Social Protection & Digitalization Analyst (NPSA-9) - 18936

Salariul lunar net: 42000 MDL - 52500 MDL +8,33% (fond de pensii pe lună)

Asigurarea medicala internationala 100% acoperire

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Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

UNDP plays a pivotal role in international development as a knowledge broker, capacity builder, innovator, and facilitator of exchanges in the global development debate.

UNDP connects countries to the knowledge, resources, and networks they need to achieve development breakthroughs. Our work is summed up in our six signature solutions, adapted to context and powered by three potent enablers for greater impact. Our specialized global policy centers enable access to substantive expertise and connectivity with external networks and resources. 

Responding in an integrated and coherent manner, UNDP is determined to end poverty and hunger, protect the planet from degradation, ensure that all people have prosperous lives, with growth that occurs in harmony with nature, and to foster peaceful and inclusive societies. 

We are committed to mobilizing the means to implement the 2030 Agenda through a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity. 

UNDP Moldova’s current Country Programme Document (CPD) focuses at assisting the country in four main areas, supporting a vision for a more cohesive, inclusive, just and resilient society, and a better quality of life for everyone:

1. Just and inclusive institutions and equal opportunities for human development – institutions deliver human rights, evidence-based and gender-responsive services for all, including the most vulnerable people in Moldova;
2. Participatory governance and social cohesion – more accountable, transparent, human rights-based, and gender-responsive governance empowers all people in Moldova to participate in and to contribute to all spheres of life;
3. Enhanced shared prosperity in a sustainable economy – all people in Moldova benefit from inclusive, competitive, and sustainable economic development and equitable/equal access to decent work and productive employment;
4. Green development, sustainable communities, and disaster and climate resilience – all people in Moldova and institutions benefit from and contribute to green and resilient development, sustainable use of natural resources and effective climate change and disaster risk management.

Social protection is an effective tool to promote economic and social inclusion and it is a key lever to reduce inequality and poverty, address vulnerabilities and enable investment in human development. It is now more critical than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into a harsh light the gaps in coverage throughout the world. Going into the crisis, half of the world did not have adequate social protection and hence was not prepared to face the sudden and significant loss of income and large out-of-pocket health expenses.

One lesson from the pandemic, though, is that it is possible to rapidly expand or launch social protection measures to cover those who are otherwise unprotected. Political will and creativity have been on display in the design of programs and through leveraging digital technology to identify beneficiaries and deliver benefits. However, much remains to be done, including exploring solutions for the ‘missing middle’ (those not poor enough to receive social assistance benefits but whose source of employment offers little, if any, protection). The momentum generated by the pandemic should be harnessed to integrate those short-term measures into social protection systems. For UNDP, social protection is understood as a set of nationally owned policies and instruments, organized around systems that provide income or in-kind support and facilitate access to goods and services to all households and individuals at least at minimally accepted levels, to (i) protect them from multiple deprivations and social and economic exclusion, as a matter of human rights and particularly during shocks or periods of insufficient income, incapacity or inability to work, and (ii) empower them by increasing productive capacities and enhancing capabilities.

Against this background, UNDP adopts an integrated vision of social protection in line with the imperatives to achieve the following: 

Protect/prevent – by decreasing vulnerabilities to risks and shocks, ensuring adequate consumption and income and food security, and preserving access to basic services. The positive impacts of social assistance and social insurance interventions such as cash and in-kind transfers, and social care services in many countries around the globe provide evidence of their relevance.

Empower/promote – by increasing productive capacities and new capabilities of vulnerable households, including via access to quality health care and education as well as labor market interventions. 

Transform – to build a more just society based on fairness by addressing structural drivers of poverty, inequality, and vulnerability, including by addressing social norms and promoting a transformation towards an equalizing, greener and more sustainable way of living.

The Republic of Moldova’s system of social protection relies on two interdependent pillars: social insurance and social assistance, which also includes social services. In financial terms, the social protection system represents the most expensive policy sector in Moldova. Following a series of external shocks (such as inflation in energy prices, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine), as well as targeted policy responses (including indexations and on-bill compensations), the volume of public resources allocated under various programs of the social protection system has grown dramatically to an envelope of MDL 46 billion. These figures underline just how important it is to address the systemic challenges of social protection – even relatively small efficiency gains can prove to be economically and socially significant. 

In October 2022, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP) launched, with UNDP and Donor support, the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund and the Energy Vulnerability Information System to enable Moldovan households to apply for compensation for energy price increases through a unified platform, developed with UNDP support.

In March 2023, the MLSP initiated RESTART as a comprehensive strategy, as part of reforms championed by the MLSP, designed to make social assistance more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the population, utilizing digital approaches and tools. This reform aims to address geographical inequalities in access to social assistance, ensure sustainable financing for social care services, and enhance the shock responsiveness of the social protection system.

In the upcoming period, UNDP Moldova will support the MLSP’s reform agenda and will contribute a robust stakeholder collaboration, sustainable institutional capacity development, and the pro-activation of social protection services, utilizing digital approaches and tools, in a manner that ensures their improved level of quality, accessibility, and effectiveness

Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Protection & Digitalization Analyst will be embedded in the UNDP’s Project titled: ‘Digital Transformation of Social Protection’ and work under the supervision of the UNDP Moldova Policy Specialist and in close coordination of the Project Manager of ‘Digital Transformation of Social Protection’, and will contribute to delivering high-quality development services and products aligned with UNDP’s standards and scope of UNDP Moldova CO’s portfolio in the areas of employment, social protection and inclusion, and digital governance.

More specifically, the Social Protection & Digitalization Analyst will be responsible for substantively support the implementation of the ‘Digital Transformation of Social Protection’ Project to enrich Project effectiveness and strategic outcomes, through:

Programmatic support in social protection:

• Contribute to analysis and research of the political, social, and economic landscape to inform social protection strategies.
• Develop and refine proposals for social protection policies and support mechanisms, considering the interconnectedness with other developmental areas.
• Assist in shaping and implementing UNDP initiatives aimed at reducing social vulnerabilities and enhancing protection mechanisms.
• Coordinate the engagement of national and international consultants, aligning their contributions with UNDP’s objectives in social protection.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

• Apply results-based management tools, establish benchmarks, and monitor progress towards achieving UNDP Moldova’s objectives in social protection.
• Initiate systems for strategic planning, monitoring, and reporting to support evidence-based programming.
• Substantively contribute to communications and visibility efforts in the area of social protection.

Resource Mobilization and Partnership Building:

• Explore and foster synergies with UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society to enhance the impact and reach of social protection programs.
• Maintain and facilitate effective communication with public, national partners and among stakeholders, and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of UNDP Moldova achievements in the practice area of social protection;
• Analyze and research information on relevant donors and contribute to UNDP Moldova CO’s resource mobilization efforts;
• Prepare thematic briefs on possible areas of cooperation with development partners and public stakeholders.
• Provide thematic support to project teams and advise on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies. 

Knowledge Management:

• Keep abreast of UNDP programming practices and maintain an optimum level of knowledge by continuous learning, including in the areas of social protection, vulnerability reduction and digitalization.
• Promote information sharing with the relevant partners by initiating and/or participating in consultative meetings and preparing briefs on processes and activities related to social protection; 
• Promote flow of information and resources between and among the various levels of stakeholders/ beneficiaries to improve the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of UNDP interventions and results.

       The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional arrangements:

The Social Protection & Digitalization Analyst will work under the supervision of the UNDP Moldova Policy Specialist and the overall strategic guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and the Resident Representative.

He/she will work in close cooperation with the UNDP Moldova Country Office, including Operations and Communications, for an effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving issues and information delivery. 

He/she will also work closely with the Effective Governance Employment and Social Inclusion Analyst and UNDP Chief Technical Advisors in the area of social protection, employment and digitalization, as well as coordinate the activity of part-time national and international consultants.

The Social Protection & Digitalization Analyst will collaborate with other UN projects, national stakeholders, and other development partners in supporting the UNDP Moldova’s interventions in the area of social protection.

The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies, and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.Ins

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.

Cross Functional and Technical competencies:

• Business Direction & Strategy- System Thinking 
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Business Development- Knowledge Facilitation  
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
• Business Management- Partnerships Management         
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Business Management- Project Management    
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• 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.
• Digital & Innovation-Data analysis          
  • Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
• Digital & Innovation- Digital transformation design         
  • Practical and strategic skills in digital transformation for governments and organizations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Public Policies, Public Administration, Economics, Law, or related field is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master's degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor's' degree) of progressive working experience in the areas related to governance, social protection, vulnerability reduction and/or policy and socio-economic research.

Languages:

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

Required skills:

• Knowledge and experience in thematic areas relevant to the social protection reform agenda and digital governance.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages and web-based management systems.
• Excellent communication skills with a wide range of partners.

Desired skills:

• Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations will be an asset.
• Experience/knowledge to provide advice and guidance in a tailored and effective manner will be an asset.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

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.

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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