Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. 

The work of UN Women in Moldova is guided by its Country Strategic Note 2023-2027, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Moldova (2023-2027), UN Women Global Strategic Plan, National Programs and Strategies and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategic Note focuses on four main areas: 1) Ending Violence against Women; 2) Women’s Leadership and Governance; 3) Women’s Economic empowerment and 4) Humanitarian and Peace development nexus and UN Coordination on Gender Equality.  

Violence against women remains one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations in the Republic of Moldova. Three out of four women have experienced some form of abuse by an intimate partner. Psychological violence affects 71% of women, one in three has suffered physical abuse, and 20.9% have been subjected to sexual violence.

Based on the European Commission Implementing Decision on the Annual Action Plan in favor of the Republic of Moldova for 2022, NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2022/ACT-61535 EU4 Resilience and Governance, UN Women Moldova CO is implementing a four-year project (November 2023 – October 2027) titled "Ending Violence, Expanding Livelihood Opportunities for Women and Accelerating Gender Governance in Moldova" (hereinafter EVOLVE4GE).  The project interventions aim to improve the prevention of violence against women and domestic violence and contribute to behavioral change toward strengthening the culture of reporting and supporting women and girls in exercising their rights, reaching out to recourse mechanisms, and expanding and improving the specialist services.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP) is the key national authority responsible for establishing and providing specialized services, including shelters for survivors of violence, in line with the legal framework and international standards for the prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence.

Currently, nine national and regional shelter facilities for survivors of violence operate with state budget allocations, offering a total capacity of 182 places. However, compliance with the international standards set forth in the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) requires an expansion of capacity by at least 79 additional places.

Within the framework of the RESTART reform agenda, the MLSP is committed to:

• Expanding the network of regional centres to ensure comprehensive national geographic coverage, including underserved rural areas.
• Adapting infrastructure of the centers to meet the specific needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities, prioritizing safety and dignity, and ensuring that shelters are equipped to provide a secure and supportive environment for survivors of violence.
• Ensuring that extended integrated services provide comprehensive, survivor-centred assistance in line with the Istanbul Convention, including 24/7 accommodation, psychological counselling, legal aid, and medical support.
• Strengthening the professional capacities of service providers, facilitating the exchange of good practices, and providing mentorship to ensure high-quality and victim-centered service delivery.

UN Women will support the MLSP’s initiative to expand access to specialist services for survivors of violence in Cahul by repurposing the former centre for children deprived of parental care into a facility dedicated to women and children survivors of violence. The selected location will address the low rate of reported cases in Cahul and foster initiatives for the economic empowerment of gender-based violence (GBV) survivors within the framework of existing UN Women programmes.

The proposed interventions will contribute to the implementation of the Republic of Moldova’s Growth Plan (2025–2027) Reform Agenda and directly support the achievement of General Objective No. 2 of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Programme on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (2023–2027) — “Consolidating the mechanism of protection and assistance for women survivors of violence and domestic violence through a multidisciplinary approach, in line with the Istanbul Convention.”

The consultant is expected to report and coordinate regularly with the UN Women Project Manager and Project Officer, and in coordination with the UN Women Operations Manager concerning the progress of the completion of the deliverables. The proposer is also expected to inform UN Women in a written form of any unforeseen challenge or risk that might occur during the duration of the assignment and will come up with a backup plan to ensure the accomplishment of deliverables. He/she will be supported by the EVAW Project Officer, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues. 

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

The UN Women seeks to contract one technical expert (hereinafter “the Consultant”) to provide expert support for the adaptation and refurbishment of facilities to serve as a Center for Victims of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. 

The aim of this consultancy is to assist the UN Women Moldova team in conducting a preliminary assessment and drafting tender dossier for physical adaption and refurbishment works; support with the evaluation of the technical offers, coordination, and monitoring of the renovation works in the facilities at the Center for Victims of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence in Cahul. 

To achieve this aim, the Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Inspect and evaluate the premises to determine the physical and technical conditions and recommend necessary alterations of the space to ensure accessibility for persons with disability in line with the National Standards and procedures.
2. Draft the detailed technical specifications and Bill of Quantities (BoQ) for the premises for infrastructure upgrades to be part of the tender documentation for engaging the Company (Contractor).
3. Provide support at all procurement stages for contracting a company to deliver the adaptation and refurbishment services. 
4. Participate and contribute to a pre-bidding conference/site visit (if required) with potential bidders to clear all technical aspects and related questions.
5. Take part in the evaluation panel as an external expert assisting in reviewing technical/financial offers and supporting with the evaluation of offers resulting from the tendering processes; provide expert opinion in written form to substantiate the evaluation decisions.
6. Participate and extend support in the process of transmission of the object and documentation to the Contractor, including connections to utilities, and organization of the work process.
7. Supervise and report progress in the implementation of the infrastructure upgrades/adaptation of physical space and the refurbishment works. The supervision will be conducted throughout the complete duration of the contract, including the final quantities and calculations. The consultant will verify if the Contractor performed all technical requirements in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions, inspect the quality of work and the quality of the materials used. The consultant will verify the compliance with the National State Standards and regulations of the Republic of Moldova¹.
8. Provide written confirmations to UN Women that milestones under the design/construction contract are achieved, including submission of the final confirmation of completion of works. 
9. Facilitate or take part in the Handover process of the object to the beneficiary.
10. Coordinate the activities with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
11. Timely reporting to the UN Women Moldova.
12. Perform any other assignment-related tasks.

The consultant is expected to work in close coordination with the representatives of the UN Women project team. All activities should be agreed with the representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and be provided in electronic copy. The reports to UN Women should be provided in English. 

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

The Consultant will work outside the project office and will participate in all working meetings organized by the UN Women staff. The Consultant will be provided with the necessary information and materials for the fulfilment of tasks. The travel expenses will be covered by UN Women.

Financial Arrangements 

Payment will be disbursed every month upon submission and approval of deliverables and timesheets with actual days worked. The payment shall be made upon certification by UN Women that the services have been satisfactorily performed. The number of days worked is to be determined solely by UN Women.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of civil engineering standards, building codes, and construction practices in the Republic of Moldova.
• Ability to conduct technical assessments and site inspections to ensure compliance with design specifications, quality standards, and timelines.
• Commitment to deliver high-quality outputs within deadlines, ensuring accountability and transparency in supervision processes.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to engage effectively with contractors, government authorities, and the UN Women staff.
• Capacity to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in managing on-site challenges and unexpected technical issues.
• Ability to integrate principles of inclusivity and accessibility in construction supervision, ensuring that facilities meet the needs of persons with disabilities.  

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in civil engineering, architecture, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 
• Technical - professional certification on providing supervision of civil constructions, specialized works and installations related to constructions and development of Bills of Quantities is required. 

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of work experience in supervising construction (general reconstruction works, water and sanitation, or within a technical design company) is required.
• Working experience in at least two successfully implemented projects of similar scope and value is an advantage.
• Work experience with the UN Agencies and/or international organizations is a strong advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in Romanian is required.
• Knowledge of English and Russian is an asset.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.