Project Manager

UNDP Moldova, through its Effective Governance Cluster implemented projects, has a long-standing experience in providing development support to justice chain institutions to strengthen rule of law and ensure access to justice for all.

In this context, the overall objective of the A2J Project is to contribute to an increased efficiency of justice services and to improved access to justice of men and women in Moldova, in particular from vulnerable and marginalized groups, through enhanced capacities of forensic institutions to provide qualitative justice services, strengthened capacities of the justice sector actors in the selected pilot areas to provide coordinated response to men’s and women’s justice needs and strengthened civil society able to claim the respect of rights and engage in a constructive dialogue with the justice chain actors.

The A2J4Dignity Project seeks to enhance the resilience of the rule of law system from the Republic of Moldova and strengthen its capacities to deliver effective remedies and provide access to public services. It is intended to address the multifaceted and interconnected challenges of the current polycrises through strengthening institutions, empowering vulnerable groups to access legal services and unlocking the potential of digital transformation in support of better access to justice.  This intervention aims at providing rule of law institutions and other relevant actors (such as CSOs) with the adequate tools and knowledge to work across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and to improve access of refugees, displaced populations and host communities to inclusive justice services, safety and security, and protection systems. At the same time, this intervention will seek to empower justice seekers to claim their rights and access legal services while seeking remedies for their grievances.

Furthermore, acknowledging the importance of digital transformation in ensuring effective, secure, and transparent corrections activity and, ultimately, delivery of justice, the Corrections Project will contribute to creating the necessary enabling conditions and support developing the capabilities (at managerial and user levels) required for modernizing the offender file management system. Building upon the Ministry of Justice’s aspirations to e-transform internal processes and enhance the quality of services delivered, the Project will strengthen institutional capacities, facilitate interinstitutional dialogue and interoperability, update (to the extent necessary) the regulatory framework, enhance hardware/computing capabilities and develop a modern and scalable software solution to enable an environment for nurturing next-generation corrections management operations, supported by knowledge and tools compliant with the demand for modern-style prison management.

Taken together, the changes in institutional capabilities of the justice chain actors, supported through these Projects, should also contribute to increased public trusts in governance, more confidence in and support for the justice sector reform, enhancing system’s performance and, ultimately, the integrity of the law.

In this regard, a team is put in place to support projects’ implementation. UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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 the effective internal control systems.

The incumbent will ensure the provision of development services and products (commensurate with the scope of the project) of the highest quality and standards to national counterparts and clients through applying Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and gender equality (GE) approaches. More specifically:

Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation:

• Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans. 
• Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
• Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met. 
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
• Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization.
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus. 

Develop strategic partnerships:

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. 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. 
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:

• Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting. 
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management. 
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
• Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions. 
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities. 
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas:

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and 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 UNDP’s engagement in this area. 
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff. 

The 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 Manager works under the supervision of the Effective Governance Programme Analyst and works in close collaboration with the project team, as well as with Programme, Operations, Communications and other units in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results.

The Project Manager in close collaboration with the Programme Analyst and the Programme Specialist supports UNDP CO in developing concept notes and project documents from the field of the project he/she manages to further develop the programme portfolio of Effective Governance Cluster.     

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

• 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.
• System Thinking:               
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Knowledge Facilitation:   
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
• Project Management:     
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
• 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
• Relationship Management:         
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: 
  • Development of Institutions in Justice Sector