Background

UNDP started a programme of support for the Parliament of Moldova in 2010. In July 2012, this intervention merged with the programme to support the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to become one integrated Programme for Improving the Quality of Moldovan Democracy (“The Democracy Programme”) which is funded by Sweden, Denmark and UNDP. From 2014, additional activities aiming at promoting women in politics (part of a joint UNDP/UN Women programme “Women in Politics” funded by the Government of Sweden) are added to the Democracy programme in both the Parliament and Elections components.

The Democracy Programme focuses on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Parliament and CEC, improving their main functions and entrenching gender and human rights considerations in formal political process. In particular, the Programme seeks to improve the legislative, oversight and representational functions of the Parliament and provide a solid basis for the improvement of the electoral process.

The overarching goal of the Programme is to improve the quality of the Moldovan democratic processes and systems in line with European standards. The following objectives are set within the four-year Programme period:

• Improved institutional capacity of the Parliament and CEC to meet European standards of gender and human rights and strengthened legislative and oversight functions of the Parliament;
• Fostering the quality of the representative role of the Parliament and promoting more interaction between Members of Parliament, citizens and civil society;
• An improved institutional environment for electoral management bodies that can deliver inclusive and modern electoral processes;
• Improved public registration process for Moldovans and supporting the modernisation of Moldovan electoral processes;
• Enhanced women’s political representation at the central (Parliament) and local (local councils) levels.
  

In the Parliament Component the Democracy Programme aims to enhance parliamentary efficiency in carrying out its functions and responsibilities thus contributing to viable democracy and open society in Moldova. The project adopts a comprehensive, long-term approach to parliamentary development including strengthening of the legislatures law-making, representation and oversight roles. Moreover, it includes cross-cutting issues such as human rights, MDGs, conflict prevention, anti-corruption, women and minority political involvement etc. It relates closely with the ongoing projects carried out by UNDP Moldova and their partners – with specific reference to the support to the European integration-related reforms and decentralization – and thus capitalizes on the added value of synergies between the various projects.

The overall expected results from the Parliament Component are:

• The quality of Moldova’s formal political processes improved;
• Institutional capacity of Parliament strengthened;
• Quality of legislative, representative and oversight role of the Parliament fostered;
• Gender considerations are mainstreamed through the Parliament’s work.
  

After initialing of the Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November 2013 both parties committed to sign the above Agreements by fall 2014. These developments place a strong emphasis on the legislative work of the Parliament that will need to approve an increased volume of the legislation approximated to the EU acquis communautaire. With a view to this, the Parliament will need a strengthened support to the implementation of its legislative function. In addition, under a new joint UNDP/UN Women initiative to support women’s political participation (Women in Politics) capacity of the newly elected women MPs will be developed, and gender considerations will be mainstreamed in the representation function of the Parliament, including through the Public Hearings and Constituency Offices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities:

Provide technical assistance to the Parliament Component project team and ensure its coordination with the Elections Component and Women in Politics project in developing, implementing and reporting on project activities in accordance with the Programme Documents and UNDP policy and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide inputs to development of work plans, including implementation and monitoring according to the project results and resources framework;
• Compile the Parliament Component reports to the UNDP and donors and coordinate them with the Elections Component based on inputs from the relevant teams;
• Contribute to the coordination of the Democracy Programme Parliament Component  with the Women in Politics project’s activities also tapping into the UN Women technical expertise, as needed.
  

Provide technical advice, engage and communicate with the officials of the Moldovan Parliament,  and international and national project experts in the areas of the Parliament Component intervention, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide policy advice and know-how on AA/DCFTA and acquis communautaire implementation through the legislative work;
• Maintaining effective and positive communications with Parliament’s officials, i.e. Speaker, Permanent Bureau, administration, other staff, partners and stakeholders as necessary;
• Provide technical support to the Parliament in achieving the effective delivery of the oversight function with a particular focus on the Parliament’s commitment to mainstreaming gender, human rights and anti-corruption into all areas of activity;
• Contribute to strengthening of the Parliament’s law-making function, with a specific focus on AA/DCFTA and the EU integration related legislative process;
• Oversee hiring processes for the expertise required for project needs: draft Terms of Reference and other requested documentation related to the areas of the Project intervention, approve the progress against the experts’ working targets, monitor performance and report on results accordingly.
  

Leverage UNDP expertise, resources and networks for the benefit of the Parliament and provide international expertise and advice to UNDP, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide international expertise and advice on Parliament matters in line with international and European standards to UNDP and other international partners focusing on achievement of the following results;
• Advise the UNDP Resident Representative and Country Office on Parliament development matters;
• Coordinate with other organisations providing support to the Parliament to avoid overlapping of assistance;
• Compile project reports to UNDP and donors, together with the project team;
• Advise the Country Office on the longer term perspective for the process of democratisation in Moldova and contribute to the development of new projects in the Parliament and adjacent areas.
  

Ensure knowledge management across the organization, as well as synergies with other UN interventions in related areas of UNDP country programming.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Considers and fully adheres to UNDP rules, procedures and best practices;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN system;
• Displays cultural, gender, religious, ethnic and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats people fairly and without favouritism;
• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
  

Functional Competencies:

• Proven analytical capacity and strategic thinking with a view to political situations and scenarios;
• Ability for planning and establishing priorities, coordinating and monitoring the work of others, and delegating responsibility where appropriate;
• Excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills;
• Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment;
• Excellent communications, organizational and management skills in a complex multi-stakeholder environment;
• Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships;
• Excellent computer/information systems skills.
  

Management and Leadership Competencies:

• Strong results orientation;
• Effective problem-solver;
• Demonstrated capacity-building and facilitation skills;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
• Flexible and responsive with a client-oriented approach.
  

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the subject-matter;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Political Science, Law or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of work experience in Parliaments of  newer EU MS/candidate countries;
• Experience in the Parliament legislative work related to EU approximation process is an advantage;
• Knowledge and experience in mainstreaming gender and human rights in the parliamentary work is an advantage;
• Previous international experience in the field of technical expertise, advice and assistance in the parliamentary development field is an advantage;
• Experience in strategic programming and in project proposal drafting is an advantage.
  

Language:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken);
  
• Working knowledge of Russian and/or Romanian is a strong advantage.

All interested candidates must complete a Personal History Form (P-11). Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued. 

This is an international position and citizens of the Republic of Moldova are not eligible to apply.