National Consultant Climate Mitigation

Effective coordination and implementation of NDC PAF activities in Moldova, ensuring timely delivery of agreed outputs and alignment with national priorities. Strengthened institutional coordination across relevant ministries and stakeholders, resulting in improved capacities, ownership, and coherence of mitigation-related actions. Successful organization and delivery of consultation workshops and capacity-building activities, contributing to enhanced national capacity to implement and sustain mitigation initiatives under the NDC framework.

Chișinău, Moldova

Part-time / 91 days

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The NDC Partnership Action Fund (PAF) implementation team in Moldova requires a national consultant with a focus on climate change mitigation. The consultant will support the project team in delivering high-qualitative contributions in relation to climate change mitigation and its key sectors, such as Energy and Waste. Where necessary, the consultant may also support the adaptation related work of the National Lead Coordinator and the National Adaptation Consultant. This role is essential to provide on-the-ground support to the project team and ensure the effective delivery of NDC PAF support to the Government of Moldova. Given the high level of coordination anticipated across ministries, the consultant will assist in facilitating liaison between the Moldovan government and the UNEP project team. The consultant will also support the organization of workshops and events, manage related logistics, coordinate relevant stakeholders, and contribute to the preparation and delivery of consultation workshops, train-the-trainer sessions, and associated outputs. The consultant will be required to support the work of a lead coordinator and the UNEP project manager in delivering technical and logistical assistance under the NDC Partnership Action Fund (NDC PAF) in Moldova. The primary focus is on climate change mitigation related to strengthening institutional capacity. A supporting role in climate change adaptation and the AFOLU sector would be beneficial. This includes providing substantive and logistical support to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of project activities at the national level. Other responsibilities include: Report on advances to the Project Manager at UNEP-CCC Support the Project manager on activities for planning, coordination, and execution Ensure that the process is aligned with national needs and in close coordination with sectoral institutions. Support the coordination of and liaise with other local consultants hired for this project Liaise with local stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment (Ministerul Mediului) of the Government of Republic of Moldova, ensuring that project activities are carried out efficiently and successfully. The consultant will substantially support the following project outputs: Output 1 delivers a Capacity Needs Assessment that establishes Moldova’s baseline institutional readiness for effective NDC implementation by reviewing existing capacity‑building frameworks, consulting key ministries, and assessing institutional structures, resources, and staff competencies. It identifies technical and organizational gaps, culminating in a validated report with recommended training priorities and stakeholder‑informed selection of national learning partners. Output 2 focuses on developing and delivering tailored training programs to help planners, technical officers, managers, and decision-makers effectively mainstream climate change at national and sub-national levels. This includes working with national learning partners to design competency frameworks, assess knowledge and skills gaps, and create validated training curricula. Key activities include producing and publishing training materials, delivering training-of-trainers sessions, gathering feedback for monitoring and evaluation, and establishing partnerships with experts and institutions to support sector-specific courses. The consultant will coordinate the hiring process of national advisors, who will be embedded in line ministries, and will support them in the beginning. Output 3 focuses on recruiting and embedding sectoral advisors with expertise in GHG modelling, climate scenario development, and risk assessment within key government agencies to strengthen in-house technical capacity. This involves identifying priority assignments based on CNA findings, preparing and advertising detailed terms of reference, and managing the hiring and onboarding process. Once advisors are deployed, a structured feedback mechanism is developed with host institutions to ensure the quality and relevance of their support and to guide ongoing capacity-building for government staff. Cross-cutting Tasks: Act as primary focal point for all sectoral meetings, calls, and workshops. Ensure gender considerations are integrated into mitigation activities. Maintain close coordination with UNEP-CCC team and other local consultants. Deliverables 1: Supporting the National Lead coordinator and International Consultant with technical inputs into and review of Output 1 – Capacity Needs Assessment, including: Stakeholder Mapping of entities relevant for climate change mitigation and adaptation; Desk Review Report with a focus on climate change mitigation; Contribution to Draft Capacity Needs Assessment methodology. Deliverables 2: Supporting the National Lead coordinator with technical inputs into and review of Output 2, including: Draft modules with a focus on climate change mitigation, e.g. Energy and Waste sector, optionally support development of Adaptation and AFOLU content for Output 2 training program; Draft methodology for the design of a training program to address capacity needs identified in Output 1. Supporting the National Lead coordinator with technical inputs into and review of Output 1 – Capacity Needs Assessment to align with training development, including: Draft Capacity Needs Assessment report, including institutional findings, resource analysis, skills gap evaluation, and training program recommendations; Invitee list and draft agenda for CNA validation workshop. Deliverables3 : Supporting the National Lead coordinator with technical inputs into and review of Output 1 – Capacity Needs Assessment, including: Validated Capacity Needs Assessment report; Successful implementation of CNA validation workshop, final workshop report & documentation. Supporting the National Lead coordinator with technical inputs into and review of Output 2, including: Implementation of all planned (5) sessions of the training programme; Workshop reports for all sessions of the training programme; Final training materials for the train-of-trainer approach. Objectives: Support the work of a UNEP senior consultant in delivering technical and logistical assistance under the NDC Partnership Action Fund (NDC PAF) in Moldova with a primary focus on climate change mitigation and related institutional capacity strengthening. Supporting activities in Adaptation and the AFOLU sector is desired. The consultant is expected to conduct the aforementioned project activities and submit the sub-outputs, leading to the achievement of the main deliverables in a timely manner and with a high level of quality to the UNEP team. The consultant will implement their work under leadership of a Lead National Coordinator and will closely coordinate their work with one International Consultant and one National consultant AFOLU focus. The consultant will support all or most of the following outputs and activities: Output 1: capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) Activity 1.1: Desk Review and Expert Consultations Activity 1.2: Stakeholder Consultations and Identification Activity 1.3: Institutional Capacity Assessment Activity 1.4: Resource Availability Assessment Activity 1.5: Skills Gap Evaluation Activity 1.6: CNA Report Preparation and Validation Activity 1.7: National Learning Partner Selection Output 2: Training Programme Development Activity 2.1: National Partner Engagement Activity 2.2: Competency Framework Development Activity 2.3: Training Needs Data Collection Activity 2.4: Training Programme Design Activity 2.5: Validation Workshops with Target Groups Activity 2.6: Training Materials Preparation and Train-the-Trainer Activity 2.7: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Activity 2.8: Materials Publication and Dissemination Activity 2.9: Expert Partnerships for Specialized Training Output 3: Sectoral Advisors Embedding Activity 3.1: Identify assignments relevant to the technical expertise needs of each of the key institutions Activity 3.2: Draft the ToR of the embedded advisors and post the vacancy announcements Activity 3.3: Initiate the hiring and contracting the embedded advisors Activity 3.4: Develop and implement a feedback mechanism to ensure the quality of services and outputs

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, social studies, business, management, administration, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Minimum of 2 (two) years of experience in implementing national climate-related programmes, preferably with national learning institution or association, or similar organizations in Moldova. (Required). Experience gathering relevant data and information related to climate change mitigation (Desirable). Experience working with public institutions in Moldova related to climate change planning (Desirable).

o Proficiency in written and spoken English and Romanian.

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.