Background
Climate change is projected to increase the occurrence of intense rainfall events in Moldova with potential consequences for damaging flooding, given the countryโs rolling topography and current land use patterns. The majority of Moldovaโs rural population lives in small towns located in these watersheds, which are often found in low lying areas and other areas at risk of flooding as a result of heavy rains.ย
On average, under climate change, rainfall will become (with 66% probability) more frequent, either in absolute terms or as a proportion of total precipitation, that is, less precipitation with a higher proportion of heavy rain events. Potentially damaging and life-threatening river floods are expected to intensify.ย
Given that over 4,000 small and medium reservoirs and ponds have been constructed, the structural integrity of dams and weirs is therefore critically important in any long-term national climate change adaptation strategy. Most dams were designed in the former Soviet republic using empirical formulas based on the hydrological and climatological conditions of more than 30-40 years ago. As such, no climate change allowances were made during the design of these dams. As well, an unknown number of dams have been built ad hoc by individuals or communities without any proper design and/or permit.[1]
At the same time, the State Hydro-meteorological Service (SHS)ย monitoring capacities are insufficient to assess local-level hazards and vulnerabilities with sufficient precision, and the current early warning system for flooding is weak. SHSย monitoring stations are unevenly distributed, with the vast majority found on the two largest border rivers (Prut and Dniester), leaving the interior under-served. The network of stations cannot adequately detect fluvial and flash flood risk, and hazard mapsย are out of date. The state institutions - theย State Hydro-meteorological Service (SHS)ย and the Agency โApele Moldoveiโ(AAM)ย - charged with hazard analysis and risk assessments currently lack the technical capacities to carry them out effectively, and they have no hydrological or hydraulic modelling capacities which is limiting the efficientย flood forecasting.ย
Compounding vulnerability from the threat of flooding, local governance institutions have insufficient capacities for effective flood risk and water resources planning and management at the sub-basin level. Local governance institutions and community stakeholders lack the organizational and technical capacities to carry out participatory integrated water resource management and flood risk assessment and management. Under the provisions of Water Law No. 272 of 2011, some elements of integrated water resources management at local level have been delegated to sub-basin committees.ย While sub-basin committees have been established, they meet irregularly, have no long-term strategy for engaging local land users in analysis and planning, and their links with local water usersโ groups and other land use regulatory institutions are weak or non-existent. Water usersโ groups lack the support they need to ensure adequate capacities for appropriate maintenance of private and public hydro-infrastructure.
Against this background, the project is proposing a set of measures aimed at strengthening the countryโs adaptation to climate-driven flood risk through a two-pronged approach. The first will build the essential national hydro-meteorologicalย monitoring and early warning systems, including the institutional capacities to manage and operate them countrywide. The second one, will apply an integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach to 5 key watersheds that will produce knowledge and institutional capacities for rehabilitation of high-risk hydrotechnical infrastructure, as well as increased participation by local stakeholders in water governance.ย
With these measures the project will put in place knowledge, capacity, infrastructure, policy and regulatory frameworks to enable a long-term impact of countryโs enhanced capabilities to manage the run-off from extreme climate-driven rainfall events to prevent flooding that causes loss of life and property damage.ย The following are the project outcomes and outputs of the project:ย
Outcome 1:Increased capacities of the relevant national and local authorities to respond effectively to extreme water-related eventsย
Output 1.1:ย Strengthened hydro-meteorological monitoring network for effective river basin management
Output 1.2: Flash-flood/flood forecasting and early warning system established and operationalย
Outcome 2:ย Enhanced security of the vulnerable rural population in key watersheds from potential failure of flood control infrastructure
Output 2.1. Methodology, protocol and standards for safe operation of hydro-technical infrastructure developed
Output 2.2: High risk dams identified in 5 pilot sites, conditions analyzed, and remedial measures identified with priority high risk dams rehabilitated
Outcome 3: Enhanced capacity of the local authorities and empowered community stakeholders to participate actively in governance of integrated water resources management for flood control
Output 3.1:ย Flood risk and water resources planning, and management instruments are available and put at use at the local level
The project will have several categories of target groups such as, firstly, the local population from the pilot areas who are directly exposed to the flood-related hazards, namely, those living in floodplain areas or having agricultural land and/or economic activities in these areas.ย ย
Another target group is the Local Public Authorities from the selected pilot regions. As the custodians of the hydro-technical infrastructure, they bear the responsibility to ensure their proper operation and maintenance in order to mitigate the flood risks.ย
The next target group of the project is the central public authorities such as the Ministry of Environment with its subordinated institutions, that is, the Agency โApele Moldoveiโ and the State Hydro-meteorological Service who will benefit from instruments and knowledge to better understand the flood-related risks, prevent and prepare for these.ย
The last target group of the project is the private sector who rent the hydra-technical infrastructure form the LPAs and who have the role of water users.
This is a 4-year project with an allocated budget from the Austrian Development Agency totaling 4 mln EUR. Additional funding would have to be mobilized from the LPAs for the rehabilitation of the identified hydro-infrastructure in the 5 pilot areas.ย
[1]ย The number of dams in Moldova is disputed. Based on some sources there are more than 7,000 dams (ongoing inventory of dams by national experts), while others estimate the number of dams at around 4,000 (General Inspectorate of Emergency Situations).
Duties and Responsibilities
Coordinate effective project planning and implementation:
Contribute to the development of the project planning process and ensure the work plan and a fully costed budget are prepared based on sound capacity assessments and in accordance with UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines.ย Facilitate establishment of interactive and inclusive platforms for project implementation at the local level, inclusively, and collaborate with the project teams to ensure integration of critical development issues in the project activities and expected project outputs.ย Ensure implementation activities are in alignment with UNDP policy and programme management procedures and all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.Establish partnerships and open channels of communication:
Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with development partners, government officials, local authorities, NGOs, other national stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support key objectives and ensure inclusive implementation and participation of key stakeholders in assigned portfolio. Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify stakeholder needs and how best to leverage their participation and/or strengthen their engagement. Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for resource mobilization. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies. Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.ย ย Support resource and community mobilization and engagagement efforts and project development.Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:
Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s):
Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners. Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDPโs engagement in this area.ย Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.ยThe 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 Analyst works under the general supervision of the Project Manager and collaborates closely with the project team.ย
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 improvementsย 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 flexibleย 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 discriminationยCross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Developmentย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.Business Managementย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Partnerships Management: 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 Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audienceย Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels Monitoring and evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.ย Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.ย Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools.ย Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks.ย Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.Digital ย
Design thinking: Solving problems by putting people at the center, visualizing ideas and making them tangible in order to improve them through and iterative process of developing and testing. Strong empathy skills, being able to put yourself โin someone else's shoes\"\", understand needs, abilities, preferences, motivations, (everyday) experiences from different perspectives as well as their cultural, social, economical and political contexts. Ability to identify and challenge assumptions, (cognitive and social) biases and dominant mental models by generating new perspectives and frames that help redefine the problem, solution and opportunity space. Being able to work with incomplete information, ambiguity and opposing views, needs and constraints and synthesize them into solutions that are viable, technically feasible and useful. Solutions mapping: Ability to engage and build rapport with vulnerable communities and get consent, facilitate participatory processes and navigate intricate power relations and cultural dynamics. Having the sensitivity and ability to identify grassroots solutions, capacities, assets, coping strategies that impacted communities have developed or used to address (emerging) development challenges. Being able to understand these solutions from a people's perspective and learn about the conditions that enable or prevent communities from developing such grassroots solutions or coping mechanisms. Understand how solutions and needs are paired, and how grassroots solutions can be used as an entry point to identify unaddressed or unmet development challenges and how to use these insights to inform policy design. Ability to reverse engineer solutions, understanding what aspects (artefactual, principles, conditions, configuration) can be scaled and how, being able to assess their potential to be transferred to other domains, regions or contexts and build a case for that. Ability to appreciate and integrate various sources of knowledge (academic, experiential, observational, traditional, indigenous) in problem solving processes. Set up structures and processes to collect ideas, solutions and facilitate matchmaking between supply and demand of solutions.2030 Agenda:Planetย ย
Climate: Climate Change Adaptation: Water Resource Management and Access to WaterRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, orย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Applicants holding a Masterโs degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field are not required to have prior professional work experience.ย Applicants holding a Bachelorโs degree (or equivalent) must have a minimum of two (2) years of professional experience at the national or international level, including experience in providing management advisory services and/or hands-on experience in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projectsLanguages:
Fluency in Romanian, English and Russian is required. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevantย for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset.Desired Skills:
Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.ย Knowledge and experience in relevant thematic area. Progressive working experience in design, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.ย ย Experience of work in the area of disaster risk management (especially flood risk management), climate change. Previous experience in providing capacity building support on the local level, working with various stakeholders (LPA, NGOs, private companies, etc.). Prior experience with UNDP Project management and/or implementation.ยEqual opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
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