Requisition ID: 3676
Grade: ISA-Senior Specialist
Country: Republic of Moldova
Duty Station: Chisinau
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 1 year (with the possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 17-Apr-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.
The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).
This position is located under the SME Development and Job Creation Unit (TCS/SME/SDJ) which supports small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Member States to take advantage of new technologies, business and organizational support, investment promotion, cluster development and partnerships to improve their businesses and improve their competitiveness.
PROJECT CONTEXT
Project SAP ID 220009: Improving the standards compliance through increased national capacities for residue monitoring (Joint financing EU/UNIDO)
The overall objective of this Action is to enhance national consumer safety and access to safe, healthy and nutritious food and to improve trade opportunities and create a conducive business environment for SMEs, thus contributing to resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic development as well as paving the way to a fully-fledged Green Deal for the Republic of Moldova.
The specific objective of the Action is to increase national capacities for residue monitoring in animal feed and products of animal origin (pesticides, veterinary medicine, contaminants and prohibited substances).
The Action will pursue three technical Outcomes, thus responding to the limited capacity for residues monitoring and the main compliance challenges identified in the Republic of Moldova:
Outcome 1: Improved practices of competent authorities (ANSA and MAFI) through good governance and revamped legal and regulatory framework.
Institutional strengthening of the ANSA and MAFI through capacity building, use of best practices, skills development, and implementation of management systems.
Outcome 2: Improved practices of national reference laboratories through expanded testing capacities, demonstrating proof of compliance.
Strengthening the National reference laboratories through capacity building, use of best practices, skills development, procurement of additional laboratory equipment and implementation of management systems, accreditation, and validation of methods to ensure quality and international recognition of their services with a focus on pesticide and veterinary drug residues.
Outcome 3: SMEs and FBOs application of best practises in compliance with standards and technical regulations in the value chains of meat, poultry and milk products are enhanced.
Improving compliance capacity and awareness through specialised training and capacity building for SMEs and FBOs.
This Action is proposed in line with the European Green Deal and the Farm2Fork strategy and will directly contribute to the EU’s Annual Action Plan for 2021, in particular: Output 1.3: National capacities for residues monitoring in agri-food products increased
The Action will contribute to the accomplishment of the 2nd General Objective of the National Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (SNDAR) 2023-2030 “Development of the food industry and diversification of markets”, and Food Security Strategy of the Republic of Moldova for 2023-2030.
The Action will promote SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production through its contribution to UNIDO Country Programme for Moldova 2019 – 2023 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) of the Republic of Moldova 2023-2027.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM) and close cooperation with the project team in the HQs and field location, the International Technical Adviser will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:
Main activities:
1. Provide strategic advice to MAFI and respective authorities in the implementation of reforms of legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks, including preparation of roadmaps, with concrete recommendations in line with the National Programme of Adoption of EU Acquis and within the project’s scope, including:
Written reports on improving institutional efficiency and business climate Conduct a series of capacity-building and awareness-raising activities to strengthen the capacity of MAFI and respective authorities Ensure regular exchange and provide advice, based on project implementation experience and findings, on prioritization of legal approximation/transposition, revision and updating of Action plans for legal approximation and EU accession through meetings and written inputs
2. Supervise the group of project technical and legal experts working on the harmonization and capacity building of MAFI and ANSA in implementing EU regulations 2017/625: official control and 2016/429: animal health and its secondary legislation
3. In close cooperation with national and international food safety and other technical experts, provide expert advice and technical inputs to MAFI and ANSA in developing required policies, regulations and technical requirements for official controls in compliance with EU requirements, including:
Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation Design of traceability systems and implementation of traceability requirements Regulation on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin4. In close cooperation with national and international food safety and other technical experts, provide technical advice and inputs to Sectorial and Business Association, BDS, academic institutions, SMEs, FBOs, etc., in the implementation of official control and self-control
5. Supervise the development of training materials and literature on Good Hygiene Practices, HACCP, official control principles and procedures, self-control, etc. for inspectors, SMEs, FBOs and other value chain actors
6. In close cooperation with International Quality Infrastructure and Food Expert, provide technical advice and inputs to ANSA on the NRMP development, implementation and corrective actions on the non-compliance
Review of the NRMP-related documents and recent legal framework of Moldova and support with the formulation of NRMPs Review and adjust the SOPs for implementing the NRMP and revise, if applicable, the SOPs to support the objective of meeting compliance with the relevant EU requirements and guidelines Conduct a series of training for ANSA official inspectors who are involved in NRMP implementation7. In close cooperation with the National Project Coordinator, contribute to project coordination and reporting, including:
Contribute to the development of monthly progress, mid-term and final reports and other submissions to HQ, donor and Government counterparts Participate in key sector coordination and thematic group meetings convened by the Government, donor, development partners, value chain actors, etc., relevant to the project and provide technical inputs, where relevant/necessary Present the project, project progress and results to the Government, donor and other counterparts to keep them updated at regular intervals Provide advice for revision of the overall work plans and budget, technical papers, studies, etc. Provide technical advice and direction to the project team, implementing partners and relevant stakeholders on the specific technical objectives of the project Attend UNIDO project team meetings and provide technical inputs, where relevant/necessaryThis vacancy is archived.