Finance Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Brief context of the Project:

“Addressing the impacts of energy crisis and initiating solutions toward energy security and addressing energy poverty/FPI (EU-funded project)”

Starting with October 2021, Moldova is facing a significant increase of gas prices as a consequence both of very tight global energy markets and a recently amended contract with Gazprom Moldova gas supplier. During the winter season 2021-2022, Moldova purchased its gas at prices about three or four times higher than in previous years which represented about $770/1000 cubic meters in October, $450/1000 cubic meters in November and December and $650/1000 cubic meters in January 2022. The prices are highly dependent of international gas market fluctuations which puts Moldovan Government in the situation to quickly react in case of unforeseen excessive price increases. This has put significant pressures on Moldova’s public finances and on the ability of the most vulnerable citizens to afford gas throughout the winter. The situation is becoming more complex as the Gazprom applies a rigid approach in terms of contractual deadlines for payments of advances, which has not been the case ever before.

In response to this energy crisis, the Government of Moldova introduced a State of Emergency on October 22, 2021 and January 20, 2022 and has prepared an urgent response to strengthen the social protection system’s ability to respond to increased energy tariffs. The Moldovan Government response is to ensure compensations measures for heating of all population in the proportion of 67% (from tariff increase) in December 2021 to 80% in January 2022.

Given the increase of gas tariffs will lead to subsequent increases of the electricity prices, the entire national economy and population will be affected. In this circumstances, Moldovan Government is looking to diversifying gas and electricity supply, to strengthen its energy security and enabling a transparent, fully open and well-functioning energy market.

For a country in which nearly two thirds of the population lived on less than $10/day before the pandemic began, where the expenditure on food and energy absorbs the vast majority of vulnerable household incomes, and where the vulnerable households generate the lion’s share of its electricity from gas, the current energy price increase has already shown significant implications. Energy poverty is to deepen, particularly for the poor households that are having to face a three to four- fold increase in energy prices (for gas and electricity) during the 2021-2022 heating season and beyond. Combined with the country’s aggravated context by the COVID-19 pandemic (5th COVID19 wave as the Omicron variant outbreaks) and on-going macroeconomic social distress, the energy shocks also pose major risks to the Government’s reform program, which seeks to strengthen Moldova’s alignment with European and global good governance practices and is central to Moldova’s hopes for achieving the SDGs. The current geopolitical situation brings additional urgency to pursue these actions.

[Continuation of the description can be found below]

The acute gas supply crisis in Moldova has also been subject of discussions within the Moldova-EU Association Council meeting on October 28, 2021. The EU and Moldova stressed the importance of resilience against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a geopolitical lever. The Association Council recalled the importance of continued energy market reform to strengthen competition and transparency in this sector. The EU has urged Moldova to ensure that the energy sector reform demonstrates full respect of the Energy Community acquis and is in line with the EU Third Energy Package. The EU side confirmed its support to the objective of Moldova to synchronize its electricity network with the Continental European Network (CEN), an important step towards the integration into the EU energy system and market.

Under these circumstances the Government of Moldova will be assisted to tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis. In partnership with EU, UNDP Moldova will therefore, support the Government of Moldova:

• To tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty, and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis • To support the Government of Moldova in building its capacities towards strengthening the national energy security, as well as in improving the legal and regulatory framework and operationalizing specific rapid large-scale interventions to tackle energy poverty and support most vulnerable and affected groups of population and businesses.

The Project duration is envisaged between 2022- 2024 with support from Foreign Policy Instrument (herewith FPI) of EU.

Task description:

The Finance Coordinator will work in close cooperation with the project team, under the direct guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager and will ensure, in line with the Project scope, the provision of the following development services and products pertaining to an effective administrative and financial management, as well as procurement:

More specifically:

Financial management: - Ensure compliance with all corporate rules of UNDP in the field of financial planning, reporting, and auditing; - Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project budgets and their revisions; - Produce relevant operational and financial reports according to UNDP rules and procedures; - Respond to queries from the UNDP and SDC with respect to financial aspects of the programme, liaise with UNDP-appointed and external auditors wherever required; - Prepare requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments, as well as proposals for budget revisions; - Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and other reports as required for budget preparations and audit; - Perform necessary checks of the financial reports submitted by sub-contracted project implementers; - Advise and assist international and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters and calculate payments due for claims and services; - Provide advice to the team on project financial issues; - Undertake other financial tasks on an ad hoc basis.

Administrative management: - Assume overall responsibility for the coordination of project administrative matters; - Contribute to project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results and work plans; - Monitor compliance with both UNDP and Donor standards and ensure the corresponding quality control; - Provide advice to the project team on administrative issues and financial issues; - Maintain records on all project personnel and consultants, including their respective status (e.g. contracts, ToRs and reports, etc.) in accordance with accepted policies and procedures; - Ensure compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies under UNDP HR procedures; - Undertake other administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

administrative work, accounting/finance, economics, or other substantive area is required.

With the Bachelor Degree or equivalent in Economics, Finance, Accounting, or another relevant field - 4 years of experience in administrative work, accounting/finance, economics, or other substantive area is required. Minimum 7 years (with high school) of experience in administrative work, accounting/finance, economics, or other substantive area is required • Proven experience in a similar position in UN Agencies will be considered an advantage. • Experience in development assistance or related work for a development organization, consulting company, or NGO. • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

According to the country analysis at the World Bank, the Republic of Moldova remains among the poorest countries in Europe. More information about the country is available here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/moldova/overview. The Republic of Moldova has a population of 2,6 million (2022) and is bordered by Ukraine to the north, east, and south and shares a direct border with Romania. On 23 June 2022, the European Council granted European Union Candidate status to Moldova.

Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, is the largest and well-developed city, located in the middle of the country. The city has a high degree of security, lots of parks, lakes and nice places with affordable restaurants and coffee places. It offers a diverse range of accommodation with properly working utilities. The public transport is cheap and accessible, but during the rush hours the city has problems with the traffic due to high number of cars. Taxi service is also available and can be ordered through the phone and mobile applications. The city has a lot of shops and several malls with a good selection of products. The Internet and mobile operators are not expensive and running with a good quality of the connection. There are public hospitals, laboratories, and private clinics, depending on the budget and needs.

Moldova is a unique country and OHCHR is a unique organisation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances:

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). For information specific to your assignment please see below:

Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations of the monthly post adjustment.

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): MDL 14516.91 Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): MDL 1209.74 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance (Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer and health insurance coverage for up to 3 eligible dependents. See the Conditions of Service for more details on eligibility criteria.)

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days