Background

A. “Building sustainable and inclusive peace, strengthening trust and social cohesion in Moldova” Project seeks to facilitate an enabling environment for improved interconnection and engagement between both banks of Nistru river through the advancement of, and cross-river interaction on human rights, gender-responsive peacebuilding, promotion of equal access to services and the strengthening of social cohesion at the backdrop of heightened regional tensions caused by the war in Ukraine.
The main goal of the project is to facilitate an enabling environment for improved cross-river interconnectedness and interaction, reduced social tensions and the continuation of the settlement process. The project seeks to support peace talks by strengthening trust and confidence between the communities on the two sides of the river as well as between the Moldovan authorities and the de facto structures through capacity building, cross-river engagement and cooperation between CSOs, institutions, de facto structures and other conflict settlement process actors with a specific and ambitious focus on human rights, gender equality and increased service delivery.

This will contribute to better integration of human rights and gender equality perspectives in the negotiation agenda and help build capacities to more effectively address HR, WPS and GE issues in the peace process.
The project also aims to reduce the existing divisions between the communities on the left and right bank as well as between certain groups in Moldovan society, which are being aggravated by starkly opposing views on the war in Ukraine, hate speech and misinformation and which are also impacted by pressures of the large influx of refugees from Ukraine.

B. “One UN Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova” covering the period 2023-2025 will contribute to increase the capacities of vulnerable groups to exercise their rights, to improve the systems and protection mechanisms, as well as to promote the culture of human rights on the left bank of the Nistru River.
The programme aims to consolidate the results obtained since 2019 in terms of strengthening the capacities of vulnerable groups to achieve their rights (people with disabilities, Roma community, people living with HIV/AIDS, survivors of domestic violence, prisoners after release, youth, children in conflict with the law), through the Sustainable (Community) Development Platform, but also through financing various civil society initiatives in the field of human rights. In the previous stages of the programme, with the support of the UN and Sweden, new services and social initiatives for vulnerable groups were launched on the left bank of Nistru.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Grants Coordinator(Analyst), under the overall supervision of the Programme Manager and in collaboration with the Project Analyst and Project Associate, will be in charge of the implementation of the programmatic activities related to capacity building of the CSOs from both banks of Nistru river in relation to the provision of high-quality development, and coordination of granting processes. The incumbent will ensure the provision of development services and products (commensurate with the scope of the project) of the highest quality and standards. All the work will be based on an appreciation of human rights and gender equality. The Project Analyst will:

• Lead activities for the timely and efficient delivery of outputs and products leading to the achievement of expected results and ensure full compliance of all the actions with UNDP policies and procedures.

• Design and carry out capacity building activities for potential grants’ applicants to strengthen their institutional capacities to receipt and implement grants in line with UNDP procedures;

• Design and coordinate a comprehensive granting plan and the selection methodology tailored to the grant calls provided by the respective project documents;

• Guide and coordinate applicants throughout the application process, analysing and fostering efficiency and clarity in their submissions;

• Perform, along with the team, the evaluation and selection process, contributing his/her expertise to identify the most promising grant recipients;

• Analyse, develop, review, implement, and continually monitor the project’s grant allocation plan. Utilize appropriate feedback mechanisms and monitoring tools to ensure efficient resource allocation;

• Develop work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports (on a quarterly and mid- year, or more often as required by the project document) and expenditure status reports to the Project Board and UNDP Country Office;

• Apply UNDP programming tools and policies as explained in the Results Management Guide. Keep abreast of UNDP programming practices and maintain an optimum level of knowledge by continuous learning.

• In collaboration with the relevant administrative project personnel be responsible for compliant, effective and efficient utilization of the financial resources of the Project, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting;

• Along with other team members, be in charge of developing and maintaining a monitoring system to ensure effective information sharing, provision of feedback and elaboration of top-quality progress reports; ensure appropriate visibility of activities in mass media and with stakeholders;

• Be in charge of, plan and implement the evaluation related activities of the grants allocated to the respective CSOs;

• Draft and translate relevant correspondence as required;

• Design and lead activities in a designated area(s) of the project’s intervention;

• Perform any other duties connected directly with the implementation of the Project requested by the supervisor.

Key Results:

The position has a direct impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UNDP interventions and activities in the assigned sectorial/thematic area of promoting democratic governance and human rights.

The expertise and information provided facilitates decision-making of the Project Board and UNDP Management.

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager and in collaboration with Project Analyst and Project Associate, the incumbent provides effective and efficient contribution to the implementation of the projects’ grant calls and capacity building activities.
The Project Grants Coordinator applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. He/she is responsible and accountable to the Project Board for results.

The Project Grants Coordinator(Analyst) works in close collaboration with the programme, operations, communications and other project teams in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to the resolution of complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. Project Grants Coordinator also collaborates with other UN projects and other development partners. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of effective internal control systems.
The Project Grants Coordinator(Analyst) will engage in continuous collaboration with other Project colleagues on the delivery of joint initiatives and activities.

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 improvements

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 flexible

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 discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and Strategy/Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Direction and Strategy/Negotiation and Influence

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.

Partnership Management/Relationship Management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, built, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Business Development/Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Communications/ Social Media Management

• Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks

Business Management/Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Management/Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources,procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in project management, international relations, political science, economics, law or other related areas.
• Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of experience can be taken into consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience:

• At least two years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of progressive working experience in the design, management and implementation of project- based activities, preferably related to coordination and management of grants.
• Previous experience in development projects or related work for a donor organization, governmental institutions, NGO or private sector /consulting firm or previous experience with UN agencies.

Required skills:

• At least (1) one assignment related to the coordination and monitoring of grant applicants.
• Excellent communication skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively.
• Ability to design and deliver trainings and workshops, as well as facilitate public events.

Desired experience:

• Previous demonstrated professional experience in working in the Transnistria region context will be an advantage.
• Proven experience in similar positions in development programs will be considered an advantage.
• Experience in mainstreaming gender and human rights aspects will be an advantage.
• Valuable exposure and experience in the organization of workgroups, consultation meetings, conferences, and trainings with multiple participants.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in spoken and written English, Romanian and Russian
• Working knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and sign language, would be an asset.

Professional Certificates:

• Additional training and/or certification in project or financial management would be a strong advantage.

UNDP is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.