Communications Analyst, Short-Term

Background

Advancing Climate Resilience and Women’s Empowerment in Moldova (Afforestation) Project. Forests cover only 385,000 ha, or about 13% of Moldova's territory, (far below the European average of 30%). Furthermore, these are primarily concentrated in the central region (60% of the forest estate), with lower coverage in the northern 26% and southern regions 14%. Around 40% of forests need ecological restoration, making sustainable forest management essential for rural livelihoods. Climate change amplifies existing gender inequalities, as women are more dependent on natural resources for household management, caregiving, and food provision. In the past 10 years, the Government of Moldova has made concerted efforts to increase forest cover to 15%, with an aim to increase economic and environmental benefits to rural communities in general and reduce land degradation in particular.

According to scientific research, the current forest area is obviously insufficient to meet the ecological and socioeconomic needs of the RoM. In order to ensure a stable ecological balance and a more pronounced influence on the climatic and hydrological regime of the territory and to increase productivity of agricultural land, it is necessary that forests occupy at least 15% of the territory. This would play an extremely important role in watershed protection, while at the same time providing a number of direct and indirect economic and environmental benefits to rural communities: fuelwood, non-wood products, ravine stabilization, landscape beautification and other benefits. Dispersion and fragmentation of forest resources, their uneven distribution in the country is a negative factor in exerting beneficial eco-protective influences on the environment, creating comfortable living conditions for the population, and providing wood and non-wood products.

The current state of pastures in the Republic of Moldova is generally unsatisfactory, as they are heavily impacted by excessive, unregulated grazing throughout the year and completely lack a management system. Poor management practices have allowed harmful plant species (shrubs and weeds) to invade the pastures, largely replacing valuable plant species. Currently, the effects of pasture degradation are evident in both biodiversity structure and productivity potential. The yields from these pastures are low in both quantity and quality, averaging around 1-3 tons of dry matter per hectare, which supports a grazing load of 0.2 - 0.5 livestock units per hectare. Sustainable pasture management is essential and cannot be achieved without organized land management and pastoral planning (management plans) that incorporate both the enhancement and appropriate utilization of grass cover, as well as the necessary infrastructure and equipment for modern, sustainable use.

The climate change risks are affecting primarily the rural poor and especially women. Rural population is increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts especially women and women-led households, who are not able to provide resources and services needed to ensure water, food, and energy supply for their families. Rural poor have limited knowledge regarding sustainable agricultural and forestry practices that would increase adaptation and resilience capacities of communities and ecosystems. Women are at higher risk of poverty, 26.3% of women are in absolute poverty, while men at 23.6% and the highest rate of absolute poverty is registered in households with three and more children (36.9%). Women are more at risk of poverty including from: (i) lower employment of women, especially mothers with pre-school children, limiting career advancement, (ii) substantially lower assets and productive ownership accentuating financial deprivation, (iii) accentuating impact of climate change consequences on the women entrepreneurships.

The project's ultimate outcome is to increase climate resilience and gender equality in rural Moldova through the sustainable management of forest, pasture, and agricultural resources, coupled with the economic empowerment of women. The project will tackle the development challenges in rural Moldova by implementing a multifaceted approach. It will enhance climate resilience and gender equality through sustainable forest and pasture management, fostering community-based enterprises that engage women. Targeted training will empower rural women with skills in climate-smart agriculture, leadership, and business development. The project will also address barriers to education and finance, ensuring equitable access for women. By promoting inclusive governance and strengthening sex-disaggregated data collection, it will support evidence-based decision-making and policy development. These solutions are designed to build robust, resilient communities and address gender disparities in economic and environmental sectors.

The project intends to achieve the ultimate outcome trough three intermediary outcomes:

1. By the end of 2029, target regions will benefit from healthier and more resilient ecosystems through the implementation of sustainable forest and pasture management practices. Both women and men will be actively engaged in these practices, supported by the establishment of community-based forest enterprises, afforestation and reforestation initiatives and training programs in climate-smart agriculture and environmental stewardship. This will contribute to increased biodiversity and improved ecosystem services.
2. By the end of 2029, rural women in selected districts will implement economic and income generated activities in climate responsive agri- and forest businesses. They will benefit from participation in community-based forest enterprises and improved roles in natural resource management. This will be supported through targeted business development assistance, financial literacy programs, and leadership training, addressing systemic barriers and promoting equitable access to economic resources and decision-making processes.
3. By the end of 2029, local public authorities (LPAs), education institutions and communities will have developed and implemented inclusive governance frameworks that promote sustainable forest and pasture management. By the end of 2029, local public authorities (LPAs) and communities will have developed and implemented inclusive governance frameworks that promote sustainable forest and pasture management. This will be achieved through collaborative policy development that ensures women’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Additionally, specialized educational institutions will play a critical role by offering gender-sensitive, climate-smart curricula and capacity-building programs that support both community members and policymakers in integrating sustainability and gender equality into local governance and management practices.

Capacity building for climate action in the Republic of Moldova Project The Republic of Moldova has undergone a profound socio-economic transformation since gaining independence in 1991. While the country has achieved sustained economic growth over the past decade, its economy remains relatively undiversified and highly vulnerable to external shocks, particularly those induced by climate variability. Agriculture continues to play a central role in Moldova’s economy, employing a significant portion of the population and contributing substantially to GDP. However, this sector is especially sensitive to climate extremes such as droughts, floods, and temperature fluctuations, which are becoming more frequent and severe.

Over the past 130 years, Moldova’s climate has become markedly warmer and drier. Scientific assessments and long-term meteorological data indicate a trend toward a semi-arid climate, with projections showing further reductions in precipitation and increased evaporation rates. These changes pose serious risks to water availability, agricultural productivity, forest health, public health, and infrastructure resilience. Moldova ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries in Europe, and the medium- to long-term impacts of climate change are expected to intensify across social, environmental, and economic dimensions.

Despite these challenges, Moldova has demonstrated strong political commitment to climate action. The country submitted its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) in 2025, informed by the outcomes of the first global stocktake. It sets ambitious, legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 71% by 2030 and 75% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. It includes strong methane reduction goals and integrates adaptation priorities across agriculture, energy, forestry, health, transport, and water. The strategy is aligned with EU climate goals and Moldova’s accession process, supported by laws and national programs such as the LEDP 2030 and NCCAP 2030. Significant investments are planned in renewable energy, energy efficiency, public infrastructure, and forest expansion. Moldova emphasizes a just transition, gender-responsive planning, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. The country has established robust monitoring and reporting systems and is preparing for participation in international carbon markets.

Importantly, Moldova’s climate policy framework emphasizes inclusive and equitable climate action, prioritizing the involvement of vulnerable groups such as women, Indigenous Peoples, and low-income communities in decision-making and benefit-sharing. This reflects a commitment to a just transition, ensuring that climate resilience efforts do not exacerbate existing inequalities.

Institutionally, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) serves as the National Designated Authority (NDA) for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and is responsible for environmental protection, climate change policy, and natural resource management. The National Commission on Climate Change (NCCC), chaired by the Prime Minister, is mandated to coordinate climate policy implementation across sectors. However, both the MoE and NCCC face capacity constraints that limit their ability to effectively plan, coordinate, and monitor climate action.

To address these challenges, the GCF Readiness grant aims to strengthen Moldova’s institutional architecture for climate governance, enhance technical capacities, and improve knowledge management systems. The project will support the operationalization of the NDA and NCCC, mainstream climate priorities into national and sectoral policies, and develop a pipeline of bankable climate finance proposals. It will also promote the development and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned to inform future programming.

The Readiness support specifically targets four critical barriers:

• Limited capacity for coordination of climate action – including weak inter-institutional mechanisms and under-resourced climate governance bodies.
• Insufficient planning and mainstreaming of climate action – with climate risks not adequately integrated into national and sectoral development strategies or budgets.
• Limited financing, funding, and budgeting for climate action – with a heavy reliance on external donor support and limited capacity to develop bankable proposals.
• Inadequate data, knowledge, and information management – including outdated climate data, weak dissemination platforms, and limited access to evidence-based decision-making tools.

By overcoming these barriers, the project will contribute to Moldova’s ability to meet its national, regional, and global climate commitments, while building long-term resilience and sustainable development pathways. To support the implementation of Moldova’s climate commitments, targeted capacity building is essential across institutions, sectors, and communities. The Readiness grant includes several outputs that directly address institutional strengthening, gender-responsive planning, and climate-resilient technologies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Managers of the both project, and in close cooperation with the UNDP Moldova Country Office Communications function and the Project Team, the Communications Analyst will contribute to the effective planning, implementation and coordination of the project’s communication, visibility and public outreach activities, with the aim of ensuring increased visibility, stakeholder engagement and public understanding of project results.

The Communications Analyst will support communication, outreach, knowledge dissemination, and visibility across the full range of project activities, while playing a direct and hands-on role in coordinating and supporting communication activities related to increasing climate resilience and gender equality in rural Moldova through the sustainable management of forest, pasture, and agricultural resources, coupled with the economic empowerment of women, as well as strengthening national climate governance and institutional coordination mechanisms under the GCF NDA Readiness Project “Capacity building for climate action in the Republic of Moldova”. The incumbent will support communication efforts aimed at advancing climate-neutral development pathways across all sectors of the economy, strengthening the operationalization of the National Climate Change Commission (NCCC), supporting the implementation and mainstreaming of the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), improving access to climate finance, enhancing climate knowledge management and stakeholder engagement, and promoting alignment with EU acquis and global climate change agreements and requirements. The Communications Analyst will contribute to increasing awareness, visibility, and public understanding of climate action priorities, climate finance opportunities, sustainable resource management, and project achievements, while ensuring alignment with UNDP corporate communication standards, donor visibility requirements, national priorities, and results-based management principles.

The Communications Analyst shall exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, administrative and communication policies, rules and procedures.

A. Communication Planning and Management
o Contribute to the development, implementation and regular updating of the Project’s communication and visibility plan, in line with approved work plans and corporate requirements;
o Support the timely and efficient delivery of communication outputs contributing to the achievement of expected project results;
o Monitor and assess the effectiveness of communication activities using appropriate feedback mechanisms and monitoring tools;
o Ensure coordination and synergies with communication activities of project partners and other relevant UNDP initiatives;
o Identify and coordinate service providers required for the implementation of communication activities, in close cooperation with the Project Manager;
o Provide inputs to project reports, analytical products and work plans, as relevant to communication and visibility.

B. Visibility of Project Results and Media Engagement
o Draft and disseminate communication materials, including press releases, news stories, success stories, interviews and other visibility products;
o Develop tailored social media posts and assets (using web-based tools like Canva) for UNDP’s and donor’s social media channels;
o Develop sketches and scenarios for video stories;
o Support the documentation and dissemination of best practices and project achievements at national, regional and local levels;
o Liaise with national and local media outlets, journalists, opinion leaders, influencers to ensure adequate social media and media coverage of project activities and results;
o Support the conceptualization and implementation of communication products, including digital and visual materials;
o Coordinate media-related activities, such as press briefings, media field visits and event-related coverage.

C. Campaigns and Public Outreach Activities
o Provide direct coordination and communication support for the National Awareness Campaign on Water Protection, including planning, design, crafting messages, sketches, scenarios, coordination with partners and service providers, oversight of communication outputs and media and social media engagement;
o Support the communication and visibility of the Eco-Media Academy, including youth-generated content, storytelling and outreach activities;
o Ensure consistency of messaging, branding and visibility across all campaign-related activities, in line with UNDP and donor requirements.

D. Events Communication
o Support communication and visibility for key project events, including national and local awareness activities, public presentations, conferences and high-level events;
o Ensure appropriate visibility of UNDP, Sweden and national partners at all public events.
o The incumbent performs other communication-related duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Project and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

The Communications Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Project Managers and in close cooperation with the Project Teams and the UNDP Moldova Country Office Communications Analyst. The position is home-based, with required availability for participation in project events, field activities and coordination meetings, as needed.

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 & 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 - 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 - 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 - Creative Direction and Copywriting:

• Ability to present complex concepts in an engaging, accessible and audience-oriented manner.

Digital - Social Media:

• Knowledge of social media and ability to advise the use of social media for development outcomes.

2030 Agenda: People - Gender

• Communication and Advocacy for Gender Equality.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum education requirements:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Journalism, Communication, Public Relations, Sociology, International Relations, Environmental Studies or another relevant field; or
• Bachelor’s degree in the above-mentioned fields, combined with at least two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree are not required to have prior professional experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have at least two (2) years of relevant experience in communication, media, public outreach, visibility or related fields.

Desired skills:

• Experience working with mass media in the Republic of Moldova and familiarity with the national media landscape;
• Experience in communication related to public policies, environmental protection, sustainable development or international projects;
• Previous experience with UN entities, international organizations, international programmes or NGOs is an asset;
• Experience in climate and environmental communications is an asset;
• Experience in event-related communication and visibility support is an advantage;
• Experience in the development and implementation of communication strategies, media plans or public awareness campaigns.

Required Languages:

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

Professional Certificates:

• Additional training or certification in communication, media, digital communication or related fields is 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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