ANUNȚURI DE ANGAJARE

The Austrian Coordination Office Chisinau (ACO Chisinau) is hiring a Water Management - Technical Expert who will provide technical advice and assistance to the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Austrian Coordination Office Chisinau (ACO Chisinau) in the project preparatory and design phase in the framework of the EU AAP 2020, in particular for the component 2) on improving public infrastructure and public utilities performance in the selected local communities.

During the project, preparatory and design phase (from 1^st of March 2021 till 31^st of December 2021), the tasks and responsibilities of the Water Management Technical Expert will be the following:

• Advise, coordinate and support the project development team, ACO Chisinau, ADA Head Office (HO) in the preparation of the project to be further implemented by ADA, derived from the AAP 2020 (thematic concept papers, work plans, TORs, etc.);
• Manage day-to-day liaison activities as needed, in coordination with other project team members and consultants, and maintain relationships with Moldovan counterparts and implementing partners as related to water and environment sector development activities;
• Support the counterpart units in ACO Chisinau and ADA HO to develop a structured policy dialogue and a functioning coordination with governmental partners, local public authorities, CSOs and development partners in the water sector;
• Assess the existing legal framework and relevant local (sector) strategies, available national statistics and data, as well as the results of relevant projects implemented till today (e.g. reports and feasibility studies, etc.), to identify the needs at the local level in the pre-identified rayons (3) to be targeted in the project and initiate a participatory program planning/design process;
• Establish a detailed stakeholder analysis in order to map and identify the most promising “drivers of change” and design the different mechanisms and components of the interventions. The analysis shall pay special attention to the functionality of the central and local public authorities and civil society at the local level;
• Closely work with and support the central and local PAs (Public Authorities) staff in preparation of a priority lists of interventions, to improve the local economic development and the environment in their communities;
• Analyze and prioritize the necessary infrastructure developments and the necessary feasibility studies to be conducted in the selected rayons, as well as technical and consultative expertise of infrastructure rehabilitation projects;
• Play a crucial role in coordination, advising and facilitating the formulation of detailed activities of the project in a consultative and participatory way, to ensure maximum ownership of the target groups;
• Prepare, in cooperation with other project development team members and consultants:
• Based on the draft Concept Note (CN) the final CN as basis for the future Description of Action (DoA) by 15^th March 2021;
• the Description of Action (DoA) by 15^th of June 2021;

The above-mentioned documents should be developed, based on the existing assessments and documents, in accordance with EU and ADA guidelines for project documentation, including the Logical Framework (Logframe) and budget.

• Assist the ACO Chisinau and ADA HO to establish a PIU, including job descriptions and qualification of additional and future project staff.

The ultimate aim of this preparatory and design phase is that the scope of the project should be refined, the instruments/methodologies/approaches clarified and possibly narrowed down. The geographic scope will have to be specified with the long-term sustainability in mind and the collaboration with stakeholders clarified.

 Specific duties:

The selected candidate will have to ensure as well the mainstreaming of gender equality, human rights, social inclusion, social and environmental (inclusive Climate action) standards and safeguards in all the work he/she is advising and working on.

Also, the socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in the water and environmental sector should be analyzed.

He/she will play a crucial role in advising and facilitating the formulation of detailed activities of the project in a consultative and participatory way to ensure maximum ownership of the target group.

Duration of the assignment

This is a temporary full-time assignment.

The assignment will start, preferably, from 1^st of March 2021 and will be terminated on 31^st of December 2021.

Note: During the assignment, the possibility of a new contract beyond 31^st of December 2021, with a possibility to work in the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) as from 1^st January 2022 onwards, will be assessed.

Requirements:

Core values: Integrity; professionalism; compliance with gender equality and human rights, respect for diversity and environment; good interpersonal, tact, diplomacy and communication skills.

Core competencies: Results orientation and accountability; planning and organizing; excellent self-organisation and independent working skills, excellent skills in writing analyses and reports, communication and trust; team orientation; flexibility and conflict management; organizational development and innovation.

Education and certification:

• University degree (at Masters level) in water and sanitation engineering, integrated water resources management, environmental studies, environmental economics, public administration or any related field;
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage;
• Driving Licence;

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of proven relevant work experience and practical knowledge in institutional strengthening and institutional reform in the water sector, monitoring and evaluation as well as donor coordination in the water sector;
• minimum 5 years of proven experience in project management and project development including contract management;
• being familiar with the EU Neighbourhood Policy and issues emerging for the fields of water & sanitation, environment and climate change and the EU Moldova Action Plan (2030) in general; knowledge of international and European standards;
• being familiar with EU and other donor’s modalities and procedures including tendering processes;
• being familiar with the Moldovan environment, in particular water & sanitation sectors legislation and strategies, regulations and norms is a must;
• specific experience in integrated policy related issues in water & sanitation, water and health, environment, climate change including experience in donor coordination and policy dialogue issues is highly desired; knowledge of the environmental and water acquis of the EU and the experience of implementation of the EU directives in one of the EU countries is an asset;
• Gender, Human Rights and Diversity competencies;
• previous work experience for a donor organization, governmental institutions, IO, NGO or private sector / consulting firm in the field of water sector is a very strong advantage;
• advanced computer skills, including PPP and Excel;
• flexibility to adjust working hours to actual workload as requested by the ADA Coordination Office in Chisinau and capacity to work under pressure.

Languages requirements:

• Fluency in English and Romanian is required.

• Competence in one or more of the other minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, is an asset.

To apply:

• Please submit a cover / motivation letter and CV to: chisinau.application@ada.gv.at
• Please include “Water Management Technical Expert” in the subject line.
• Deadline: 14^th of February 2021 at 24:00 hrs. (12:00 p.m. Moldova time).

To note:

• Delayed and incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited to the next stage of recruitment.
• ACO Chisinau retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.                                                                                                                                                        ToR for Water Management - Technical Expert