Background

The Government of Moldova explicitly acknowledges that decentralization represents an essential item on the reform agenda of the country. The goal is to provide quality services to women and men equitably - including the rights of persons from vulnerable groups - through building autonomous and democratic local governments, able to manage efficiently their responsibilities. Thus, on April 5, 2012 the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova adopted the National Decentralization Strategy that represents the main policy document in the field of local public administration and establishes the national mechanisms to ensure genuine local autonomy. Prior to the approval of the Strategy, the Government has benefited from the support provided by the Joint Integrated Local Development Programme/JILDP implemented by UNDP and UN Women and funded by the Government of Sweden and UNDP. Given the stringent need to further advance the implementation of the Decentralization Strategy, and building on the successful cooperation with the Joint Integrated Local Development Programme, the State Chancellery together with United Nations have designed a new Programme phase to support the implementation of the Decentralization Strategy at policy and local levels.

The National Decentralization Strategy is the main policy document on local public administration that offers a general strategic framework, the main principles and the national mechanism for decentralization and ensuring local autonomy in Moldova. At the same time, apart from the specific objectives, the process of decentralization in Moldova applies a human rights based approach, promoting gender equality and human rights for women, man and communities, social inclusion for vulnerable and marginalized groups, as well as ensuring equal chances and dignity for all.

For a successful implementation of the decentralization reform, the action plan of the National Decentralization Strategy envisages the development of the sectoral strategies for decentralization that will guide the decentralization reform in various domains. According to the decision of the Parity Commission from July 2, 2013 all sectoral strategies have to be developed by the end of 2013.

In this context, a working group for decentralizing public services related to the environment was created under the auspices of the Parity Commission. The working group is hosted by the Ministry of Environment which ensures the secretariat and facilitates the activity of the working group, as well as ensured the correlation of the decentralization policy with other relevant documents in this field.

Duties and Responsibilities

The present terms of reference consists of of 3 (three) LOTS:

LOT number 3 (three): Local Management of Natural, Water and Mineral Resources

JILDP is seeking international experts - one national expert for each LOT, who will provide assistance to the working group on decentralizing public services covered by each LOT in developing the policy document, including analysis of problems related to decentralization, identification of ways to delegate competences to LPAs and formulation of the objectives and actions for decentralization in the field covered by the LOT.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

• Strong analytical and writing skills;
• Demonstrated capacity of team work;
• Ability to produce deliverables in due time and within cost and quality standards;
• Proficiency in computer applications (Windows, MS Office, IE, Outlook);
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Sensitivity and respect for human rights and gender equality;
• Knowledge of gender equality and human rights concerns, gender-sensitive, human-centered / human rights based approach and best practices particularly related to public administration, local public administration and local development.

Required Skills and Experience

• MA and/or PhD in Public Administration, Public Policy, Economics, Environmental Studies, Public and Administrative Law, or other relevant fields.

• At least 7 years of proven experience of analysis and research in the field of public administration, multi-disciplinary studies, decentralization, inter-governmental relations, environment related public services (water and sewerage, waste management, natural resources management at local level, etc);
• Sound knowledge of the relevant public service, proven by policy analysis and studies, experience in implementation of reforms, or of management of the relevant service;
• Experience with decentralization reforms, particularly related to communal services, in the Central Eastern European countries;
• Experience in the Moldovan development context, specifically with regard to the decentralization reform, Central Public Administration and Local Public Administration sector reforms;
• Proven successful experience in working with the international organizations.