Responsibilities

The Project Officer – FRA will be based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and will work closely with government departments, NGOs, and local stakeholders to support the effective implementation of FRA.

🔹 Key Responsibilities

1️⃣ Policy Research & Implementation Support

Assist the Odisha Government in formulating FRA implementation policies.
Provide technical guidance to streamline procedures related to land rights claims, verification, and approvals.
Conduct research on best practices from other states and propose policy improvements.
Support the development of a digital FRA monitoring system for real-time tracking of claims.

2️⃣ Monitoring, Data Analysis & Reporting

Design a statewide monitoring framework for tracking FRA progress.
Collect and analyze district-level FRA implementation data.
Prepare policy briefs, research papers, and reports on tribal rights and FRA.
Provide recommendations based on data trends to improve policy efficiency.

3️⃣ Training & Capacity Building

Conduct training programs for government officials, forest officials, Gram Sabha members, and tribal leaders.
Develop guidelines, SOPs, and training manuals on FRA for local administrators.
Organize awareness campaigns to educate communities on their legal rights under FRA.

4️⃣ Stakeholder Engagement & Community Mobilization

Work closely with civil society organizations, NGOs, and tribal welfare groups.
Facilitate multi-stakeholder meetings and consultations on FRA.
Strengthen community participation in forest governance.

Ensure that women’s rights to forest land are protected under FRA.
Document and promote women-led initiatives in forest conservation and governance.
Develop strategies to ensure gender-sensitive implementation of FRA policies.

📌 Required Qualifications & Skills

🔹 Education

Master’s degree in Forestry, Anthropology, Rural Development, Development Studies, Sociology, Social Work, or related fields.
OR a Bachelor’s degree with at least two (2) years of relevant experience.

🔹 Work Experience

Master’s degree holders: No experience required.
Bachelor’s degree holders: Minimum two (2) years of experience in:
- Tribal rights, social inclusion, or governance.
- Policy research, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Natural resource management, climate change, or FRA-related programs.

🔹 Required Skills

Strong understanding of FRA, tribal rights, and natural resource governance.
Experience in policy analysis, legal research, and capacity building.
Proficiency in data analysis, monitoring frameworks, and digital tools.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and report-writing skills.