Grants Coordinator (Analyst), Short-Term

Background

During August 2024 – July 2028, UNDP will implement the Project “Resilient Communities through Women Empowerment, Phase 2”, funded by Sweden and Norway.  

The Project aims to enhance gender-responsive climate resilience in Moldova by integrating gender considerations into climate policies, empowering women leaders, and promoting climate-smart solutions. It aligns with national priorities and the Moldova 2030 National Strategy, addressing climate change adaptation and environmental protection. The project also supports the Government Programme on Gender Equality (2023-2027) and contributes to energy-related objectives, enhancing domestic energy production and affordability.  

As a continuation of the Resilient Communities Project, phase I, UNDP Moldova intends: i)  to enhance the understanding on climate change and gender empowerment matters, via synergetic engagement of public authorities from both national and local level;   ii) to expand the poll of experts on gender&climate nexus through fellowship progammes, knowledge management portal etc and with participation of the NGOs

Expected Results: 

The project envisions a transformed landscape where climate action and gender equality converge, resulting in stronger communities and enhanced climate resilience. This transformation is driven by a set of expected results:

Outcome 1: Capacities of national and local authorities to advance gender transformative climate change actions are enhanced. This result is achieved through mainstreaming climate and gender into policy frameworks and enabling multi-stakeholder engagement. It ensures that climate and gender considerations are integrated from national to local levels, fostering a comprehensive response to the challenge.

Outcome 2: National and local women's leadership in climate actions is expanded and advanced. The project achieves this by enabling education, capacity-building, and a gender-specific leadership fellowship program. Empowering women as leaders and change-makers in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts is key to fostering inclusive and sustainable development.

Outcome 3: Women led climate-smart solutions are identified, supported and replicated among women groups and target communities. The project supports the implementation of climate-smart activities in households and women-led agri-businesses, fostering sustainable practices and generating economic opportunities. These solutions are grounded in gender-sensitive approaches, enhancing women's resilience and community well-being.

Outcome 4: Women-led climate-smart solutions are disseminated, and societal awareness is raised. The project conducts information campaigns, contributes to development of the gender-sensitive climate change knowledge management portal, and ensures project visibility. By showcasing success stories and engaging multiple stakeholders, the project promotes a culture of climate awareness and gender-sensitive actions. 

These expected results collectively address the challenge by integrating gender considerations into policies, empowering women leaders, promoting sustainable practices, and raising climate awareness. Through these outcomes, the project catalyzes positive change, contributing to Moldova's journey towards climate resilience, gender equality, and sustainable development. 

The Grants Coordinator (Analyst) will contribute to the achievement of all key results areas, with focused responsibility for supporting the effective delivery of Outcome 2 and Outcome 3 activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and in close collaboration with project team members, the Grants Coordinator (Analyst) will provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the design, coordination, and management of grant‑related processes across the project. The incumbent will ensure that grant mechanisms are planned and implemented in an effective, transparent, and results‑oriented manner, contributing directly to the achievement of project objectives. The Coordinator (Analyst) 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 Grants Coordinator (Analyst) will:

• Support the coordination and implementation of project activities, with a primary focus on financial and non‑cash support interventions, while contributing to broader project components as required.
• Coordinate grant programmes by ensuring effective communication and collaboration among the Project Team, contractors, consultants, and beneficiaries.
• Oversee contractors responsible for implementing grants and non‑cash support mechanisms across various project components, ensuring quality implementation, compliance with timelines, and effective use of resources.
• Design and deliver capacity‑building activities for contractors involved in grant implementation.
• Support the evaluation and selection of grant beneficiaries, including participation in assessments and site visits for shortlisted candidates in coordination with the Project Team.
• Support contractors and beneficiaries in addressing and resolving any issues that arise during implementation, particularly those related to quality standards and compliance with timelines.
• Monitor progress against agreed plans, track contractor performance and outputs, and contribute to corrective actions and adaptive management as needed.
• Analyse, develop, implement, and regularly update the project’s grant allocation plan, leveraging monitoring and feedback tools to ensure efficient and transparent resource allocation.
• Contribute to planning and implementation processes to ensure timely delivery of outputs and achievement of expected results in full compliance with UNDP rules, policies, and procedures.
• Apply UNDP programming tools and results‑based management approaches in line with the Results Management Guide, maintaining up‑to‑date knowledge through continuous learning.
• In collaboration with administrative project staff, support sound financial management of grants, including budgeting, revisions, expenditure tracking, and reporting.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of monitoring and information‑sharing systems, as well as the preparation of high‑quality progress reports, ensuring appropriate visibility of project results.
• Lead or support activities within designated project intervention areas, as assigned.
• Perform any other duties directly related to project implementation, as requested by the supervisor.

Institutional Arrangements

The Grants Coordinator (Analyst) will work under the supervision of the Project Manager. The Analyst will ensure the provision of development services and products commensurate with the scope of the Programme and assigned area of responsibility of the highest quality and standards to national and local counterparts and clients through applying HRBA and GE approaches. 

The Grants Coordinator will work in close cooperation with the project team for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex project/project-related issues and information delivery. 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.

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 & Strategy - Negotiation and Influence

• Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.

Business Development - Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management - Communication

• 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.

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.

Data - Data Analysis

• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Procurement - Contract management

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum education requirements:    

• Advanced University degree (master's degree or equivalent) in development sciences, international relations, economy, business administration, law, public administration, or another relevant field is required; OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Master’s Degree or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant practical experience related to design, management and implementation of project- based activities, preferably related to coordination and management of grants.

Required skills:    

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Desired skills: 

• Prior experience with UNDP consultancy and/or project implementation.
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for NGOs, academia, a donor organization, development partners, UN Agencies.
• Demonstrated experience related to the coordination and monitoring of grant activities.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Romanian is required.
• Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and sign language, is an asset. 

Professional Certificates:

• Additional training and/or certification in project management would be an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

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