Republic of Moldova

UNIFEM CIS Sub-regional office is currently at the final stage of completion of its programme “Promoting Gender Equality in National Policies and Plans in the Republic of Moldova” (May 2007 – March 2010) with the financial support from Sida and some financial inputs for several components from ADA and DFID. Based on the programme outcomes and findings of the external mid-term evaluation of the programme held in January-May 2009, the Government of the Republic of Moldova and Sida have expressed a strong request to UNIFEM to continue supporting the efforts of the Republic of Moldova in promoting gender equality and women’s advancement with the focus on implementation of gender equality legislation, Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) and other gender equality legislative and policy obligations of the state.

Through a participatory process, a programme “Women’s Economic Empowerment” was elaborated during September-December 2009 in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family (MLSPF) and the Ministry of Economy (MoE) of the Republic of Moldova with a subsequent submission of the program document to Sida for financial consideration. This programme is aimed at addressing the needs of the rural and sub-urban population, especially poor women in exercising their social and economic rights through increasing access to quality information and services in employment and social protection areas. This will be achieved through improving local services, building capacity of the relevant institutions as well as improving policy and legislation based on the gaps identified through their practical application on the ground. The program is designed to be fulfilled within four years within the Government priorities set for 2009-2013 as well as the Reforms launched by the State in the areas of labour market and social protection.

Under the Agreement with Sida on WEE programme, UNIFEM has a 3-months inception phase from January to March 2010 to undertake a baseline study, on the basis of which a detailed indicators and targets system of the programme should be elaborated, along with mapping of stakeholders and detailed workplan. The programme has to start implementation from January 2010, and thus due to the importance and urgency of these tasks, UNIFEM envisages to engage a team of consultants on a short term basis to support UNIFEM Sub-Regional Office in the CIS to undertake preparation and initial implementation of WEE programme in Moldova.

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the UNIFEM Regional Program Director for CIS region and in partnership with the International Consultant on Employment, Social Protection and Service Delivery with the overall aim to support establishment of the high quality baselines as well as clear and measurable indicators and targets system and mapping of stakeholders at the very early stages of the programme implementation, the system against which the progress in implementation can be measured, UNIFEM intends to sub-contract a national consultant for a short-term period that will assist UNIFEM and International Consultant on Employment, Social Protection and Service Delivery in developing such system through delivering a set of activities outlined further.

The team, in which National Consultant is tasked to provide necessary assistance, is to be composed also of the International Team Leader, and International/National Expert on Employment, Social protection and State Service Provision.

Key Deliverables to be submitted by the Team:
Baseline Study: a comprehensive baseline study is to be produced by the end of March in close consultations with the programme key partners and under overall guidance and leadership from UNIFEM. Study is intended to provide a description of a set of conditions in selected localities/rayons of the country (also identified in a participatory manner with the programme partners) prior to the programme intervention and to provide clear benchmarks against which the change and progress can be measured during and after programme implementation. The study will also provisionally identify existing gaps in baseline data and information available now and offer possible solutions to that end. The data provided by the study may provisionally include statistics on relevant to programme areas, existing policy and institutional mechanisms, level of capacity of duty bearers and civil society and other rights holders, etc.

Programme Indicators and Targets: in order to further finalize and strengthen the programme logical and expected results framework, a set of straightforward and measurable indicators and targets for each output-level result is to be finalized in line with the findings of the baseline study and in close consultation with the programme partners. This work shall be done together and in consultation with the baseline study. It is also envisaged that the preliminary methodology and set of activities will be developed that will be provisionally required for measuring progress against developed indicators.

Mapping of Programme Stakeholders: a comprehensive mapping of programme stakeholders is to be developed in line with the project document with the aim to enhance the part on stakeholders and partners and to provide an analysis of the existing stakeholders, patterns and relationships amongst them, as well as their role and responsibilities within project implementation.

The exact role of the National Consultant will be to support at the national level the entire process of the preparation baseline study, designing SMART programme indicators and targets, and developing a comprehensive mapping of programme stakeholders based on the requests from the Team, through collection and provision of the timely information, documentation and data, compiling abstracts of important information and data, contacting specific national partners with requests for specific information necessary for development and submission of the high quality deliverables by the Team, managing in close partnership with the Team the field visit of the International Expert on Employment, etc.

• Assist the Team in developing appropriate methodology for conducting a comprehensive Baseline study with concrete milestones and timeframe for collection of data, documents and information and its analysis; (3 working days)
• Ensure adequate support for the collection of data and information based on the developed and agreed methodology for the Baseline study, and provide necessary assistance during analysis stage; (7 working days)
• Provide necessary inputs and administrative support before, during and after field visit/s of the International Expert on Employment to ensure adequate meetings are arranged, necessary data and information collected and captured and systematized; (4 working days)
• Provide substantive inputs into draft and final Baseline report to UNIFEM, completed in close and constant consultations with the key project partners; (3 working days)
• Ensure timely inputs into finalization of the programme indicators and targets in line with the Baseline study and in consultation with key partners; (4 working days)
• Provide substantive inputs into the process of identifying key partners, describing their role and importance for the programme implementation and provide adequate data and information to feed into final comprehensive Mapping of stakeholders; (5 working days)

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the United Nations' values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN and UNIFEM;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies

• Knowledge of the issues of women's rights, gender equality and gender mainstreaming;
• Technical knowledge of public administration reform, social protection and/or labor market sector reform, service provision;
• Good knowledge of the national and international stakeholders working in the field of social protection, employment, public administration reform;
• Experience in the area of data collection and analysis, as well as an experience of work with national statistical system;
• Knowledge and experience with programming, monitoring and evaluation, including developing project documents and logframes;
• Good communication and writing skills in English and Russian and/or Romanian.

Education:

• University degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of substantive advisory experience in programming and project management;
• Strong partnerships with the national and international stakeholders in the country working on improving social welfare;
• Strong analytical and research skills;
• Proven experience writing high-quality project documents.

Language/other requirements: 

• English and Russian and/or Romanian.