Project Associate (multiple posts) - NPSA7 - UNDP Moldova/Flood Management - 15777

Background
 

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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Climate change is projected to increase the occurrence of intense rainfall events in Moldova with potential consequences for damaging flooding, given the country’s rolling topography and current land use patterns. The majority of Moldova’s rural population lives in small towns located in these watersheds, which are often found in low lying areas and other areas at risk of flooding as a result of heavy rains.

On average, under climate change, rainfall will become (with 66% probability) more frequent, either in absolute terms or as a proportion of total precipitation, that is, less precipitation with a higher proportion of heavy rain events. Potentially damaging and life-threatening river floods are expected to intensify.  
Given that over 4,000 small and medium reservoirs and ponds have been constructed, the structural integrity of dams and weirs is therefore critically important in any long-term national climate change adaptation strategy. Most dams were designed in the former Soviet republic using empirical formulas based on the hydrological and climatological conditions of more than 30-40 years ago. As such, no climate change allowances were made during the design of these dams. As well, an unknown number of dams have been built ad hoc by individuals or communities without any proper design and/or permit.^[1]

[1] The number of dams in Moldova is disputed. Based on some sources there are more than 7,000 dams (ongoing inventory of dams by national experts), while others estimate the number of dams at around 4,000 (General Inspectorate of Emergency Situations).

At the same time, the State Hydro-meteorological Service (SHS) monitoring capacities are insufficient to assess local-level hazards and vulnerabilities with sufficient precision, and the current early warning system for flooding is weak. SHS monitoring stations are unevenly distributed, with the vast majority found on the two largest border rivers (Prut and Dniester), leaving the interior under-served. The network of stations cannot adequately detect fluvial and flash flood risk, and hazard maps are out of date. The state institutions - the State Hydro-meteorological Service (SHS) and the Agency “Apele Moldovei”(AAM) - charged with hazard analysis and risk assessments currently lack the technical capacities to carry them out effectively, and they have no hydrological or hydraulic modelling capacities which is limiting the efficient  flood forecasting.

Compounding vulnerability from the threat of flooding, local governance institutions have insufficient capacities for effective flood risk and water resources planning and management at the sub-basin level. Local governance institutions and community stakeholders lack the organizational and technical capacities to carry out participatory integrated water resource management and flood risk assessment and management. Under the provisions of Water Law No. 272 of 2011, some elements of integrated water resources management at local level have been delegated to sub-basin committees. While sub-basin committees have been established, they meet irregularly, have no long-term strategy for engaging local land users in analysis and planning, and their links with local water users’ groups and other land use regulatory institutions are weak or non-existent. Water users’ groups lack the support they need to ensure adequate capacities for appropriate maintenance of private and public hydro-infrastructure.

Against this background, the project is proposing a set of measures aimed at strengthening the country’s adaptation to climate-driven flood risk through a two-pronged approach. The first will build the essential national hydro-meteorological monitoring and early warning systems, including the institutional capacities to manage and operate them countrywide. The second one, will apply an integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach to 5 key watersheds that will produce knowledge and institutional capacities for rehabilitation of high-risk hydrotechnical infrastructure, as well as increased participation by local stakeholders in water governance.

With these measures the project will put in place knowledge, capacity, infrastructure, policy and regulatory frameworks to enable a long-term impact of country’s enhanced capabilities to manage the run-off from extreme climate-driven rainfall events to prevent flooding that causes loss of life and property damage.   The following are the project outcomes and outputs of the project:

Outcome 1: Increased capacities of the relevant national and local authorities to respond effectively to extreme water-related events:

Output 1.1:  Strengthened hydro-meteorological monitoring network for effective river basin management
Output 1.2: Flash-flood/flood forecasting and early warning system established and operational

Outcome 2: Enhanced security of the vulnerable rural population in key watersheds from potential failure of flood control infrastructure

Output 2.1: Methodology, protocol and standards for safe operation of hydro-technical infrastructure developed 
Output 2.2: High risk dams identified in 5 pilot sites, conditions analyzed, and remedial measures identified with priority high risk dams rehabilitated

Outcome 3: Enhanced capacity of the local authorities and empowered community stakeholders to participate actively in governance of integrated water resources management for flood control

Output 3.1: Flood risk and water resources planning, and management instruments are available and put at use at the local level

The project will have several categories of target groups such as, firstly, the local population from the pilot areas who are directly exposed to the flood-related hazards, namely, those living in floodplain areas or having agricultural land and/or economic activities in these areas.    

Another target group is the Local Public Authorities from the selected pilot regions. As the custodians of the hydro-technical infrastructure, they bear the responsibility to ensure their proper operation and maintenance in order to mitigate the flood risks.  

The next target group of the project is the central public authorities such as the Ministry of Environment with its subordinated institutions, that is, the Agency “Apele Moldovei” and the State Hydro-meteorological Service who will benefit from instruments and knowledge to better understand the flood-related risks, prevent and prepare for these.  

The last target group of the project is the private sector who rent the hydra-technical infrastructure form the LPAs and who have the role of water users.

This is a 4-year project with an allocated budget from the Austrian Development Agency totalling 4 mln EUR. Additional funding would have to be mobilized from the LPAs for the rehabilitation of the identified hydro-infrastructure in the 5 pilot areas.Duties and Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Project Associate during the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Assist in efficient delivery of the joint project, focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Undertake administrative, logistical, travel, procurement, financial and asset management tasks in full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations and policies;
• Provide support to procure goods and services required by the project, in liaison with the relevant staff and units of UNDP Country Office;
• Provide administrative support in arranging Joint Project related meetings when needed. 
• Participate in the preparation of work plans, operation plans and procurement plans and periodical reviews thereof;
• /Provide support in quality control of Joint Project activities, including assessing impact and effectiveness, tracking outputs and results, and ensure timely and efficient delivery;
• Maintain an appropriate filing system and documenting the implementation to enable further operational and financial closure of the project;
• Provide support in regular monitoring and data collection of Joint Project activities in accordance with work plan and procurement plan;
• Provide general secretarial and administrative assistance to the Joint project in close liaison with UNDP teams, other UN agencies.

Ensure administration and implementation of operational strategies, adapt processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Full compliance with respective UNDP and donor rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations; 
• Implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system. 
• Personal initiative to perform daily work timely, efficiently, and in compliance with established rules and plans.

Provide financial support to the Joint Project, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Assist Joint Project team in drafting Joint Project progress reports with financial data;
• Assist project management in performing budget cycle: planning, preparation, revisions, and budget execution;
• Provide assistance to partner agencies involved in Joint Project activities, performing and monitoring financial aspects to ensure compliance with budgeted costs in line with established policies and procedures;
• Monitor Joint Project expenditures, ensuring that no expenditure is incurred before it has been authorized;
• Perform preparatory work for mandatory and general budget revisions, annual physical inventory, auditing; and assist external evaluators in fulfilling their mission;
• Ensure that all Joint Project financial activities are carried out on schedule and within budget to achieve the project outputs;
• Perform all other financial related duties, upon request.
• Ensure timely submission of financial reports to the UNDP Country Office to verify the accuracy of such reports for the national partner or donor.

Provide operations support to the Joint Project, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that UNDP procurement rules are followed during procurement activities that are carried out by the project and maintain responsibility for the inventory of the project assets;
• Organization of procurement processes including preparation of RFQs, ITBs or RFPs documents, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their preliminary evaluation, note-to-files and justifications in cooperation with the UNDP Operations Unit.
• Coordination of surveys, DSA, travel agencies, organization of common services and other administrative surveys;
• Prepare and timely submit travel documents in accordance with UNDP requirements;
• Support with protocol matters, registration of staff, coordination with national partners on space and other administrative matters;
• Compile, organize and file information and documents for reference and use by team members.
• Preparation of documents set for vendor creation;
• Ensure proper control of the supporting documents for payments;
• Prepare and timely submit payment requests with proper support documentation to the UNDP Country Office; 
• Provide financial monitoring over Joint Project commitments and expenditures and assist the Project Manager in assuring proper Joint Project delivery;
• Keep regular contact with Joint Project experts and consultants to inform them about the Joint Project details and changes; 
• Control the usage and proper accounting of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories), inventories and materials; 
• Provide necessary administrative, financial and logistical support to the Joint Project events, including among other workshops, seminars, working meetings and visits of national and international delegations (visa support, transportation, hotel accommodation etc.); 
• Keep files of Joint Project documents and expert reports and ensure general circulation of documents for knowledge management and sharing; 
• Act on telephone inquiries, fax, post and e-mail transmissions, and co-ordinate appointments;
• Provide translation of documents for/to English/Russian/Belarusian as required;
• Draft Joint Project correspondence and documents; finalize correspondence of administrative and financial nature; edit reports and other documents for correctness of form and content as required;
• Assist in collection, preparation and submission of support documents for NPSA contracts extensions.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Associate will execute the duties and responsibilities outlined above under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Technical and Cross-Functional Competencies

Business Management  -  Operations Management                                    

• Ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee the organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

Business Development  -  Knowledge Generation                                         

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need

Partnership Management - Relationship Management                                   

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Finance - Budget Management                                             

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Procurement - Procurement Management                                  

• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source 

Administration & Operations  - Assets Management         

• Knowledge of policy & procedures on PP&E; ability to prepare financial statements on PP&E; maintain Asset Management Module in Quantum, Asset Dashboard; develop supporting tools for assets certification and further enhancements for AM module; design and run training programs, etc. on assets management and assets recording; run AP-AM interface; perform AP-AM-GL reconciliation; perform analytical review of AM reports and asset information to ensure completeness and accuracy of asset information.

Administration & Operations - Documents and records management

• Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Secondary education is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, management, economics, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor's degree) of relevant work experience in the field of administration, finance, economics, business administration or public administration. 

Language

• Fluency in Romanian and English is required.
• Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Russian, Ukrainian and sign language, will be an asset.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated experience of working in a multi-cultural work environment is an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Desired Skills

• Experience of working for international organization related to project implementation and previous experience managing UNDP projects is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in Project administration is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in financial administration is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in working with international organizations project implementation is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience to communicate well and interact with key partners in project implementation and delivery is an asset.
• Demonstrated Experience in project-level or state/national-level monitoring and evaluation system implementation is an asset.

Disclaimer
 

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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Salariul lunar net: 25000 MDL - 31000 MDL

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