TERMS OF REFERENCE: Senior National Consultant on AI Systems Integration & Digital Innovation 

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Moldova Country Office

Background:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Under each portfolio, UNFPA is implementing large projects that include specific communication activities that require relevant expertise to ensure that the messages are well communicated and presented to the public in a user-friendly way. UNFPA Moldova is advancing its efforts to strengthen digital safety, integrity, and governance systems to prevent technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), counter online misogyny, and promote ethical and inclusive AI for social good. These efforts are part of a broader vision to position Moldova as a regional leader in responsible digital innovation and human rights–based governance.

The EmpowerAI initiative, led by UNFPA and national partners, represents a cornerstone of this vision — providing an applied tool to monitor online gendered harms, inform policy, and foster cross-sector collaboration. The initiative builds upon and contributes to Moldova’s commitments under the EU accession process, the Istanbul Convention, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to gender equality, innovation, and strong institutions.

UNFPA’s work in this area is underpinned by a strong network of public and private partnerships, including Memoranda of Understanding with Orange Moldova, PwC Moldova, and the Invest Moldova Agency, as well as the multi-stakeholder Memorandum of Understanding among the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation, the eGovernance Agency, MITP, the Investment Agency, UTM, USMF, UNFPA, AmCham Moldova, ATIC, Orange Moldova, and ACTech. These partnerships create a collaborative framework for advancing innovation, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth aligned with national priorities and the SDGs.

Purpose of consultancy:

The Individual Consultant will serve as a senior advisor to UNFPA Moldova, providing provide senior strategic advisory support to UNFPA in advancing Moldova’s AI-Hub, ensuring that its development, governance, and implementation are fully aligned with UNFPA’s mandate on gender equality, protection from violence, human rights, and ethical digital transformation.

The Individual Consultant will advise UNFPA leadership on the strategic positioning, institutional anchoring, and expansion of priority areas of work within the AI-Hub, including the prevention of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), countering online misogyny, and promoting ethical, inclusive, and responsible AI for social good. The consultancy will further support UNFPA in identifying and shaping new areas of engagement within digital safety, integrity, and governance, and in positioning the AI-Hub as a scalable model for rights-based innovation that contributes to national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of UNFPA Moldova to provide strategic, technical, and coordination support across the following key areas:

• Provide strategic guidance on the expansion and institutionalization of digital tools and platforms addressing TFGBV within national digital governance frameworks.
• Support systems interoperability, data integration, and institutional handover processes to relevant national authorities.
• Contribute to the development of national digital integrity and accountability frameworks, aligned with AI ethics, human rights, data protection, and gender equality standards.

• Coordinate and facilitate engagement among government institutions, regulatory bodies, and coordination mechanisms, as well as technology companies, telecom providers, AI infrastructure entities, and private sector partners.
• Strengthen partnerships with UN agencies, bilateral donors, development banks, and private companies engaged in ESG and CSR investments.
• Support the consolidation and frameworks emerging from Moldova’s AI Hub and related digital innovation platforms.

• Provide coordination and technical input to research, analytical, and policy-oriented studies examining the role of AI, digital innovation, and data-driven solutions in post-crisis recovery, reconstruction, and others.
• Support the design of research objectives, methodologies, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring the integration of gender-responsive, inclusive, ethical, and human-rights-based perspectives in AI-enabled recovery contexts.
• Identify and analyse sectoral opportunities, financing pathways, and human-capital development linkages that leverage AI and digital ecosystems to support inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven recovery and development agendas.

• Strengthen UNFPA’s strategic positioning within Moldova’s AI Hub, ensuring the integration of gender equality, safety, and human rights principles in ongoing initiatives.
• Support the implementation of the MoU among key national partners and private sector actors, ensuring UNFPA’s role is visible and impactful.

• Identify and leverage multi-source funding opportunities, including donor grants, private sector investments, and innovation financing schemes.
• Support the establishment of ethical governance and risk management tools for data use, AI accountability, and survivor data protection.
  
   

• Provide strategic oversight and technical backstopping to implementing partners and lead institutions, ensuring quality, coherence, and alignment with UNFPA priorities and international standards.

The consultant is expected to work under the supervision of the UNFPA Representative and will be responsible for delivering the following outputs, comprising the main milestones:

Duration and working schedule:

The assignment is expected to last for an initial period of 6 months, with possibility for extension.

The activities under the present assignment will commence on 1st April 2026 and 

conclude by 31st December 2026, estimated number of working days – 120  full working days.

The volume of consultancy has been estimated at up to 14 working days per month. 

Place where services are to be delivered:

The work will be performed by the Individual Consultant remotely, and in person where required, including interaction with the concerned stakeholders.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The Individual Consultant will follow the agreed time schedule and will be accountable for the delivery of quality outputs to the UNFPA Representative.

All the deliverables should be consulted and endorsed with the UNFPA.

The consultant will be assisted by the staff of the UNFPA for the conceptual and technical aspects of the assignment.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The monitoring will be ensured by means of regular information exchange and monthly reports on progress via e-mail and phone calls and quality of deliverables produced. Regular online and in person meetings with UNFPA on the updates will be organised.

Supervisory arrangements: 

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Moldova Representative, to whom will report directly, and will collaborate closely with the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence and Violence against Women (Agency) – Viorica Timbalari, Director of the Agency.

Expected travel:

No travel is expected.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree (Master’s degree or Higher) in social sciences, economics, public administration;   or any other equivalent area,  is required;
  • First level university degree with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of Master degree.
    • At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in high-level public policy advisory across finance, economy, IT, fields , institutional reform, or digital transformation in Moldova and/or the broader CEE region.
      • Previous experience in coordination of projects related to AI implementation or public sector stakeholders management in AI thematic area. 
• Previous working experience  in managing or advising complex, multi-stakeholder, donor-funded programs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop cross-sector partnerships with senior stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, and international institutions.
• Experience in digital governance and public sector innovation.
• Familiarity with GESI and digital safety policy frameworks is a strong asset.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, political acumen, and negotiation skills.
• Experience of work with development partners
• Successful experience in working with UN agencies is an asset.
• Fluency in English and Romanian is required. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages such as Russian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

UNFPA shall provide the Individual consultant with the necessary information and materials for the fulfilment of assigned tasks and deliverables.The ownership of the outputs and IP generated under this consultancy will remain with the UNFPA Moldova Country Office.

Selection process: one suitable potential candidate will be selected in line with UNFPA  

Policy and Procedures for Contracting Individual Consultants - without a competitive 

process (ensuring that the prospective individual: national consultant is fully suitable 

according to the Terms of Reference provisions).

Basis of payment: 

Payment will be done in 9 (nine)  installments, based on agreed number of working days, upon submission and approval of all deliverables and final report describing the deliverables as stipulated in the current Terms of Reference, in the agreed format and due quality, and certification by the UNFPA Moldova appointed staff of the successful performance of the Individual National Consultant.

The fee per day will be established based on the requirements included in this Terms of Reference and the consultant's expertise, in alignment with UNFPA Policy and Procedures for Contracting Individual Consultants.

The ownership of the outputs under this consultancy will remain with the UNFPA Moldova Country Office.

Prerequisites for concluding the Contract with Individual Consultant:

Before signing the Contract with UNFPA, the Individual Consultant is required to pass the following mandatory courses and submit the Graduation Certificates to UNFPA: 

• Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse https://extranet.unfpa.org/Apps/PSEA2017/ 
• Fraud and Corruption Awareness and Prevention https://extranet.unfpa.org/Apps/Antifraud/English/story_html5.html 
• B-SAFE: https://training.dss.un.org/user/login?ReturnUrl=%2flearn%2fenroll%2f19948