The Project aims to enhance gender-responsive climate resilience in Moldova by integrating gender considerations into climate policies, empowering women leaders, and promoting climate-smart solutions. It aligns with national priorities and the Moldova 2030 National Strategy, addressing climate change adaptation and environmental protection. The project also supports the Government Programme on Gender Equality (2023-2027) and contributes to energy-related objectives, enhancing domestic energy production and affordability.

As a continuation of the Resilient Communities Project, phase I, UNDP Moldova intends: i)  to enhance the understanding on climate change and gender empowerment matters, via synergetic engagement of public authorities from both national and local level;   ii) to expand the poll of experts on gender & climate nexus through fellowship programmes, knowledge management portal etc and with participation of the NGOs<and, iii) to foster cooperation among the main local stakeholders – LPAs, community members and women-led businesses which all contribute to addressing the same priority issues identified in the Sustainable Energy and Climate Actions Plans (SECAPS);

Expected Results:

The project envisions a transformed landscape where climate action and gender equality converge, resulting in stronger communities and enhanced climate resilience. This transformation is driven by a set of expected results:

• Outcome 1: Capacities of national and local authorities to advance gender transformative climate change actions are enhanced. This result is achieved through mainstreaming climate and gender into policy frameworks and enabling multi-stakeholder engagement. It ensures that climate and gender considerations are integrated from national to local levels, fostering a comprehensive response to the challenge.
• Outcome 2: National and local women’s leadership in climate actions is expanded and advanced. The project achieves this by enabling education, capacity-building, and a gender-specific leadership fellowship program. Empowering women as leaders and change-makers in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts is key to fostering inclusive and sustainable development.
• Outcome 3: Women led climate-smart solutions are identified, supported and replicated among women groups and target communities. The project supports the implementation of climate-smart activities in households and women-led agri-businesses, fostering sustainable practices and generating economic opportunities. These solutions are grounded in gender-sensitive approaches, enhancing women’s resilience and community well-being.
• Outcome 4: Women-led climate-smart solutions are disseminated, and societal awareness is raised. The project conducts information campaigns, contributes to development of the gender-sensitive climate change knowledge management portal, and ensures project visibility. By showcasing success stories and engaging multiple stakeholders, the project promotes a culture of climate awareness and gender-sensitive actions.

These expected results collectively address the challenge by integrating gender considerations into policies, empowering women leaders, promoting sustainable practices, and raising climate awareness. Through these outcomes, the project catalyzes positive change, contributing to Moldova’s journey towards climate resilience, gender equality, and sustainable development.

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 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 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 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 Project activities in accordance with work plan and procurement plan;
• Provide general secretarial and administrative assistance to the 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 Project, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Assist Project team in drafting 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 Project activities, performing and monitoring financial aspects to ensure compliance with budgeted costs in line with established policies and procedures;
• Monitor 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 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 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 Project commitments and expenditures and assist the Project Manager in assuring proper Project delivery;
• Keep regular contact with Project experts and consultants to inform them about the 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 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 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/Romanian as required;
• Draft 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.

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

Institutional Arrangement

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

• 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.
• Knowledge Generation:
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.
• 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.
• Budget management:
  • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
• Procurement Management:
  • The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.
• 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.
• Documents and records management:
  • Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.