Background
The Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Facility is a joint initiative of the European Union and UNDP that supports secondary cities in the Eastern Partnership region in driving inclusive, green, and resilient local development. The Facility focuses on strengthening the strategic and institutional capacities of local authorities to lead economic transformation in complex and rapidly changing environments.
M4EG Phase 2 (2021–2026) aimed to introduce a new generation of local economic development practices by supporting municipalities in designing innovative and community-driven solutions. The phase placed emphasis on experimentation, learning, and local ownership building the foundations for more mission-oriented approaches to development. It piloted new tools and approaches for strategic planning, green transition, and citizen engagement, while also introducing the systems thinking perspective as a way to address local development challenges holistically.
M4EG Phase 3 (2025–2028) builds on this foundation and expands the focus from experimentation to systemic transformation and access to finance. It supports cities in designing and implementing interconnected interventions through mission-oriented portfolios, with a strong emphasis on scaling impact, improving investment readiness, and building resilience. Phase 3 introduces two core strategic objectives:
1. Enhancing systemic and adaptive local-level economic development planning;
2. Improving local authorities’ access to funding through pipeline development, financial advisory support, and partnerships with public and private investors.
Both phases are being implemented in parallel, with Phase 2 continuing its activities until 2026 and Phase 3 running from 2025 to 2028. This overlap ensures continuity, learning transfer, and greater alignment with the evolving needs of cities and EU policy frameworks, including the Green Deal, the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership, and the EU accession-related reform agendas in Moldova and Ukraine.
Through both phases, the M4EG Facility seeks to empower local authorities to act as catalysts for sustainable, future-ready urban transformation.
Both phases are being implemented in parallel, with Phase 2 continuing its activities until 2026 and Phase 3 running from 2025 to 2028. This overlap ensures continuity, learning transfer, and greater alignment with the evolving needs of cities and EU policy frameworks, including the Green Deal, the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership, and the EU accession-related reform agendas in Moldova and Ukraine.
Through both phases, the M4EG Facility seeks to empower local authorities to act as catalysts for sustainable, future-ready urban transformation.
The overall objective of the Enhancing cybersecurity resilience across the Republic of Moldova's critical sectors Project is to strengthen the cyber resilience and security of Moldova's public sector, specifically targeting the Ministry of Justice and associated agencies, to protect against cyber threats and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of critical services essential for human security.
Therefore, the Ministry of Justice and its satellite agencies receive support to develop and implement internal cybersecurity policies and protocols, upgrade their existing ICT environment to the latest technologies and standards, and enhance the cyber capacities of their staff to improve the cybersecurity and resilience through reduced vulnerability to cyberattacks, enhanced data protection and improved incident response.
Digitalization is one of the key enablers to support the modernization of the public sector, in general, and justice sector, in particular. The Government has made substantial efforts to deploy e-services in areas commonly demanded by citizens, such as identity-related documents, property, and taxes. Further digitalization of services related to judiciary procedures are amongst the ‘most desirable e-services’ in Moldova. Digital transformation is essential for the justice sector to stay relevant, effective, and responsive in its approach to serving the public. It has the potential to touch every part of the justice process, changing the way justice institutions work, harness data, exploit available technologies, collaborate with partner organizations, and organize themselves. This approach is recognized by the new justice sector strategy paying due attention to the development and implementation of justice digital solutions.
In this regard, UNDP is seeking to contract a Communication Analyst to support the outreach and visibility of activities and interventions under the Mayors for Economic Growth and Enhancing cybersecurity resilience across the Republic of Moldova's critical sectors projects.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Communication Analyst in close cooperation with the project teams, under the direct supervision of the Project Managers, will provide effective and efficient support in the design, planning, management, monitoring and reporting of the project activities related to the communication, visibility, public awareness efforts and information campaigns. More specifically:
I. Effective Communication Plan Management:
• Elaborate and lead the implementation of the Project’s Communication Strategy and Visibility Plan in close collaboration with the Project Managers and UNDP Communications Analyst.
• Elaborate the matrix of key stakeholders, target audiences, and the most effective communication channels to disseminate information about the Project activities, initiatives, and achievements.
• Support the national partners in designing and implementation of joint civic education and information campaigns, as well as in developing and delivering the key messages.
• Draft talking points, briefs, factsheets, handout materials and dynamic presentations, considering the gender and human rights aspects.
• Monitor and analyze the impact of communication activities, using data-driven insights to refine strategies and enhance outreach.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to the Project Managers on communication trends, opportunities, and emerging tools to enhance visibility and engagement.
• Provide advice and recommendations to mitigate potential public communication crisis and sensible issues. This shall include, but not be limited to, press monitoring (pre and post crisis), drafting of press releases and/or written reactions, and ad-hoc crisis reports.
II. Visibility of the Project activities and achievements:
• Draft and publish press releases, success stories, newsletters, and reports to highlight Project activities, progress, and outcomes.
• Develop and disseminate information materials tailored to different audiences, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and engagement.
• Liaising with external media partners, outlets, platforms, podcasts channels to promote Project achievements.
• Collect testimonials to communicate Project outputs and results.
• Contribute to the implementation of awareness campaigns, trainings, workshops, and public events, using various channels of communication and engaging with media representatives for a broader audience.
• Develop engaging digital content (infographics, videos, social media posts) to simplify complex topics and increase public understanding of the electoral corruption and illicit financing.
• Coordinate and manage media engagements, including press briefings, interviews, and public events (incl., but not limited with press tours) to amplify the visibility of the donor(s), UNDP and Project.
• Perform other duties within its functional profile as deemed necessary.
III. Stakeholder Engagement:
• Develop and maintain a stakeholder engagement strategy, identifying key actors in government, private sector, civil society, and academia.
• Facilitate regular consultations and dialogue with national partners and stakeholders to ensure their perspectives are well reflected in the civic education and public awareness efforts.
• Establish and manage stakeholder communication channels, including newsletters, working groups, and online platforms, to ensure continuous engagement.
• Perform all other communications related duties, upon request.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangements
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Project Managers, the Communication Analyst shall contribute to an effective and efficient implementation of the project activities. The Analyst will work in close collaboration with the team in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex 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 and Technical Competencies
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 - Resource Management
• Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
Business management - Digital Awareness and Literacy
• Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value.
• Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
Business Development - Human-Centered Design
• Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
• Knowledge and understanding of human-centered design principles and practices.
Business Development - Knowledge Facilitation
• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly 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.
Communications - Campaign management
• Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change.
Communications - Social Media management
• Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Education Requirements
• University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Journalism, Communication, Public Relations, Sociology, International Relations, or another relevant field, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above 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
• At least two years (with Bachelor’s Degree) in communication, mass-media, public relations, and/or other substantive areas are required.
Required skills
• Experience in development and implementation of media/communications strategies and plans, visibility and awareness raising campaigns, drafting communication materials and products.
• Experience in conceptualizing and implementing national and local public outreach/communication campaigns.
Desired skills
• Proven experience in media or communications on local development, innovation, justice, and European projects.
• Proven experience in working in the areas of urban development, local capacity building, social cohesion and/or innovations.
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a development organization, governmental institution, NGO or private sector / consulting firm.
Required Language(s)
• Fluency in English, Romanian and Russian is required.
• Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian and sign language, will be an asset.
Professional Certificates
• Additional training and/or certification in communication and/or new media 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.
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