Deadline extended - National Individual Consultancy: Project Manager (PM) for the Digital Innovation of Moldovan Education System

Contract

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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 serve as a Project Manager (PM) to coordinate relevant activities.

1. Purpose of the assignment of the consultancy

The Project Manager (PM) will manage planning, implementation, and reporting of the Multiplier Grant Programme. The incumbent will serve as the Head of the PIU and manage its team (Finance and Procurement Specialist, M&E Specialist and Project Assistant) to ensure effective delivery of project activities, outputs, and results. He/she will also serve as the technical lead of the PIU and technical advisor to the MER.

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

2. Objectives of the consultancy

• Assume general responsibility for the day-to-day management, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on all project objectives and activities.
• Ensure effective coordination of the activity of the Multiplier Grant Programme Steering Committee (MGPSC) Secretariat.
• Facilitate communication, collaboration, and networking within the project, including with relevant donors, regional organisations, NGOs, and key stakeholders involved in the project.

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

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

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Moldova Education Officer (NOB), the incumbent will oversee the implementation of the Multiplier Grant Programme and work with MER, Office of the Deputy-Prime Minister for Digitalization, Ministry of Finance, LPAs, national and international NGOs, private sector, etc. to implement the Multi-Annual Work Plan (MAWP) and report on project activities, outputs, and results on a timely basis. The Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for all technical, planning, managerial, monitoring, reporting and progress of the programme.

4. Reporting requirements

The Project Manager (PM) will report directly to the Director of the Programme (Minister or State Secretary) from MER, MGPSC and other relevant bodies and stakeholders. Quarterly narrative reports will be elaborated and submitted to the MGPSC for progress review, agreement of adjustments and changes to the next quarter activity plan. At the annual meetings organized by the MGPSC, a specific report on the programme progress will be presented and discussed with the invited stakeholders.

The UNICEF Education Officer (NOB) will regularly communicate with the Project Manager (PM) 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 the GA. The Project Manager (PM) 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 MGPSC, 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 manage 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:

• Advanced academic degree in Information Technology, Communication and Information Engineering, Informational Management, Information Security, Software Engineering, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project management, including the management of IT solutions.
• Experience in design/implementation or monitoring of development programmes in IT. Previous experience with international funding organizations will be considered as an asset.
• Familiarity with the education system of the Republic of Moldova and special education needs.
• Demonstrated experience of aligning project goals with wider development frameworks for long term benefits and understanding of cross-sectoral national planning processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, both at technical level and policy level.
• Advanced knowledge of English and strong writing skills required.
• Fluency in Romanian is required. Knowledge of Russian is desired.

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 Manager_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.