Anunțuri de Angajare

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

National Consultant

for consultancy services to improve the communication skills and media relations of the State Hydrometeorological Service

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project

Project ID No. P504278

Reference No.: MD-OEAPM-526858-CS-INDV

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank Group toward the cost of the Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for contracting a National Consultant for consultancy services to improve the communication skills and media relations of the State Hydrometeorological Service (SHS).

The National Consultant will work under the guidance of the SHS Project Team Leader, and will be responsible to provide substantial technical support to SHS to (i) encourage a user-oriented culture, paying close attention to user needs and satisfaction, and (ii) establish /strengthen various channels of communication with users.

The assignment is for 110 working days and expected to start in February 2026, or another date agreed with the SHS and OEAPM/PIU. The service contract will be a lumpsum contract signed by Consultant with SHS in coordination with OEAPM/PIU with potential for extension, subject to satisfactory performance and needs under the project.

For more information, please see the Terms of References attached below.

The PI Office for External Assistance Programs Management, as PIU of the Project, now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The Consultant should meet the following minimum qualifications requirements:

1. Minimum requirements include the following:

Education:

1. Master’s degree in public relations, international relations, communication, journalism, social sciences, or related fields. Additional diploma/certificate in communication/media is an advantage.
2. Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills as well as spoken and written fluency in Romanian and English are required. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage.

Experience:

1. At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in working with the media, experience in communications and social media.
2. Proven professional and creative writing skills (publications, articles, press releases and other similar work).
3. Experience in developing communication strategies and action plans.
4. Experience in web and mobile apps design.
5. Experience in survey design for obtaining feedback and level of user satisfaction .
6. Experience in market research and developing tools and strategies for this purpose.
7. Knowledge of environmental sciences/meteorology/climatology and familiarity with the operational environment of an NMHS is an advantage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers - PROCUREMENT IN INVESTMENT PROJECT FINANCING Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, dated September 2023 (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (IC) method set out in the World Bank Procurement Framework.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:30 to 17:30 local time.

The applications should include letter of Expression of Interest, CV, and related recommendation letters.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e­mail) by 17:30 local time, January 9, 2026.

Attn: Raisa Cantemir

Director

PI Office for External Assistance Programs Management

57/1 Mitropolit Banulescu Bodoni str., office 306, MD-2005.

Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Tel: 373 22 23 29 63, 23 82 48

E-mail: achizitii.proiecte@ogpae.gov.md

TERMS OF REFERENCE

National Consultant

for consultancy services to improve the communication skills and media relations of the State Hydrometeorological Service

Project Background and Objectives

Background

2. The Government of the Republic of Moldova is implementing the Strengthening Moldova's Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project (SMORE) financed by the World Bank (WB). The project aims to enhance Moldova's preparedness and response to natural hazards and climate-related shocks, and in case of a relevant crisis or emergency, respond promptly and effectively to it.

3. The State Hydrometeorological Service (SHS), in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, is implementing Component 2 “Improvement of Hydrometeorological Services” of SMORE. In 2025, the WB prepared “A Strengthened and Fit-for-Purpose State Hydromet Service in Moldova: A Roadmap” as part of the SMORE project. The Roadmap identifies critical gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the production and delivery of hydrometeorological and warning services. It presents a strategic pathway for strengthening the capacities and capabilities of the SHS to provide fit-for-purpose services in support of safety of lives, protecting property and livelihoods, and social and economic development.

4. An important gap highlighted by the Roadmap is the limited capability of SHS to effectively communicate with stakeholders and users of its services and products. This gap includes lack of state of the art information dissemination mechanisms such as a weather application for smartphones and an attractive and high-quality website and exploiting social media to optimally communicate information to users. In addition, sufficient and efficient mechanisms for collecting user feedback and assessment reports on user satisfaction are lacking. It is a well-recognized fact that products and services of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) need to be well articulated, to reach as many people as possible, and to be understood by the recipients. As part of this process, it is also essential that the NMHS is aware of the degree of satisfaction of the recipients with the products and services in terms of clarity and usefulness, in order to respond to user requirements with high quality services.

5. Effective communication will also improve service delivery in SHS. This requires establishing/improving a user-oriented culture, paying closer attention to the users’ needs, and their level of satisfaction with the services of SHS, and implementing actions to remedy dissatisfaction of users. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be developed/strengthened in relation to communication for high-quality delivery of services. Building the media profile and brand recognition of SHS through better engagement with existing media organizations is also a key outcome.

Objectives

6. The objectives of the consultancy under the proposed Terms of Reference (TOR) are to provide substantial technical support to SHS to:

• Encourage a user-oriented culture, paying close attention to user needs and satisfaction
• Establish /strengthen various channels of communication with users.

SCOPE OF WORK

7. To accomplish the stated objectives the scope of work would include:
8. Evaluate the existing capacities of SHS concerning communication with the government and private sector stakeholders and the general public including collecting feedback
9. As part of establishing/improving user-oriented culture, provide guidance and advice to SHS staff on improved communication and collecting user feedback, including developing/strengthening Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to keep track of, and be responsive to, users’ satisfaction with services
10. Develop guidance and templates, and provide advice to assist SHS staff on:

• Ensuring compliance with all established national regulations in the field of communication, promotion and reporting
• Building the media profile and brand recognition of SHS through better engagement with existing media organisations
• Preparing communication materials about the work and achievements of SHS, including press releases, news, success stories, infographics, social media posts, and print, to be disseminated via different channels including the media, official SHS website and accounts on SHS social platforms
• Design and implementation of awareness-raising and outreach campaigns on topics of interest to the sector, as well as campaigns promoting institutional visibility
• Integrating all communication and information activities into the Climate Change Information and Knowledge Management Portal: / clima.gov.md /
• Keeping records of communication/media activities and preparing regular reports on these activities

1. Provide advice on the content and design of the SHS website to make it more interactive and user-friendly
2. Provide advice on the content and design of a smartphone application to complement the SHS website
3. Conduct training for meteorologists and other key staff on external communication, including interview techniques, radio broadcasting, delivering presentations
4. Contribute to developing tools and techniques for market research to better understand user requirements among public and private stakeholders and the general public.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES and TIMELINES

8. The contract will comprise overall 110 working days, with potential for extension, subject to satisfactory performance and needs under the project. The consultant will work under the guidance of the SHS Project Team Leader and will coordinate, as necessary, with the other team members involved in these activities—both local and international. The beneficiary (SHS) will provide the consultant with all relevant documents and the necessary institutional information.

9. The Consultant will provide regular updates to the SHS Project Team Leader on the progress being made and work planned ahead, and/or to flag any issues that may arise so as to avoid unforeseen delays.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

10. Minimum requirements include the following:
11. Education:
    1. Master’s degree in public relations, international relations, communication, journalism, social sciences, or related fields. Additional diploma/certificate in communication/media is an advantage
    2. Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills as well as spoken and written fluency in Romanian and English are required. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage
12. Experience:
    1. At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in working with the media, experience in communications and social media
    2. Proven professional and creative writing skills (publications, articles, press releases and other similar work)
    3. Experience in developing communication strategies and action plans
    4. Experience in web and mobile apps design
    5. Experience in survey design for obtaining feedback and level of user satisfaction
    6. Experience in market research and developing tools and strategies for this purpose
    7. Knowledge of environmental sciences/meteorology/climatology and familiarity with the operational environment of an NMHS is an advantage.