Deadline extended - National Individual Consultancy: Project Assistant for the Digital Innovation of Moldovan Education System

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education

To ensure the continuous and sustained access to education for all children and in line with Moldovan authorities' efforts to achieve the objectives of SDG4, the Ministry of Education and Research (MER) in cooperation with UNICEF, as Grant Agent for Education Sector Programme Implementation Grant (ESPIG) under the partnership with Global Partnership for Education (GPE), has developed a new long-term “Education 2030“Development Strategy which is under finalization. One of the objectives of the new education strategy is to facilitate the digital transformation of the education sector.

To achieve this important goal, UNICEF supported MER to develop a funding proposal and a programme, and successfully secured financing through the GPE Multiplier Fund for 2022-2025. The funding will be solely used for digital transformation of the education sector. Based on a competitive process and its valuable experience and expertise in education globally and nationally, UNICEF was identified as Grant Agent (GA) for the Multiplier Fund.

The Multiplier Grant will be used to establish the education ICT/Digitization policy and strategic framework which will allow for a prioritized approach to providing ICT resources from the programme to the most disadvantaged.

How can you make a difference?

To implement the above-mentioned programme, a Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) will be established to assist MER, therefore UNICEF is seeking for the national consultant who will will serve as a Project Assistant to coordinate relevant activities.

1. Purpose of the assignment of the consultancy

Provide support in programme implementation and execution of administrative tasks of the Multiplier Grant Programme. He/she will support the development and maintenance of an effective administrative and reporting environment that facilitates the achievement of programme goals and objectives.

The consultancy is expected to be carried out within the period November 2022 – September 2023 (with possibility of extension).

2. Objectives of the consultancy

• Provide support to programme implementation, guaranteeing quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the administrative deliverables.
• Support the Project Manager (PM) in the effective planning, monitoring and evaluation activities of the Multiplier Grant Programme.

The Project Assistant will support the PIU activities under the guidance of Project Manager (PM), ensuring quality and results by providing assistance and taking on administrative duties.

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

The Project Assistant will become a member of the PIU and along with other complementary personnel, Project Manager (PM), M&E Specialist and Finance and Procurement Specialist, will work together as a team to achieve the programme outcomes. The Project Assistant will report directly to the Project Manager (PM).

Under the supervision of Project Manager (PM), the incumbent will be responsible for providing administrative assistance in the implementation of the Multiplier Grant Programme and work with the direct implementers in the MER, Office of the Deputy-Prime Minister for Digitalization, Ministry of Finance, LPAs, national and international NGOs, private sector etc. The focus will be on the provision of comprehensive and administrative support to the Project Manager (PM), PIU and MER in all matters relating to the implementation of the Multiplier Grant Programme, by seeing that all aspects of the project are dully attended to and completed at the right time.

4. Reporting requirements

The Project Assistant will report directly to the Project Manager (PM). He/she will assist the Project Manager (PM) in writing quarterly narrative reports and annual reports for progress review, agreement of adjustments and changes to the next quarter activity plan by the MGPSC.

The UNICEF Education Officer (NOB) will regularly communicate with the Project Assistant and provide feedback and guidance on his/her performance and all other necessary support to achieve objectives of the consultancy, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to his/her performance and quality of work.

All activities and deliverables undertaken by the incumbent shall be discussed and planned in consultation with Project Manager (PM). The assistant is expected to deliver each component of the workplan electronically (in Word format) and in English. At each stage, the deliverable shall be sent to the Project Manager (PM), with the UNICEF Education Officer (NOB) in copy.

5. Work arrangements and official travel involved

The incumbent will serve in the located offices of MER and assist the PIU to ensure effective delivery of project activities, outputs, and results. Home-based teleworking as a temporary alternative working arrangement can be applied whenever necessary, although not on a full-time basis.

MER will provide the Consultant with necessary support to complete the assignment: project documents necessary for assignment accomplishment, necessary work conditions, including office space, telephone, fax and other office equipment and supplies.

The work will require local travels to conduct in-person visits and interviews with the different local authorities, as per their availability. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants.

The Individual Contractor will be entitled to Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• University degree in Social Sciences or Economics, or any other field related to the assignment.
• At least 5 years of similar professional experience as a project assistant in a project environment either in the government agencies or in the private sector.
• Experience in ensuring logistical and administrative management of various similar projects. Familiarity with and/or experience in the UN, World Bank financed projects and EU-funded projects is an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Previous work experience as a translator in projects financed by international organizations will be an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of English and strong writing skills required.
• Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of Russian is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2022_ToR_Project Assistant_VA.pdf

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain two separate attachments: Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

Technical Offer_template.docx

Financial Offer_template.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 30 November 2022

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract is valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment.