Project Manager

Background

Impunity for crimes related to illicit political finance and vote buying remains a significant challenge to democratic resilience in Moldova as the country approaches the 2025 Parliamentary Elections. Although electoral corruption has been widespread since independence, very few perpetrators have been brought to justice. Law enforcement authorities detect only a limited number of election-related crimes, resulting in few investigations, prosecutions, or convictions. This persistent lack of accountability continues to undermine public trust in democratic processes.

In August 2024, a notable legal development occurred with the inclusion of vote selling as a contravention under Article 471 of the Contravention Code. Under this framework, the National Anti-Corruption Center (NAC) was designated the lead institution for addressing passive electoral corruption (vote selling), in cooperation with the General Police Inspectorate (GPI). The law was first applied during the 2024 Parliamentary Elections and Constitutional Referendum, allowing law enforcement bodies to impose hundreds of administrative fines on low-level participants involved in vote-buying schemes. However, despite more than 200 individuals being sanctioned, estimates suggest that over 98.5% of those who sold their votes remained unpunished. While these fines represent an important step toward deterrence, the scale of impunity points to the need for a more robust and systemic response.

In addition to the structural challenge of impunity, a key short-term threat to Moldova’s electoral integrity lies in the presence of organized criminal networks capable of conducting large-scale vote buying. These networks pose a serious risk of influencing election outcomes and damaging democratic legitimacy. Their dismantlement is a stated government priority and requires coordinated action across law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions. This includes joint intelligence sharing, integrated investigations, and operational cooperation among the police, border police, anti-corruption bodies, and prosecutors. Strengthening institutional capacity through modern investigative tools, targeted technical assistance, specialized training, and adequate resourcing will be essential for ensuring a credible response to electoral fraud.

Electoral corruption disproportionately affects women and vulnerable groups—particularly low-income individuals, elderly voters, and rural communities. These populations are often the most exposed to manipulation by criminal networks due to financial hardship and social exclusion. They face both the greatest incentive to participate in vote selling and the highest cost in terms of reduced political representation and deepened systemic inequalities. Ensuring electoral integrity is therefore not only a matter of democratic governance but also of social justice and inclusive participation.

The period preceding the 2025 Parliamentary Elections provides a crucial window of opportunity to support the Government of Moldova in advancing deterrence, strengthening oversight, and reinforcing the rule of law in the electoral process. At the same time, promoting greater transparency through civil society monitoring and investigative journalism can play a vital role in exposing corrupt practices, increasing accountability, and engaging the public in protecting democratic norms.

In this context, the Resilient Democracy through Anti-Corruption (REDACT) Project responds to both the immediate and systemic threats facing Moldova’s democratic institutions. The Project aims to strengthen institutional capacities, reinforce legal frameworks, and promote effective oversight of electoral corruption, while aligning closely with Moldova’s international and national commitments on rule of law, governance, and anti-corruption.

The specific Project objectives are: 

1. Enhancing law enforcement and prosecutorial capacities – strengthening the ability of police, anti-corruption agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate cases of electoral corruption using specialized tools, methodologies, and technical assistance.
2. Promoting inter-agency coordination and legal reforms – fostering operational and strategic cooperation among law enforcement, anti-corruption institutions, the judiciary, and related bodies, while advocating for targeted legal and procedural reforms to close enforcement gaps.
3. Building public resilience against electoral corruption – supporting civil society, independent media, and public awareness initiatives to expose corrupt practices, increase public scrutiny, and reduce voter vulnerability to manipulation and coercion.

In this regard, a Project Management Unit is put in place to support implementation of project activities related to tackling electoral corruption and illicit finance.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager is expected to lead the project implementation through: a) planning the annual activities of the project; b) interacting with relevant counterparts and representing the project; c) coordinating the implementation process as well as the staff and other internal resources; d) managing project progress and adapt the work as needed; e) prepare procurement documentation and coordinating the procurement process; f) conducting project review and drafting reports as well as preparing the meetings of the project oversight bodies.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/ Effective Governance Cluster Lead, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, Communications and other teams in the UNDP Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex project-related issues and information delivery. He/she also will collaborate with other UN projects and development partners in supporting the National Anti- Corruption Centre, General Police Inspectorate, Finance Intelligence Unit, Prosecutor General’s Office and other national stakeholders. 

Also, the Project Manager in close collaboration with the Programme Specialist/ Effective Governance Cluster Lead will support UNDP CO in developing concept notes and project documents from the field of the project he/she manages to further develop the programme portfolio of Effective Governance Cluster. 

The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement, and administrative rules, regulations, policies, and strategies, as well as the implementation of effective internal control systems. She/he will ensure the provision of development services and products (commensurate with the scope of the project) of the highest quality and standards to national counterparts and clients through applying the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and gender equality (GE) approaches. 

More specifically:

Project Management:

• Ensure the efficient day-to-day management of all Project activities, as per the Project Document and in line with the UNDP rules, regulations, and procedures, in order to meet expected results. 
• Support UNDP CO in effectively managing human resources pertaining to the Project, including staff, consultants, and short-term experts; conduct periodic performance appraisals and career development coaching at Project level; build, lead, and motivate a solid team of professionals.
• Support the efficient management of the Project financial resources, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting.
• Develop Annual Work Plans, Procurement Plans, qualitative substantive narrative progress and final reports, financial progress reports, and expenditure/delivery status reports, as may be required by the Project and/or UNDP management. Prepare budget revisions as needed;.
• Continuously record and maintain Project issues and risks and suggest mitigation measures.
• Exercise close monitoring of Project activities, identify key performance indicators, and develop and maintain a monitoring system to ensure effective information sharing, provision of feedback, and elaboration of monitoring reports.
• Lead and coordinate the organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings, study tours and related activities relevant to the implementation of the Project.
• Maintain a close collaboration with other related UNDP programmes to ensure synergies and complementarities.
• Maintain a continuous effective dialogue with the key stakeholders, central and local government authorities, other UN agencies and actors active in the sector, CSOs, partner organizations, and international and national experts in the areas of the Project intervention in view of identifying synergies and avoiding overlapping of assistance.
• Effectively manage other project-related activities and components and perform any other duties connected directly with the implementation of the Project as required.
• Apply UNDP programming tools and policies as explained in the Results Management Guide, including the utilization of the Project Management Module in Quantum. Keep abreast of UNDP programming practices and maintain an optimum level of knowledge by continuous learning, including in the areas of HRBA and GE

Provide overall guidance to project staff in close cooperation with project stakeholders:

• Advise on national developments relevant to Project’s objectives.
• Provide substantive research input; accurate analysis, data entry and presentation of information to ensure proper policy advice and programme implementation.
• Conduct analytical work (e.g. institutional and risk analyses, capacity assessment, policy reviews and briefs) on the project key areas, highlighting UNDP support and strategy.
• Promote information sharing with the relevant donor community by initiating and/or participating (when delegated) in consultative meetings with the donors and preparing briefs on justice sector developments and activities.

Knowledge management and sharing:

• Assist in coordinating the exchange of information internally and between relevant Project stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and proper documentation of the Project implementation process and products produced in accordance with the UNDP guides.
• Ensure high quality information and visibility of the Project activities to the mass media and stakeholders and support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local, national, and as required at international levels.
• Capture and disseminate good practices locally, nationally and as required internationally, making substantive contributions as appropriate.
• Promote information sharing within the Effective Governance Cluster and other CO teams, with national and local stakeholders and the relevant donor community by initiating and/or participating in consultative meetings and preparing briefs on justice sector developments and activities.
• Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements.

Develop strategic partnerships:

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of Project objectives and promote inclusive Project implementation.
• Substantively contribute to Project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
• Support resource mobilization efforts and Project development.
• Ensure that Project interventions are implemented in a Human Rights Based Approach and respect principles of Gender Equality. Raise awareness of project partners on HRBA and GE.

Strategic visioning on the democratization processes in the Republic of Moldova connected to the regional and global developments. 

• Strategically advise the CO on the developments in the area of democratic processes including in line with the national, regional and global developments; 
• Support the adjustment of the programmatic interventions in the areas connected to electoral/democratic processes matters to the developments at the national level. 

Monitor and report on progress in implementing Project activities and achieving the targets set:

• Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting.
• Lead the implementation of Project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct regular meetings with the national partners as required to verify Project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management.
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize Project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate and donor reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities.
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the Project.

Support Resource Mobilization and Partnership Building:

• Maintain and facilitate effective communication with public, national partners and among stakeholders, and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements;
• Engage with relevant donors (when delegated) and contribute to the UNDP resource mobilization efforts;
• Ensure that Project interventions are implemented in a Human Rights Based Approach and respect principles of Gender Equality. Raise awareness of project partners on HRBA and GE.

The incumbent will perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP Effective Governance Cluster Lead and in close coordination with the Chief Technical Adviser, the incumbent will provide effective and efficient coordination of all components under the Project through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, implementation, management, monitoring and reporting of the corresponding activities in line with the Project Document and the Multi-Year Work Plan. 

The Project Manager will work in close cooperation with the Programme, Operations, Communications and other teams in the UNDP Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery.

The Project Manager will coordinate the Project Management Unit (PMU), consisting of up to 4 full- time employees, as well short-term NPSAs, national and international consultants, as envisaged in Project organizational chart.

The Project Manager will apply and promote the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. He/she will be responsible and accountable to the Project Steering Committee for the Project’s results. 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management Competencies:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

• 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
• System thinking:
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Effective decision making:
  • Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications
• Results based management:
  • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• 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
• Project Management:
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Negotiations:
  • The ability to lead efforts to work with others to conclude or settle a matter. These are often soft skills and include abilities such as communication, persuasion, planning, strategizing and cooperating. In the UNDP context, this skill includes working closely with the client to understand the parameters of an acceptable solution, and assisting business units in resolving commercial disputes, and working with staff members or their legal representatives to resolve a grievance, claim or issue. Negotiation often involves working with colleagues of differing views to arrive at an acceptable corporate solution.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, law, public administration or equivalent is required, or 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s Degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of progressive working experience in the design, management and implementation of project-based activities is required 

Languages:

• Fluency in English, Romanian and Russian is required;
• Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset

Required Skills:

• Experience in managing a multidisciplinary team or coordination between different teams.
• Experience in using computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages; experience in handling web-based management systems

Desired Skills:

• Prior experience with UNDP Project management and/or implementation is a strong asset;
• Previous experience of work in the democratic governance, anticorupption, and/or rule of law fields is a strong asset;
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, governmental institutions, NGO or private sector / consulting firm is a strong asset; 
• Experience related to democratic governance, strategic advice, justice, or internal affairs is preferable.

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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