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PUBLIC INSTITUTION “ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OFFICE”, PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT OF THE SECOND BIENNIAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT AND SIXTH NATIONAL COMMUNICATION UNDER THE UNFCCC 

  VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Position Information

Project Title: 

Job Title (part-time):

Duration of employment:

“Moldova: Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Combined Second Biennial Transparency Report and Sixth National Communication (BTR2/NC6) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)”

 Gender consultant

30 working days, spread within February – June 2026

II. Background

The project aims to support the Republic of Moldova (RoM) to prepare and submit its Combined Second Biennial Transparency Report and Sixth National Communication (BTR2/NC6) that complies with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement (PA) reporting requirements while responding to national development goals. 

Under the UNEP/GEF Project “Moldova: Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Combined Second Biennial Transparency Report and Sixth National Communication (BTR2/NC6) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)”, Moldova will receive support to prepare its BTR2/NC6 report and submit it to the UNFCCC by December 2026, in compliance with UNFCCC and PA reporting requirements and in alignment to national development goals, with built-in flexibility provided in light of its capacities. Moreover, the country will be supported to undertake a self-assessment and stocktaking exercise for preparation of the project proposal for the subsequent BTR development.  

Thus, the two expected outputs under the BTR2/NC6 project are as following:

Output 1: BTR2/NC6 report prepared and submitted to UNFCCC by December 2026.

Output 2: Self-assessment and stocktaking exercise for preparation of the project proposal for subsequent BTR3 under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement completed.

The content of deliverables produced under the first output must follow the Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines (MPGs) for the transparency framework for action and support referred to in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement (FCCC/PA/CMA/2018/3/Add.2). Moreover, as adopted at COP 26 in Decision 5/CMA.3, the following will be observed: (i) outlines for the BTR & National Inventory Document (NID); (ii) the Common Reporting Tables (CRT) for reporting GHG Inventory and the Common Tabular Formats (CTF) for reporting the NDC progress, financial, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support provided and mobilized, as well as support needed and received (FCCC/PA/CMA/2021/10/Add.2). The BTR2/NC6 project will build on findings and recommendations from the technical expert review of the BTR1 and expert review of previous NCs and BURs. 

The combined report BTR2/NC6 is expected to include the following content: 

• Chapter 1: National inventory report of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases; 
• Chapter 2: Information necessary to track progress made in implementing and achieving nationally determined contributions under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement; 
• Chapter 3: Information related to climate change impacts and adaptation under Article 7 of the Paris Agreement; 
• Chapter 4: Information on financial, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support needed and received under Articles 9–11 of the Paris Agreement; 
• Other relevant information, including: 
• Chapter 5: Research and Systematic Observation; 
• Chapter 6: Education, Training and Public Awareness; and 
• Chapter 7: Gender Mainstreaming into the Climate Policies.

III. Organizational Context

The project is executed by the BTR2/NC6 Project Management Unit (PMU) established by the Public Institution “Environmental Projects National Implementation Office” (P.I. “EPNIO”) of the Ministry of Environment (MoEN), on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, and in consultation with the UNEP. 

As national executing agency, the PMU established by the P.I. “EPNIO” is primarily responsible for the planning and management of the project activities, accounting, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the project.  

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the National Project Manager, gender consultant will provide technical knowhow for capacity assessment and for developing the:

·       Chapter 7: ‘Gender Mainstreaming into the Climate Policies’ of the combined report BTR2/NC6 of the Republic of Moldova under the UNFCCC;

·       Executive Summary; List of Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units; and Bibliography, of the combined report BTR2/NC6 of the RoM to the UNFCCC.  

Background information on gender equality and women's empowerment in the Republic of Moldova

The legal base for equality between women and men is relatively extensive and is established foremost by the Constitution of the RoM (1994). Article 16 (part 2) of the Constitution guarantees equal rights regardless of sex, as well as a number of other characteristics. Separate legislation reiterates the principles of gender equality and non‑discrimination in all areas of public and private life: 

–       Law No. 5 as of 09.02.2006 on Ensuring Equal Opportunities for Women and Men;

–       Law No. 121 as of 25.05.2012 on Ensuring Equality.

Together, these laws define important concepts such as “discrimination” (both direct and indirect forms), “equal opportunities” and special temporary measures or “affirmative action” designed to accelerate progress towards equality and to overcome pre‑existing discrimination and disadvantage. 

The Law No. 5 as of 09.02.2006 on Ensuring Equal Opportunities for Women and Men establishes an institutional framework for monitoring gender equality, at the national and local levels, and requires the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to produce sex‑disaggregated data. In outlining the competencies of key governmental institutions, the law supports gender mainstreaming processes. 

The Law No. 121 as of 25.05.2012 on Ensuring Equality prohibits discrimination on the basis of several protected characteristics, including sex, specifying three areas in which discrimination has a particularly negative impact: in employment, education and access to public services and goods. This law establishes the Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality, part of the national mechanism for gender equality.

In order to enforce the law and implement actions in compliance with the Beijing Platform for Action, the RoM has also improved the public policy framework on gender equality and in other related fields. Important strategic policy documents were adopted and their implementation commenced: 2017-2021 National Gender Equality Strategy, 2018-2023 National Strategy on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, 2018-2023 National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, National Action Plan on implementation of the provisions of the UNSCR 1325 Women in Peace and Security 2018-2022, as well as other sectorial strategies (health, employment, social protection, security, child protection, etc.).

The Strategy on Ensuring Equality between Women and Men for 2017–2021 and its Action Plan espouses an integrated approach to the promotion of gender equality, outlining ten areas for intervention (women’s participation in decision‑making; gender gaps in the labor market and wages; social protection and family policies; health; education; climate change; the institutional mechanism; stereotypes and non‑violent communication; gender equality in the security and defense sector; and gender responsive budgeting). 

The National Human Rights Action Plan for the period 2018–2022 aims to strengthen human rights protection, including in the area of gender equality. This action plan has a more limited focus than that for fulfilling the 2017-2021 National Gender Equality Strategy, as it links gender equality mainly to the issues of violence against women and the empowerment of women and girls, with reference to young women’s limited access to non‑traditional fields of study and professions. Notably, the National Human Rights Action Plan does not take an intersectional approach and addresses the human rights of people in rural areas as separate from gender inequality, with the exception of objectives to ensure universal access to quality health services (which calls for monitoring to be conducted by sex and living environment) and access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls in vulnerable groups (noting the particular needs of rural populations in relation to modern, safe abortion services.

Policy documents that mainstream gender

The National Development Strategy (NDS) “Moldova 2030” (2022) is the road map for implementing the government’s commitments under Agenda 2030; it is also aligned with the Association Agreement European Union – Republic of Moldova. In setting forth ten strategic objectives for sustainable development, the NDS “Moldova 2030” draws attention to the situation of particularly vulnerable groups and the ways in which spatial disparities intersect with gender disparities as well as others (such as those based on age or disability). For instance, some of the mentioned vulnerability factors for women include their lesser earning power compared with men, their role in unpaid caregiving and housework, and the risk of energy poverty among women‑headed households. 

Gender is mainstreamed into several other sectoral policy documents, including the National Strategic Programme on Demographic Security for 2011–2025; the Programme for Integration of Aging Issues into Policies (2014) and the Action Plan on the Integration of the Principle of Active Aging for 2018–2021; and the National Employment Strategy for 2017–2021.

Key organizations that address gender issues at the national level 

Amendments to the Law No. 5 as of 09.02.2006 on Ensuring Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in 2016 strengthened the national machinery on gender equality at the central and local levels. The law delineates nine “institutional mechanisms” with authority for ensuring equal opportunities for women and men: 

–       Parliament; 

–       Government; 

–       Government Commission for Equality between Women and Men; 

–       Ministry of Labor and Social Protection; 

–       State Labor Inspectorate; 

–       line Ministries and other Central Administrative Authorities; 

–       Local Public Administration Authorities; 

–       National Bureau of Statistics; and 

–       Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality. 

Within the Parliament, the standing Committee on Human Rights and Inter‑ethnic Relations considers issues of women’s and children’s rights. 

Within the Government, three bodies have mandates that cover gender equality: 

–       Commission on Gender Equality, which has the lead coordinating role in gender mainstreaming of public policies and programmes; 

–       A special division of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Gender Equality Policies; and 

–       A system of Gender Coordination Groups located within the policymaking subdivisions of line ministries and other central administrative authorities. The head of each relevant public institution coordinates the activities of its Gender Coordination Group, which carry out gender mainstreaming and gender impact analyses.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has two functions with respect to promoting gender equality:

–       collecting, processing and compiling sex‑disaggregated data; and 

–       receiving sex‑disaggregated data and information submitted by central and local public authorities, and from other relevant agencies and organizations. 

In this manner, the NBS depends on a network of other institutions to conduct its work with gender sensitivity in order to produce the required statistics. At the time of conducting this assessment, there was no subdivision of the NBS dedicated to gender equality issues.

The Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality is an autonomous public body, also at the central level, with a mandate to prevent and protect against discrimination and to promote equality and diversity. The council serves a quasi‑judicial role in that it hears complaints from victims of discrimination and issues decisions. Its members are appointed by the national parliament. The council formally collaborates with the People’s Advocate (Ombudsperson’s office) of the RoM, a central‑level public authority that operates independently. The People’s Advocate does not have a particular department on gender equality, but the institution has prepared reports on discrimination against women for the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee.

The national machinery includes also local‑level structures, namely gender focal points located in public administration authorities (at the first and second levels). Gender focal points sit within subdivisions with responsibility for policy development, implementation and monitoring, and their main purpose is to ensure gender mainstreaming “in policy, programs, regulatory acts and financial investments” (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 2019, para. 136).

There are considerable disparities between the central and local levels in terms of capacity for gender mainstreaming. The establishment of Gender Coordination Groups has been more comprehensive. Yet, several years after the institutional mechanism was established, the legal obligation to form gender units in local public administrations is “ignored or unknown” and therefore there are almost no resources or capacity for gender mainstreaming at the level of local decision‑making. 

A system for increasing the capacity of civil servants within the national machinery has not become institutionalized. However, a number of special training events for members of Gender Coordination Groups from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, as well as gender focal points, have been conducted, generally initiated and carried out by international development and civil society organizations.

Gender mainstreaming in the BTR2/NC6 Project

Gender equality and women’s empowerment issues will be considered during BTR2/NC6 project implementation and monitoring. Examples of gender-focused activities in the respective project include:  

• Data collection and analysis on gender and climate; 
• Analysis of gender-differentiated vulnerability to climate threats;
• Presentation on mainstreaming gender in climate policies during national workshops to be organized;
• Having acceptable gender representation in project management structures and in capacity-building activities.

Information to be provided in Chapter 7 includes but is not limited to:

–       Information on gender analysis of climate change, including gender issues and gender mainstreaming in environment and climate change management and the role of gender in country reporting processes;

–       Information on monitoring gender balance, gender budgeting, gender-sensitive climate policies and actions.

Relevant project activity that will involve the services of the gender consultant is the following:

·       Activity 1.5.3: Chapter 7 ‘Gender Mainstreaming into the Climate Policies’ of the combine report BTR2/NC6 compiled:

–       Undertake a gender analysis of climate change, including gender issues and gender mainstreaming in environment and climate change management and the role of gender in country reporting processes;

–       Ensure acceptable gender representation in project management structures and in capacity-building activities and report on monitoring gender balance, gender budgeting, gender-sensitive climate policies and actions; 

–      Compile 7 ‘Gender Mainstreaming into the Climate Policies’ for inclusion into the combined report BTR2/NC6.

IV. Key Tasks 

Key Tasks:

·       To review the existing gender-related policies, strategies, and frameworks at the national level relevant to climate change mitigation, adaptation, climate finance and resilience;

·       To conduct a gender analysis of the current national climate change context, identifying gaps, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for gender responsive actions;

·       To prepare an analysis of the missing gender responsive data to assess the impacts of climate change policies and actions on gender equality and woman empowerment. The analysis must contain description of experience of neighboring countries and solutions for missing data;

·       To collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and academic institutions, to gather data, case studies, and best practices related to gender and climate change in the Republic of Moldova;

·       To provide recommendation for future gender responsive actions, policies, and programs to enhance climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in Republic of Moldova;

·       To carry out the necessary studies and implement the activities as outlined in the project document and personal TOR;

·       To perform activities under supervising of National Project Manager and report in all aspects of program implementation;

·       To contribute to training activities organized during project development;

·       To assist the National Project Manager in preparation of the progress reports to UNEP.

Key Deliverables:

·       Gender Analysis Report, highlighting gender gaps, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for gender-responsive actions in context of climate change in the Republic of Moldova, including:

–       An analysis of missing gender responsive data and indicators and monitoring frameworks to assess the impacts of climate change policies and actions on gender equality and women empowerment;

–       An assessment of the roles of women and men in mitigation and adaptation policies and measures;

–       A summary of the lessons learned and recommendation for future gender-responsive actions and policies in the field of climate change;

–       The gender responsive guidelines and recommendation for integrating gender consideration into the combine report BTR2/NC6, including indicators and monitoring framework.

·       Chapter 7 ‘Gender Mainstreaming into the Climate Policies’ of the combined report BTR2/NC6 of the RoM to the UNFCCC;

·       List of Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units, Executive Summary and Bibliography of the combined report BTR2/NC6 of the RoM to the UNFCCC;

·       To participate with a presentation in the final national workshop, to present the information reported in Chapter 7: ‘Gender Mainstreaming into the Climate Policies’ of the combined report BTR2/NC6 of the RoM to the UNFCCC.

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

A Master’s Degree in gender studies, women’s studies, sociology, development studies, law, or relevant social sciences is required. Additional trainings and certifications in project related activities would be an advantage.

Experience:

·      At least 5 years of professional experience in gender equality, women's empowerment, or social development;

·      At least 2 years of demonstrated experience in EU or UN projects with similar tasks;

·       Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis; 

·       Expertise in gender mainstreaming, conducting gender analyses, and developing gender-sensitive indicators;

·       Experience in collecting and analyzing sex-disaggregated data, producing reports, and using statistical software;

·       Experience in conducting behavior change surveys or social mobilization projects;

·       Familiarity with national policies, environmental institutions and NGOs;

·       Up-to-date knowledge of climate change, sustainable development, and UNFCCC reporting requirements (e.g., National Communications, Biennial Transparency Reports);

·      Strong analytical and report writing skills demonstrated by previous assignments;

·      Strong communication and teamwork/coordination skills demonstrated by previous assignments.

·      Capability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Language Requirements:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in Romanian are required. Good communication skills in English would be an advantage.

Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1.    Technical proposal, explaining why incumbent is the most suitable for the work, including past experience in similar assignments.

2.    Financial proposal (in USD), specifying a fee per day.

3.    CV, including past experience in similar projects.

Financial proposal

The Financial Proposal shall specify a daily lump-sum fee (indicating if it is negotiable). Payments will be made based on the actual number of days worked, subject to the submission and approval by the National Project Manager of the activity reports around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables specified in the TOR.  

While submitting the Financial Proposal it is to be noted that the project “Moldova: Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Combined Second Biennial Transparency Report and Sixth National Communication (BTR2/NC6) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)” is included into the List of ongoing technical assistance projects covered by international treaties for the application of income tax exemptions, excise duties, customs duties, duties for customs procedures, taxes for goods which, in the process of use, cause environmental pollution, and the application exemption from VAT with the right of deduction for the goods and services intended for them, in accordance with the stipulations of the Government Decision No. 246 of 08.04.2010 on the application of the zero VAT rate to deliveries of goods, services performed on the territory of the country and the granting of fiscal and customs facilities for ongoing technical and investment assistance projects, which fall under the scope of international treaties to which the Republic of Moldova is a party.

Documents should be submitted by email on cancelaria@onipm.gov.md, no later than Thursday, 5 February 2026, by 5:00 PM. Only that shortlisted will be contacted.