Transport Policy Analyst, Short-Term

Project Description  

In June 2022, the European Council granted Moldova EU candidate status, a pivotal achievement that underscores the nation’s commitment to aligning its policies with EU standards. This status brings significant responsibilities, notably in adopting the EU Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity priorities, including environmental and climate change acquis. Moldova’s progress will require transformative reforms to align with the European Green Deal objectives.

UNDP Moldova plays a critical role in supporting the country’s green transition by fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, capacity building, public awareness, and the implementation of green solutions. These efforts address pressing challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and energy insecurity. Moldova’s vulnerability to climate impacts, exacerbated by reliance on agriculture, water scarcity, and institutional limitations, necessitates strengthened adaptation planning and capacity development.

Environmental degradation remains a pressing issue, driven by inadequate waste management, outdated technologies, and overexploitation of natural resources. To mitigate these challenges, Moldova must accelerate the integration of green practices across its economic sectors, particularly in urban areas where air pollution levels are highest.
Energy security also poses a major concern. Moldova’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and inefficiencies in energy supply highlight the urgency of diversifying energy sources and enhancing renewable energy production. Strengthening the energy sector is vital, given its status as the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions.
In the transport sector, UNDP supports sustainable and inclusive mobility planning. Recognizing systemic inefficiencies in Moldova's transport infrastructure, UNDP collaborates with stakeholders to develop a National Mobility Programme and Action Plan. These initiatives promote energy-efficient transport systems, address urban mobility challenges, and align national policies with EU directives.

By piloting innovative solutions such as intelligent transport systems, vehicle fleet renewal, and biofuel development, the project paves the way for a sustainable transformation. These measures are critical for advancing Moldova’s EU accession process while addressing climate and sustainability goals.

Scope of Work

 1. Strengthening policy making at transport sector level, including both the strategic planning/policy design and the policy management capacities of the MIRD to ensure data-driven policy making:

• Review and assess existing national transport policies against EU transport policy, legislation and standards (e.g., relevant EU directives, TEN-T regulation, CEN/ISO standards) to identify specific sectorial gaps. 
• Develop a roadmap for sectoral policy alignment in line with the Accession implementation plan, prioritizing key regulatory updates and infrastructure enhancements necessary for EU integration. 
• Advise on integrating green mobility priorities within the broader national infrastructure development plan.
• Advise MIRD’s Senior Management and relevant staff on EU accession process and upcoming RM-EU negotiations/bilateral screening, provide feedback to the bilateral negotiation-related presentation and inputs to the accession process-related implementation plan for EU legal acts. 
• Assist Moldovan Delegation during the EU-RM bilateral negotiations on transport subject, scheduled tentatively for June 2025. 
• Guide the MIRD in monitoring, verification, and preparing the first biannual progress report on NECP implementation in the transport sector in line with Governmental Decision 10/2024 for the approval of the Regulation on the energy governance mechanism and climate actions (that transposes requirements of the Regulation 2018/1999 and Regulation 2022/2299).  

2. Strategic Advisory on Sustainable and Green Transport Initiatives:

• Guide the Ministry in implementing the Moldova’s commitments for decarbonizing the transport sector, including long-term goals, transport-related policy measures envisaged by the National Energy and Climate Plan (both energy efficiency EE13-EE17 and decarbonization DC34-DC36) and key performance indicators. Provide strategic input for developing incentives or mechanisms to promote electric vehicles, sustainable public transport, and multimodal transport solutions.
• Provide strategic advice on the multi-modal transportation system and support conceptualization of priority modules of the system that contribute to the green transition objectives. 

3. Capacity Building and Training

• Assess the capacity building needs for Ministry staff and regional authorities in transport sector, targeting the EU transport policy frameworks, and focusing (but not limited to) on regulatory changes, safety, emissions standards, and sustainable urban mobility planning (the activity will be initiated during the first country mission).
• Based on the findings, design a capacity-building programme for the transport-related stakeholders.  The programme will be coordinated and approved by the beneficiary. 
• Together with Green Transition project staff, organize the capacity-building sessions and potential High-Level Dialogues etc. 

4.     Support the Development of Cross-Border Transport Projects

• Advise on the development and implementation of cross-border transport initiatives within the TEN-T network and the wider EU transport corridors.
• Identify potential EU funding and investment opportunities for transport infrastructure projects, preparing the necessary documentation for applications, including support the UNDP in preparation of potential project concepts relevant to the topic of green transport and mobility and provision of inputs to the relevant briefs.

5.    Regulatory Framework Enhancement

• Advise and support the transposition of the EU transport related Directives/Regulations/Decisions that are part of the Accession Implementation Plan and that reflect all transport related sub-sectors.

6.    Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Facilitate coordination between the Ministry and other relevant entities (e.g., local authorities, transport companies, EU bodies, Transport Community) to ensure coherent and collaborative policy implementation.
• Assist the Ministry in high-level discussions with EU representatives, donors, and partners on transport sector alignment.          

7.    Digitalization and Smart Transport Systems

• Advise and support the implementation of intelligent transport systems (ITS) that enhance safety, reduce congestion, and lower emissions.
• Lead initiatives to digitize transport services, such as electronic toll systems, urban mobility planning tools, and real-time data tracking systems, as part of Moldova’s transport digital transformation goals.

Institutional Arrangement

The Transport Policy Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Policy and Legal Development Manager and overall guidance of the Project Manager of Green Transition project and 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 Transport Policy Analyst will work in close cooperation with the Green Transition 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

Achieve Results:    

• LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work 

Think Innovatively:    

• LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking 

Learn Continuously:    

• LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning 

Adapt with Agility:    

• LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process 

Act with Determination:     

• LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously 

Engage and Partner:    

• LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships 

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    

• LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and Strategy - Strategic Thinking:

• Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Development - Knowledge Generation:     

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management - Partnership Management:

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Management - Project Management:    

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

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 Management - Customer Satisfaction/Client Management:    

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

2030 Agenda: Partnerships - Sustainable Energy Hub: 

• Energy: Transport

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Minimum Education requirements    

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in European Studies, International Relations, Law, Transport Management, or other relevant fields is required, 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     

• A Minimum of 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of proven professional experience relevant to the transport area in a EU country or international level. 

Required skills     

• Working experience in the EU transport legislation harmonization process or/and accession negotiations in transport sector.  
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) 

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Experience in working with local and/or national governments;
• Experience in working with UNDP is an asset; 
• Experience in working with international institutions in the transport field (e.g. Transport Community) is an asset.  

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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