Under the Peacebuilding Fund, UN Women, in partnership with OHCHR and UNDP, is implementing a two-years project “Building sustainable and inclusive peace, strengthening trust and social cohesion in Moldova” (hereinafter – PBF project) on both banks of Nistru river. The project seeks to facilitate an enabling environment for improved cross-river cooperation, reduced social tensions and the continuation of the fragile Transnistrian region settlement process in the context of growing regional and domestic geopolitical tensions exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, through the advancement of, and cross-river collaboration on human rights, Women, Peace and Security, and the promotion of equal access to services and through ensuring early intervention to prevent deepening divisions between the populations on either side of the conflict divide which are currently being affected by highly divisive narratives and misinformation.  

The project is aligned with the provisions under the draft of the second-generation National Program and Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) for the period 2023-2027 developed in Moldova with UN Women support. The new NAP, expected to be enacted in early 2023, is based on the four Pillars of the UNSCR 1325: Prevention, Participating, Protection, Relief, and Recovery and it addresses, among other aspects, actions aimed at enhancing women’s meaningful participation in the security and defense sector, including in the conflict settlement processes and peacebuilding efforts, primarily from a human security perspective and includes intervention at the local level to decentralize the WPS commitments. 

Under this announcement, the UN Women within the Peacebuilding Fund’s Project seeks to contract a National consultant to develop a series of knowledge products, advocacy papers and regulatory policy recommendations, highlighting and promoting the importance and benefits of the balanced and meaningful participation of women in peace processes at all levels.

Note: While performing the assignment the consultant, in coordination with UN Women Project Team, is expected to interact with all relevant peace process actors and use various tools to obtain updated information (focus groups, meetings, surveys, interviews, etc.).

In this sense, governmental peace process actors are Bureau of Reintegration Policies staff, representatives of sectoral Working groups from both banks of Nistru river, diplomatic staff, Members of the Delegation of Moldova to Joint Control Commission, other relevant state authorities’ delegates. 

Non-governmental peace process actors: CSOs, women peacebuilders, gender and human rights activists and experts, community local actors from both banks of the Nistru river.  

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Officer on Gender Equality in Peacebuilding, and overall guidance of the Programme Officer on Women, Peace and Security and Programme Analyst on Women in Leadership and Governance (WILG).

The consultant will be responsible for the following main tasks:

Task 1: Develop a detailed workplan, timelines and brief description of activities to be undertaken and methodologies to be used. 

Task 2: Conduct mapping to source issues as per Working Groups thematic and generate evidence on integration of gender equality commitments and existing gaps in negotiation agenda and overall peace process-related regulatory system.

Task 3: Produce at least 3 knowledge products/advocacy papers/regulatory policy recommendations, revisions, inputs on gender mainstreaming in peace processes, at least 1 of them to be developed in co-authorship with an international expert, assigned by UN Women.

Task 4: Provide support to the UN Women Project Team in identifying national prominent women \negotiators, and content development to highlight women’s contribution to peacebuilding efforts (success stories and/or career paths of prominent women negotiators).

Task 5: Prepare and conduct presentations on developed knowledge products during working groups, round table discussions, dialogue events, providing advice and intervention where needed, including for advocacy purposes, as requested by UN Women.

Task 6: Deliver 1 final report providing a summary on carried out activities, achievements, and challenges, as well as recommendation for the future integration of gender equality commitments into peace processes in Moldova.

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Work in teams:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing

• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

• Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

   Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

    Functional Competencies:

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills.
• Focuses on impact and result for the partners and responds positively to feedback.

Education: 

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, International relations, Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, or related field.

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the area of gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and women’s empowerment, human rights, and/or non-discrimination in the Republic of Moldova;
• At least 2 years of proven experience in conducting gender analysis, gender research, gender assessment, revision and/or development of knowledge products, regulatory/policy papers on gender equality or women’s empowerment, human security, peace processes (examples of work provided);
• Specific experience related to the Transnistria settlement process is a strong advantage;
• Proven successful experience in working with international organizations, including UN agencies.

Language skills: 

• Excellent verbal and written Romanian and Russian languages. Fluency in English is required; 

Application procedure:

Interested applicants should apply to this announcement through UNDP jobs site: jobs.undp.org.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc);
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment, please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment;
• Letter of Intent to include a brief overview of the consultant’s previous experiences makes the candidate the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. It should reflect the above-mentioned required skills and experience.
• Financial proposal – specifying a total lump sum amount for the task specified in Terms of References. The Financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate). Please see ANNEX I and ANNEX II. - https://sc.undp.md/jobs/2777/
• Applications received after the close date will not be accepted;
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.