World Bank is hiring a Displacement and Development Specialist

Terms of Reference

Displacement and Development Specialist

The following terms of reference (TOR) outline the approach and scope for a short-term consultant, a Displacement and Development Specialist to support World Bank activities on forced displacement in Moldova.

Background and Rationale: 

The full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, caused massive displacement. Moldova experienced the highest per capita influx of refugees in Europe, with over 1,000,000 people crossing into the country by March 2024. By that time, more than 101,000 refugees remained in Moldova, constituting over 4% of its population. The refugee population primarily comprises women and children, many of whom face significant vulnerabilities and special needs.

The socio-economic integration of refugees from Ukraine and other foreigners entering Moldova is crucial for both the refugees and the host communities. The World Bank supports efforts of the government of Moldova in facilitating such integration with Moldova Refugee and Community Support Technical Assistance project. The development objective of the project is to improve national and local government policy, systems, and technical competence to effectively facilitate the socio-economic integration of refugees from Ukraine, and other foreigners entering Moldova, and to enhance social cohesion within host communities.

The project includes three components intended to complement each other in supporting the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) and other related government agencies at the national and local levels to provide improved support to refugees and host communities while also addressing key areas of refugee need and support to foreigners in Moldova more broadly.

These include:

Component 1: Improved access to the information needed on rights and services of refugees to make informed decisions;

Component 2: Strengthened social and economic integration of refugees in host community families with support of civil society organizations and Local Public Administrations (LPAs);

Component 3: Improved capacity of MoIA and other relevant national and local government agencies to address the needs of refugees, particularly the most vulnerable.

Objective of Assignment:

The Consultant will be responsible for supporting the overall delivery of the technical assistance program, including, liaising between with a group of international experts, national and local government officials, international and national nongovernmental agencies, project vendors and other stakeholders. The main focus of coordination and support will be between the World Bank and the main government counterpart agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA).

Scope of Activities and Outputs of the Assignment:

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) and World Bank staff in Washington, DC, Chisinau, Kyiv and elswehere.
• Facilitate regular communication and coordination between MoIA and World Bank to ensure alignment of project activities and objectives.
• Organize and participate in meetings, briefings, and discussions between MoIA and World Bank representatives.
• Coordinate activities with other international organizations, NGOs, and stakeholders to ensure a cohesive approach to refugee, foreigner support and host communities.
• Represent the project in coordination meetings and provide updates on progress and challenges.
• Monitor the performance and progress of consultants and consulting firms, providing feedback and support as needed.

Outputs:

Key outputs include:

• Regular communication and coordination updates between MoIA and World Bank staff.
• Briefings and other materials required to prepare coordination meetings between Team Lead and MoIA.
• Overall Work Plan for implementation of project activities, including timetable, comprising the work of all project consultants.
• Mission reports, contributions to Aide Memoire reports.
• Prepare and/or contribute to draft Terms of Reference for specialist individual consultants and firms.
• Regular progress reports on the implementation of project activities.
• Other deliverables as agreed with the task team leader.

Implementation Arrangements:

The consultant will report to the Team Lead: Erik Caldwell Johnson and support coordination of the project with the MoIA.

Level of Effort and Timing:

This period of the assignment is 150-day contract commitment. The initial contract period will be from October 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 with a potential extension through June 20, 2026 upon effective performance.

Education, Competencies, and Skills:

• Advanced degree in public policy, international relations, migration studies, law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in policy analysis, project management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with government agencies, international organizations, or NGOs, particularly in the areas of migration, asylum, and refugee support.
• In-depth understanding of the socio-political context of Moldova, particularly regarding migration and refugee issues.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with government officials, development partners, and other stakeholders.
• Strong coordination skills to manage relationships between various project partners and ensure alignment of activities.
• Demonstrated project management skills, with experience overseeing the implementation of activities on the ground.
• Ability to monitor project progress, identify issues, and provide solutions.
• Experience in managing consultants and consulting firms, ensuring they meet project objectives and deliverables.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Fluency in English and Romanian is required. Fluency in Ukrainian is a plus.

Deadline for applications: September 20, 2024.

For information or to submit a CV, contact: Ms. Viorica Strah, vstrah@worldbank.org