IREX Moldova vacancy - Local Consultant with expertise in Geographic Information Systems development

Assignment:              Local Consultant with expertise in Geographic Information Systems development

Location:                   Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Expected duration of assignment: 52 workdays (June 06 - December 20, 2022)

Application deadline: May 16, 2022, 3 p.m.

Project description

Comunitatea Mea (CM) is a 5-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by IREX. The program’s purpose is to improve the capacity of local public authorities (LPAs), including their ability to work inclusively with citizens and civil society, to increase revenues, improve financial management practices, build stronger checks and balances between the central and local governments, and facilitate public-private partnerships and inter-municipal cooperation.

Position summary

CM seeks a consultant to:

1. Provide analysis on existing spatial data sets institutional capacity organizing, migrating existing spatial data into Local Geographic Information System (GIS-Local); technical resources technical resources for development of the technical specifications for GIS-local platform Development
2. Prepare the design of the model and data structure for the spatial data sets determined as priority areas.
3. Organize the workspace in the QGIS application for managing spatial data sets (layers, groups, interface, etc.)
4. Develop the network for publishing spatial data sets (WMS, WFS, WMTS spatial data services).
5. Configure the GIS-Local, creation of layers and their structure in accordance with identified domains in the LPA’s premises.
6. Prepare all required materials and assume responsibility to deliver any needed follow-up activities to ensure the LPAs acquire the desired skills-sets, knowledge, and practices to ensure that the main topics GIS Local platform Implementation and all issues on are reviewed and covered.
7. Support the participants in planning and implementation of the follow-up activities as part of GIS Local extension.

Context of the assignment

Based on Donors Coordination Meeting on Property Management Development (PMD) organised on World Bank initiatives, USAID Program Comunitatea Mea (CM) contributed to development of the Joint National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Action Plan for 2021 and agreed to expand implementation of the Local Geographic Information System (GIS-Local) in Moldova LPAs in collaboration with Agency for Land Relations and Cadaster of the Republic of Moldova (ALRC) and Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (NMCA) to contribute to a more effective Public Property Management (PPM).

In response to Chisinau partner communities official request to improve PPM and ensure a transparent and efficient process in the local public administrations of the Republic of Moldova, CM will extend GIS Local platform development and implementation for Municipal Company General Directorate for Housing-Communal and Territorial Planning (DGLCA) of Chisinau LPA to share best-practices on maximizing the value of PPM.

To ensure sustainability of CM’s significant investment in GIS Local system development piloted in Chisinau LPA, CM will further support capacity building efforts in LPAs from Moldova through presenting the practical application of GIS tools based on Chisinau LPA’s real cases to the to ensure and maintenance the continued learning efforts on GIS Local development.

Based on CM provided assistance on PPM and GIS Local as well performed interviews with representatives of LPAs staff during the Functional Organizational Capacity Assessment (FOCAS) completed in the most CM partner communities, it was identified that LPAs need further continued support on PPM.

Duties and responsibilities

1. Develop analysis on current situation related to public property, urban functional cadaster, environment activities and provide recommendations for the content and structure of the spatial data sets determined as a priority.
2. Prepare the design of the model and data structure for the spatial data sets determined as priority areas.
3. Organize the workspace in the QGIS application for managing spatial data sets (layers, groups, interface, etc.)
4. Develop the network for publishing spatial data sets (WMS, WFS, WMTS spatial data services).
5. Configure the GIS-Local, creation of layers and their structure in accordance with identified domains in the LPA’s premises.
6. Train for around 10 LPA-staff specialists per total from on the use and publishing spatial data sets (WMS, WFS, WMTS spatial data services) .
7. Monitor the process of using GIS-Local in LPA in the post-implementation stage, technical support, troubleshooting and improving the system functionality of GIS-Local
8. Develop the support materials, and documents that will have a very practical approach with consideration for the Moldovan context and the CM goals and objectives.
9. Study the existing legislation, relevant research, and other materials on current GIS platform Development and Public Property Management at Local Level in Moldova.
10. Identify the best Public Property management practices in Moldova and to translate them into TR needs. The depth and the key scope GIS LOCAL should rely on, but not limited to focus on implementation of current GIS development legislation – what are the main challenges, as well as Property Management professional competencies, knowledge and skills that are needed by partner LPAs.
11. Prepare all required materials to deliver the TR and any needed follow-up activities to ensure the LPAs acquire the desired skills-sets, knowledge and practices needed to improve the Public Property Management system in the short and medium terms.
12. Design and deliver TR on GIS Local platform and any needed follow-up activities to ensure the LPAs acquire the desired skills-sets, knowledge, and practices.
13. Establish preliminary contact with the CM Local Governance Finance Manager to coordinate the activities and align with the current legal framework in the Republic of Moldova as related to GIS Local platform development and implementation, and present real-life examples of how the regulations work and are interpreted.

Deliverables, timeline and level of effort

Organizational Setting:

• The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the CM Chief of Party and direct supervision of the Local Government Finance Manager.
• Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment.

(a) Recipients and sub recipients are prohibited from obligating or expending loan or grant funds to:

(1) Procure or obtain.

(2) Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or

(3) Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. As described in Public Law 115-232, section 889, covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

(i) For the purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

(ii) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment.

(iii) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country.

(b) In implementing the prohibition under Public Law 115-232, section 889, subsection (f), paragraph (1), heads of executive agencies administering loan, grant, or subsidy programs shall prioritize available funding and technical support to assist affected businesses, institutions and organizations as is reasonably necessary for those affected entities to transition from covered communications equipment and services, to procure replacement equipment and services, and to ensure that communications service to users and customers is sustained.

Confidentiality:

• Materials provided to the consultant and all proceeding the consultancy contract shall be regarded as confidential, both during and after the consultancy. Violation of confidentiality requirements may result in immediate termination of the contract.

Skills and experience

Education

• Master’s Degree in required technical field.

Experience and Skills

• at least five (5) years’ experience in the Spatial Planning and Cadaster area of expertise
• Fluent knowledge of Romanian and good knowledge of Russian.
• Excellent analytical, writing and reporting skills
• In addition, the expert should meet the following qualifications (minimum requirements):

• Understanding of in GIS technologies processes, and challenges.
• write QGIS Python and JavaScript program codes.
• experience working with PostgreSQL and PostGIS databases.
• Previous experience within LPA is an advantage.
• Experience in implementing capacity development programs, coaching, and mentoring.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work with all levels and functions within the organization.
• Requires an ability to work independently and as part of a team, accept responsibility, and be extremely discrete with sensitive information.
• A strong understanding and working experience with public sector debt-financing programmes together with professional familiarity with issues and implications related to establishing and functioning of capital market systems and mechanisms in developing countries involving long-term debt instruments such as municipal bonds.
• Professional understanding of the functioning of GIS architect development.
• A proven ability to work in a collaborative manner with a diverse group of stakeholders in the design and development of proposals in the field of local governance.

Personal qualities:

• Responsibility, multitasking, flexibility and punctuality.

To apply:

Submit CV that includes your consulting rate requirements to: hr-md@irex.org. 

Please include “Local Consultant/ expertise in Geographic Information Systems Developer” in the subject line.

Evaluation criteria

The interview may be part of evaluation, if required after evaluation.

Deadline for applications (extended): May 16, 2022, 3 p.m.