Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

In February 2013 UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme in the Republic of Moldova have entered into an Agreement for the implementation of the Project “Enhance Women’s Economic Empowerment in communities on both banks of Nistru River in the Republic of Moldova”. The Project goal is to support women’s economic empowerment and improve local governance by increasing access of rural women to information and public services including employment and social protection, that will contribute to the realization of the UNDP Confidence Building Measures Program funded by EU, aiming at promotion of collaborative projects at the community level on both banks of Nistru River.

 

This will be achieved through improving capacities and coordination between service providers on gender-sensitive service provision to support further realization of the women’s rights and gender equality commitments undertaken by Moldova at international as well as national.

The program is designed to be fulfilled within one year, until May 2014. To support achievement of its goal, the project will strive for effective realization of the following outputs:

• Capacity of local service providers strengthened to provide services for rural women in a coordinated way through Joint Information and Services Bureau;
• Capacity of national partners to implement gender-sensitive infrastructure community and social projects within UNDP CBM programme strengthened.

As part of the first component of the project, UN Women will facilitate the establishment and functioning of coordinated service provision to the population living in the security zone, and increase confidence and generate interest towards integrated service provision on both banks of the river Nistru. Initiation of coordinated service provision, or Joint Information and Services Bureaus (JISB) in the districts adjacent to Nistru River is expected to attract population, especially women and the most vulnerable from Transnistriaregion to receive services and information in areas such as special protection, employment, entrepreneurship, agriculture, cadastre, etc. JISB will create platform for addressing challenges of local population and build trust and confidence between theboth banks of the Nistru River. It will also contribute to re-modeling of the public service delivery, mainly in social sector, and will pave the way for increasing cooperation between the district and local authorities and service providers. JISBs will also serve as an effective platform for potential labour migrants to get information on their rights and be redirected as required to other institutions for receiving detailed information and guidance prior to departure. 

Establishment of Joint Information Service Bureau (JISB) has already paved the way for functioning of a coordinated service provision for the benefit of women and vulnerable groups of population in a number of districts of Moldova. Within the framework of Women’s Economic Empowerment Program (WEE) Local Public Administrations (LPA) in 18 districts started to improve public service provision to the population, especially the most vulnerable, including women. This enabled bringing together around nine services, focusing on the areas of employment, labour market and social protection and providing guidance and advice, thus addressing challenges at the local level. Establishment of JISBs was unique and cost effective for Moldova’s local public administration as it did not entail creation of new structure or recruitment of additional staff. 

JISBs are located in the buildings of the District Council and/or District Administration at an easily accessible and visible place. Its maintenance and functioning is fully covered by local sources including district council. JISB sittings take place at least once a week, providing opportunity for local population to benefit from its coordinated services in the areas of employment, social protection, SME development, land cadastre, agriculture and etc. Besides weekly meetings JISBs, on a regular basis, carry out mobile visits to villages together with village mayoralties and district administration to ensure provision of services for all and particularly for women in rural communities. Mobile visits proved to be beneficial especially for women and rural population not able to travel to the district centre.

With the overall aim to support programme implementation, including to facilitate and guide replication and establishment of JISBs on both banks of Nistru River, UN Women is seeking to hire a Project Specialist, based in Chisinau, Moldova, with frequent travel to Transnistria region, other districts of Moldova. The Project Specialist will be responsible for successful replication and establishment of Joint Information and Services Bureau model in target area/Nistru river bank in Moldova to provide gender responsive services on a permanent basis to vulnerable women and men from both banks of the Nistru river.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the WEE Chief Technical Advisor/International Programme Manager, the Project Specialist is providing support to timely and synergetic implementation of the UN Women CBM Project in Moldova in line with the programme document and as a contribution to the UN Women Strategic Note 2012-2013 (SN) implementation in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia sub-region.

The Project Specialist works in close collaboration with WEE Programme Analyst and with the operations team, UN Women SRO EECA staff and Government officials (central and local public authorities from both sides of Nistru river) and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation. The project specialist is responsible for provision of technical assistance, guidance, facilitation and coordination, monitoring and regular exchange of knowledge and experience to the prospective districts as well as regular collaboration with other districts (district administration representatives and service providers) with regards to replication of “one-window” approach in the form of implementation of Joint Information and Services Bureaus.

• Implement programme activities and strategies;
• Ensure coordination between service providers in at least one district from the security zone to adopt JISB model;
• Facilitate knowledge building and sharing.

Participates and provides support to the implementation of programme activities and strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the security zone and preparation of substantive inputs to project documents;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions necessary to ensure replication of JISB model in the security zone;
• Assist Project management in coordinating exchange of information among partners;
• Undertaking continuous monitoring of progress throughout the project, drafting relevant reports and correspondence.

Participates and ensure full coordination between service providers in at least one district from the security zone to adopt JISB model, focusing on achievement of the following results:

JISB pre-establishing phase:

• Establish good working relationship with district administration and organize JISB introductory and coordination meetings;
• Establish good working relationship with district service providers and organize technical meetings on JISB concept and functioning;
• Facilitate creation of JISB working groups;
• Provide support in conducting baseline analysis of the services available in Transnistria and conflict zone
• Assist JISB working groups in defining roles and responsibilities, as well as establishing joint planning and reporting mechanism;
• Facilitate exchange of experience and knowledge on JISB and establishment of good working relations with other districts by organizing technical meetings and regular communication;
• Organize technical meetings between service providers from pilot and prospective districts.

• Facilitate identification and set-up of JISB locations;
• Provide regular technical advice and guidance to district administration and service providers for the functioning of JISB, including weekly JISB sittings and organization of JISB mobile teams;
• Facilitate and assist districts in implementing JISB awareness campaign;
• Facilitate organization of the official launching of JISB at the district levels;
• Organize local consultations between service providers and public authorities.

JISB post-establishment phase:

• Closely monitor JISB activity and report to UN Women on progress, issues, etc. (including regular collection of statistical gender-disaggregated data related to JISB functioning: no. of sittings, no. of beneficiaries, no of mobile visits, etc.);
• Carry out regular meetings with focal points and service providers to discuss JISB results, progress and elaborate strategic and operational plans for JISB functioning;
• Facilitate organization of planned trainings/retreats for the service providers and district administration representatives;
• Support in the elaboration of the Guide on services available at the local level;
• Any other assignments that may arise in the connection with fulfilment of the all above responsibilities.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing as required, focusing on the following results:

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to CBM project goals;
• Documentation and maintenance of project filing system in hard and electronic formats, including notes, reports, agendas, info briefs, statistics reports, and other;
• Professional growth through active learning.
  

The key results have a direct impact on the overall achievement of the objectives of UN Women CBM project in Moldova that in turn directly impact on the credibility and image of UN Women as an effective partner for country development and as a competent knowledge based organization on gender equity and women’s human rights issues.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standard;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Women;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats peers fairly by maintaining consistent values inspiring trust and confidence through personal credibility.
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions.

• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Focuses on tasks/activities which have a strategic impact on programme and capacity development activities;
• Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for UN Women’s strategic initiatives;
• Collaborates with regional, national and local partners to create and apply knowledge and concepts that will help partners achieve UN Women’s development objectives within the country and regional context;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines, such as local public administration, service provision, etc.;
• Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results-Based Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of Programme, managing data, reporting;
• Ability to provide input to business processes, re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems;
• Capacity to implement the strategic vision and programmatic goals as laid down in the Project Document;
• Proven performance in organizing and coordinating major initiatives, events or challenging inter-organizational activities;
• Adapts flexibly to changing situations, overcomes obstacles and recovers quickly from set-backs.

• Ability to lead the implementation of UN Women programme activities, strengthening of strategic partnerships for programme implementation;
• Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies, including with persons from a variety of backgrounds;
• Excellent ability to write and communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism;
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills.

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Ability to achieve results and meet strict deadlines in an effective manner, maintaining a high quality standard throughout;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree in public administration, law, policy analysis, public relations, development studies and/or other social science related areas relevant for the assignment.

• Minimum three years of progressively responsible development assistance project experience is required at the national level, including in a position relevant to this post;
• Proven records of working/collaborating with local government in assisting/supporting drafting policy recommendations/ policy reports, coordinating activities, implementing strategies and models is essential;
• Proven experience in working with international organizations (successful experience in working with UN agencies is an asset);
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages;

• Fluency in oral and written Romanian and Russian is required; working knowledge of English is an asset;
• Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset.

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.