Background

The Government of Moldova explicitly acknowledges its commitment to generate employment and link migration and development at the local level. Institutions at all government levels are becoming increasingly aware that migration is one of the factors affecting development ; this is especially true for emigrants and their potential to support the home communities through local essential service improvement (water, sanitation, education, health and social services), skill and knowledge transfer and income generating opportunities.         

Given the stringent need to further advance with the implementation of the Decentralization Strategy and embedding migration aspects into development processes, the State Chancellery together with United Nations Development Programme have designed a new Programme phase of the Integrated Migration and Local Development Programme. The project is designed to support Central Public Authorities (CPAs) and LPAs to develop and implement strategic policies, methodologies and procedures related to temporary, permanent and circular migration and link them to local development processes, which will enable further design and implementation of joint service improvement and income-generating initiatives, ensuring equal access for women, children, young people the elderly, the disabled, and other population groups  in selected localities. Moreover, the project is developed as a replicable approach with potentials for scaling up, with intensive capacity building and strengthening of national and local public authorities to better plan, manage, budget, and implement public service management with participation of community members, including migrants.

Thus, as seen above, integrating migration into local development requires a systematic, tangible and programmatic approach. The current project is proposed on the basis of the results achieved during the implementation of 3 phases of JILDP (2007-2015), which has put a series of methodological approaches and strategic frameworks in place. It supports integrated and systematic local development planning and management, by tackling both central and local levels.

The Overall Objective of the Programme is: Communities affected by migration benefit from improved essential local services, namely water and sanitation, health, social and education services, and have access to income-generating opportunities, including improved employment reintegration support for returnees.

Considering the specific local development context, the current situation and needs, the project sets up two primary outcomes:

Outcome 1: The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and Family (hereinafter MLSPF)[1] and the National Employment Agency have mandates, capacities and resources to provide qualitative employment reintegration services to all returnees.

Outcome 2: Local public authorities have the capacities and resources to engage with community members, including migrants, and to promote knowledge transfer from abroad with a view to improving local essential services and offering opportunities for income-generating activities.

Working toward achieving the first outcome mentioned above, MIDL has provided support to the MHLSP (previously MLSPF), in developing and promoting the National Employment Strategy and its Matrix of Actions for 2017-2021, in cooperation with ILO (as part of the first Policy Component of MiDL). This strategic document was officially endorsed by the Government of Moldova and entered into force in January 2017, and contributes directly to the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the RM–EU Association Agreement on the creation and implementation of strategic employment policies, the Government’s Activity Program as well as advancing the Agenda 2030 in Moldova. The National Employment Strategy aims at developing a “dynamic, flexible and inclusive” labour market, by interpolating economic policies on productive and inclusive jobs creation and education policies on adequate skills development, a modernized NEA and active labour market measures, while integrating gender aspects, accounting for, and capitalizing on the benefits of migration. The National Employment Strategy envisages a comprehensive analysis of data gaps and improving data collection for employment policies design, but also monitoring and evaluation of the National Employment Strategy implementation. At the same time, the research performed by UNDP Moldova on the nationalization of indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals revealed that the data is lacking for a series of SDG indicators as well[2]. This specific assignment is meant to support the Ministry in addressing these issues and improve the capacity of the Ministry and other directly implicated stakeholders in data collection and analysis for employment policy design, monitoring and evaluation.

[1] Following the 2017 Governmental Reform as of 26.07.2017, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection is the legal successor of the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family.

[2] According to the analysis, 17 indicators were identified for monitoring the targets of SDG 8. Aut of the total 17 indicators, 7 indicators are available, 3 indicators are partially available and  7 are missing (the calculation methodology needs to be developed and/or the primary source of data collection needs to be identified)

Duties and Responsibilities

The scope of work of the International Consultant on employment data analysis is to perform a thorough analysis of statistical data gaps necessary for employment policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, and provide recommendations and support for improvement.

Expected outputs:

• Analysis of the indicators used for employment policy design, monitoring and evaluation (14 working days);
• Statistical data gap analysis (5 working days);
• Support in improving data collection (10 working days);
• Capacity building of the main stakeholders (6 working days).

Organizational setting

This is a part-time consultancy. The International Consultant will work under the supervision of the Policy Component Manager of the Integrated Migration Local Development project, the MLSFP and other officers/consultants of the MiDL team, as appropriate.

The assignment shall include two field visits to Moldova of circa 4 days each. The first field visit is expected to take place at the inception phase of the activities – in November 2017, and the second field visit shall take place in February – May 2018. All field visits shall be coordinated and agreed in advanced with the MiDL team and the Moldovan governmental stakeholders. The International Consultant shall be responsible for making all logistical arrangements related to both this field visits.

Competencies

• Demonstrated   capacity  of   team-orientation   work, excellent   planning   and organizational skills;
• Strong, research, communications and writing skills;
• Sensitivity and respect for sustainable development, human rights and gender equality;
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy;
• Ability to achieve results and deadlines in a timely manner, maintaining a high standard throughout;
• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master Degree or PhD in Economics, Employment Policies, Statistics, Public Policy or related areas.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of professional working experience in the field of employment, labour market dynamics, employment statistical data analysis, economic analysis in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries;   previous relevant experience in Moldova shall be considered an advantage
• Proven experience in providing support and consultancy to governmental institutions data analysis, statistical data collection, developing methodologies for statistical data collection in the field of employment;
• Proven experience in developing analytical reports and conducting research in the field of employment, labour market, macro-economic analysis;
• Proven experience in developing and delivering training programs for central governments, public employment services,  statistics offices, workers and employers’ organizations, etc, in relevant fields;
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, NGO, previous experience in working with UN agencies is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English;
• Working knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian will be considered an advantage.

Application instructions:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal: a) explaining how the applicant responds to each of the qualification requirements and why he/she is the most suitable for the work (particularly providing details on the previously implemented similar projects and assignments and previous experience in the fields related to this consultancy as described in the terms of reference); b) describing a short vision on achievement of tasks;
2.  Personal information (Personal History Form/P11) including records of past experience in similar projects/assignments and concrete outputs obtained with the three references;
3. Financial proposal in (in USD, specifying a total requested amount, including all related costs, e.g. fees, travel, phone calls etc.);
4. Offeror's Letter confirming Interest and Availability.

Note:

For complete information about this vacancy including detailed tasks and responsibilities, full and detailed description of the evaluation procedure which will be applied please refer to the Terms of Reference, the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice as well as the UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract and P11 form, published at the UNDP Moldova website, Jobs Section: http://www.undp.md/jobs/current_jobs/