Background
The EU High Level Policy Advisory Mission (EU HLPAM) is a project financed by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP. The objective of the project is to support the Government to implement its wider reform agenda, the Government Activity Programme and the National Development Strategy Moldova 2020, and in particular to assist the Government to develop the capacities required for the preparation, negotiation and implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and visa liberalization. Specifically, the project aims at strengthening the policy-making, strategic planning and policy management capacities of selected line Ministries and State Agencies involved in the negotiation and implementation of the Association Agreement and visa liberalization and at enhancing stakeholders’ knowledge and awareness of EU policies, legislation and regulations in sectors strategic to the conclusion of the Association Agreement including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and to the implementation of visa liberalization.
The EUHLPAM will achieve these objectives through the continued delivery of an optimal mix of policy, legal and institutional advice ensuring that the Moldovan authorities have direct access to EU best practice and reform experience in order to strengthen policy design and implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Adviser to the Government of Moldova on Strategic Communications and Policy Planning will provide strategic advice to the Prime Minister of Moldova and his Office on internal and external communications and policy planning with specific focus on implementation and communication of the Government Programme, the National Development Strategy Moldova 2020, European integration process and other strategic issues. The Adviser would help the Government communicate its policies as well as develop and plan policies with a strong communication element. S/he will provide coaching support to the Prime Minister´s Office and other relevant Government structures as well as support building their capacities for effective policy planning and effective communication of messages related to the reform agenda. The Adviser will develop analytical products such as advisory notes, reviews and assessments leading to policy papers as well as provide direct ad-hoc strategic advice as required by the beneficiaries.
The Adviser will report primarily to the Prime Minister of Moldova, with a secondary reporting line to UNDP. The Advisor will work closely with the other members of the team of EUHPAM Advisor and the EU Delegation in Moldova. Together with other EU HLPAM advisors he/she will represent the Mission in meetings with key officials, partner organisation and other institutions involved into implementation of the Project.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide advice to the Prime Minister and his staff on communication of strategic issues particularly in relation to European integration process and related high-impact reforms;
- Support internal communications related to EU integration policies and their implementation in the country;
- Assist the Government in better integrating and developing joint policy planning, policy formulation and strategic communications;
- Assist the Government in formulating effective policies with a strong communication component;
- Develop approaches and mechanisms in support of strategic communication and consistency of the messages of the Government;
- Advise and guide the Prime Minister’s Office in designing and implementing communication strategies and plans on the implementation of the Government Programme and EU integration agenda;
- Identify the main systematic and capacity gaps for effective government communication and propose ways to address those gaps. Provide targeted training and coaching on communications for key officials in the Prime Minister’s office;
- Provide guidance and inputs to the Government’s Press Office and communication officers of the key institutions on the design and implementation of the communication strategies and plans;
- Provide guidance and support for the Prime Minister’s political advisers on how to develop comprehensive policy proposals with strong communications components;
- Assist the Government to improve communications of its reform efforts on the international arena.
The above responsibilities will be carried out through development of strategy document, policy papers, advisory notes and other relevant documentation as well as provision of technical on-the-job advice to the institutions responsible for Government communication.
Competencies
- Outstanding drafting and inter-personal skills.
The Adviser is required to be present in Moldova at least 60% of the time and work according to a prioritized work plan to be established in close consultation with the beneficiary, the EU and the UNDP.
Required Skills and Experience
- Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Communication, Public Policy and Management, Political Science or similar.
- Preferably more than 8 years of professional experience in strategic communications, policy planning and development and communications management.
- More than 8 years of relevant professional experience such as a public relations or policy advisor, spokesperson, preferably for a national or public administration of an EU Member State or an EU Institution or to candidate countries.
- Substantive overall understanding of development trends and ability to present related issues clearly both to a general and a specialist audience.
- Experience in communicating national negotiations on EU integration is an asset.
- Previous work experience in Moldova would be an advantage.
- Fluency in English. Knowledge in Romanian language is a strong asset. Knowledge of Russian language is an advantage.
- Familiarity with relevant IT software tools, including power point presentations.
- For this post, a full-time commitment would be a definite advantage.
Evaluation Criteria:
UNDP will perform an evaluation of the technical proposal prior to any price proposals being discussed. The technical evaluation will be represented through a desk review of applications and further interview of the shortlisted candidates.
The technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR). Namely:
- Educational background – 10 points max;
- Relevant experience on similar assignments – 10 points max
- Relevant technical expertise – 10 points max
- Language Skills – 20 points max
- Interview - 50 points max
Total Maximum Score: 100 points
UNDP will further consider the price proposals only from the candidates that passed the minimum technical threshold of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the evaluation of the technical proposals.
UNDP will contact the technically qualified candidates to provide a financial offer for the proposed vacancy. UNDP reserves the right to offer the financial remuneration to the qualified candidates within the limits of the available project budget and rates of remuneration applicable for the international consultancies within the EU High Level Policy Advisory Mission.
The contract shall be awarded to the technically most responsive candidate subject to a mutual agreement of the remuneration level within the usual EUHLPAM advisory service remuneration rates.