Republic of Moldova

National Consultant/Communications Expert to Support the Ministry of Justice

Vacancy Number: Pr12/00189

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	05 Sep 2012, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	13 Sep 2012, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	01 Oct 2012
Reference to the project:	Transitional Capacity Support for the Public Administration of Moldova
Expected Duration of Assignment:	6 months
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted on-line or by email to vacancies-moldova@undp.org , no later than 5 September, 2012. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: silvia.apostol@undp.org . Please notice that this address is for information requests only, please do not send or copy your application package to this address.  Please notice that, in line with TCS Project rules, which guard against subtracting capacity from the civil service, current civil servants are barred from applying for this position. The former civil servants are eligible to apply not earlier than in a year after the separation from civil service.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

The project “Transitional Capacity Support for the Public Administration of Moldova” was designed upon the request of the Government of Moldova to enhance capacities of the Moldovan Central Public Administration in order to accelerate the reform process and achieve Moldova’s short and medium term development goals. The project seeks to address urgent short-term capacity needs of the public administration, through provision of Capacity building consultants (CBC), at a time when Moldovan central government institutions face serious financial and human resources gaps. In addition to helping the Government pursue critical reform priorities, the intervention is designed to catalyze the on-going implementation of central public administration reform. It is coordinated and managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and State Chancellery of Moldova and will complement on-going work by other donors.

The Moldovan diaspora and non-governmental sector, including the private and civil society sectors, would be the main source for such consultants, who can be employed on an open competitive basis for a defined period. CBC would be engaged and their TORs defined in a way that would protect the integrity of the civil service work to strengthen its intrinsic capacity. The project needs to guard against subtracting capacity from the civil service. In most cases, the sub-projects will be composed of national consultants – professionals who provide advice, coaching, and skills that are not expected to be performed on a permanent basis by the civil service.

The reform of the Justice Sector constitutes an important priority for the Government Programme European Integration: Freedom, Democracy and Welfare" (2011-2014).  Therefore, the development and promotion of the five years Justice Sector Reform Strategy represents a key activity of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).  It is important to mention that many draft laws and normative changes, envisaged in the process of the reform are quite novel to the Moldovan society, and therefore the communication of these activities to the public, in the most transparent and objective way, is very important.  

In this context the MoJ has requested the support of an experienced national communication expert to assist the MoJ with the up-date and implementation of a strategic Communication Action Plan which would ensure transparency, public participation and a broad promotion of the Justice Sector Reform Strategy and of other related activities.

Scope of work

The activity of national consultant will consist in providing technical assistance, guidance and day-to-day transfer of knowledge to the MoJ staff, in order to modernize and strengthen its communication skills, tools and systems, in line with international best practices. The consultant will also assist in developing a better public relations system of the MoJ, based on sustainable cooperation and partnership with the civil society, the main actors of the justice sector, international and donor community, and other social partners and beneficiary groups.

In order to achieve the stated objectives, the National Consultant will be responsible for:

• Up-dating the strategic Communication  Action Plan for the Justice Sector Reform Strategy;
• Continuing implementing the practical  oolkit of communication methods and techniques, in line with the      principles of good governance, accountability and transparency, including  media monitoring sheets, press release, scripts for press conferences,  briefing templates and other relevant tools;
• Assisting with the organization of communication events (e.g. press conferences; information campaigns etc) in the context of the MoJ activities, including identification of key target groups, development of communication messages, preparation of event scenarios; cooperation with TV and broadcasting channels on organization of appropriate TV programs; elaboration of articles for the national media  and other relevant support;
• Supporting the communication specialists and to other staff of the MoJ in testing and applying new communication tools, in particular with regard to the process of consulting civil society and other main actors of the justice sector;
• Elaborating a database of key media institutions that cooperate with the MoJ; facilitating the establishment      of a permanent communication mechanism with these institutions;   
• Reviewing and improving the structure and content of the MoJ website;
• Providing relevant support to the MoJ in communication with the public at large and media;
• Supporting the development of collaboration agreements with key partners of the MoJ, including civil society, judiciary, prosecutors, investigators, notaries, bailiffs, advocates and other legal professions and institutions, international partners from the country and abroad, in order to ensure collaboration, consultation and sharing of lesson learned in the Justice Sector reform process;
• Supporting the establishment of an effective and efficient media monitoring system, using modern IT     technology;
• Undertaking continuous transfer of  experience to the relevant staff of the MoJ, including training sessions;
• Preparing monthly progress reports of the component activities and final report;
• Performing any other related activities which may emerge during the course of time in line with the agreed tasks    and responsibilities.

Requirements for experience

I. Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in communications or other relevant field; Master degree in the respective areas will constitute an advantage;

 II. Years of experience:

• Minimum 3 years working experience in public relations and/or journalism field;
• Experience of drafting and implementing medium-term strategies and action plans in the area of communication, public consultation and public relations, including monitoring and evaluation tools; 
• Similar experience in assisting Government of Moldova in the communications area, with projects funded by international donors;

 III. Competencies:

• Experience of working in the Justice Sector would constitute an advantage;
• Proven ability to develop and maintain working relationships with government officials, press secretaries, the media, civil society at all levels;
• Proven ability to design and deliver presentations and training programs;
• Fluency in Romanian, Russian and English;
• Computer proficiency, including knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point).

 

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal: addressing each of the criteria above;

2. Financial proposal;

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details (phone number and e-mail address) for at least 3 references or dully filled Personal History Form (P11).

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  

 

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