Data Analyst, Short-Term

Background

The project Promoting rural agriculture development and quality employment for the most vulnerable is financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP to support Moldova’s transition from crisis re-sponse toward long-term resilience, inclusive growth, and EU-aligned reforms. Building on EU–Moldova priori-ties in employment, labour market modernization, and agricultural governance, the project promotes an inte-grated approach that links employment services, social protection, and agricultural support through digitally enabled service delivery. By strengthening institutional capacities and modernizing core digital public services - particularly those serving vulnerable rural populations - the project aims to improve access, transparency, and effectiveness of public support measures, while contributing to Moldova’s broader reform agenda on modernization, social inclusion, and sustainable rural development.

In 2025, the Republic of Moldova continues to navigate a challenging socioeconomic and geopolitical context. The country is transitioning from crisis response to longer-term resilience building, while its reform agenda – centered on economic modernization, energy transition, and governance strengthening – is being tested amid rising regional risks, growing public expectations, and constrained fiscal space.

Agriculture remains a central sector of the Moldovan economy, employing over one-fifth of the workforce and contributing around 12% of GDP. Including food processing, the agri-food sector accounts for 16% of GDP and 45% of total exports. Moldova’s fertile land supports diverse production and underpins the rural economy. However, the sector is characterized by a dual structure: large, competitive enterprises coexist with numerous small, low-productivity farms. Informality is widespread, with more than half of salaried agricultural workers employed without formal contracts.

Digital modernization of public services in both employment and agriculture is progressing but remains une-ven. Key institutions continue to operate with fragmented data systems, weak interoperability, and limited analytical capacity. These gaps hinder policy implementation, reduce the effectiveness of subsidies and ser-vices, and limit the state’s ability to engage the most vulnerable rural populations.

In this context, the Project seeks to contribute to labour market inclusion and agricultural modernization through digitally enabled service delivery. UNDP’s engagement is focused on integrated and inclusive ap-proaches – linking social protection, employment, and agricultural services through modern digital infrastruc-ture and case management. Building on past experience in digital governance and service modernization, the initiative is well positioned to deliver scalable results that can be institutionalized and sustained beyond the project’s duration. It will contribute to Moldova’s broader objectives of fostering decent work, rural develop-ment, and sustainable EU-aligned transformation.

The project aims to strengthen Moldova’s institutional and digital governance systems in order to expand access to employment and modernize agricultural service delivery for vulnerable rural populations. Its focus is on enabling hard-to-employ individuals and farmers to benefit from more efficient, inclusive, and transparent public services.
On the employment side, the initiative seeks to make social protection and labour market services more acces-sible and better integrated, supported by digitally re-engineered institutional frameworks.

In agriculture, the project will help farmers across the country, including smallholders and underrepresented groups, access modernized services that are transparent, equitable, and aligned with Moldova’s reform agenda and EU commitments.

The project directly supports Moldova’s EU accession process by advancing the implementation of the Reform Agenda, in particular subdomain 1.7 on agriculture and subdomain 4.3 on employment and labour markets. Within the agricultural sector, the initiative contributes to the operationalization of the digital National Farm-ers Registry (dNFR) and the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), both of which are prerequisites for Moldo-va’s compliance with the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) requirements under Chapter 11. The project also aims to strengthen transparency and accountability in agricultural governance through the introduction of conditionality and compliance mechanisms.

Institutional support will be provided to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) and the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) to reinforce their capacity to manage digital tools, improve administrative frameworks, and ensure transparent subsidy management. These reforms will be complement-ed by inclusive outreach measures to ensure equitable access to digital agricultural services for smallholders, women, and rural youth, fostering resilience and participation across rural communities.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization working to end poverty, inequality, and climate change. With a presence in 170 countries, UNDP partners with governments, civil society, and the private sector to help build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP Moldova seeks to contract a Data Analyst (hereinafter “the Analyst”) to provide applied analytical sup-port to the EMAG project and its institutional counterparts - primarily the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) and the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA). The assignment focuses on transforming project and institutional data into practical analytical tools, dashboards, and evidence prod-ucts that support decision-making, implementation monitoring, and project reporting.

The Analyst will work in close collaboration with designated counterparts within MAFI and AIPA and with the EMAG project team. From a technical and methodological perspective, the Analyst will receive guidance from the Data Intelligence Unit (DIU) and the UNDP Policy Specialist and Digital Development Specialist, ensuring alignment with UNDP analytical standards, methodologies, and institutional practices.

The Analyst will serve as an embedded analytical resource within the EMAG project, contributing to strength-ened institutional capacity for evidence-informed planning, improved monitoring of dNFR and LPIS operation-alization milestones, subsidy distribution data, and beneficiary coverage indicators, and more consistent use of administrative and operational data across institutions involved in the project.

Through this role, the Analyst will support more transparent, efficient, and informed implementation of the EMAG project by enabling MAFI and AIPA to consolidate data from multiple sources, monitor implementation progress, and identify bottlenecks or data gaps using analytical tools. The position focuses on applied analysis, continuity, and institutional uptake, rather than analytical design or policy leadership.

The Analyst’s key responsibilities will include:

Support institutional planning, monitoring, and analytical processes

• Support evidence-based planning, monitoring, and reporting processes within the beneficiary institution, in close coordination with the UNDP project team.
• Contribute analytical inputs to internal planning documents, progress updates, briefings, and reporting products prepared by the beneficiary institution and the UNDP project team.
• Prepare analytical summaries, tables, dashboards, and visual materials to support internal decision-making and management processes at institutional and project levels.
• Respond to ad hoc analytical requests from institutional counterparts and the UNDP project team related to implementation progress, performance tracking, and operational issues.

Support data collection, management, and quality assurance

• Support the mapping, consolidation, and routine updating of key administrative and sectoral data sources within the beneficiary Ministry or institution and its subordinate entities, in coordination with the UNDP project team.
• Assist in assessing data quality, completeness, consistency, and update cycles of administrative and opera-tional datasets.
• Perform basic data validation, cleaning, and harmonization in line with agreed definitions and standards.
• Maintain basic documentation of data sources, assumptions, and update processes to support institutional continuity and project reporting needs.
• Identify data gaps or inconsistencies and communicate them to institutional counterparts, the UNDP pro-ject team, and the Data Intelligence Unit, as appropriate.

Support data visualization and reporting tools

• Prepare clear and user-friendly visualizations (dashboards, charts, maps) tailored to the needs of institu-tional management, technical staff, and the UNDP project team.
• Support the maintenance and regular updating of dashboards and analytical tools used by the beneficiary institution and the project.
• Assist institutional staff and project team members in interpreting and using analytical outputs in day-to-day work and ensure that visual outputs are consistent, interpretable, and aligned with institutional and project needs.

Support coordination, capacity building, and knowledge management

• Act as a focal point for analytical coordination between the beneficiary institution, the UNDP counter-parts, and the Data Intelligence Unit.
• Maintain regular communication with the Data Intelligence Unit and the UNDP Policy Specialist, providing updates on analytical work, data availability, and emerging institutional or project-related needs.
• Escalate methodological or technical issues requiring advanced analytical support to the Data Intelligence Unit.
• Support basic data literacy and knowledge-sharing activities, including on-the-job guidance, short briefings, or training sessions for institutional staff and, where relevant, project stakeholders.
• Promote good practices related to data handling, confidentiality, and ethical data use.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the project, the partner institution and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

The Data Analyst will be engaged under a short-term contract with UNDP and will report to the designated UNDP Project Manager, who will provide overall coordination of the assignment and ensure alignment with agreed objectives, work plans, and deliverables.

The Analyst will work within the EMAG project team and will be deployed to MAFI/AIPA on a day-to-day basis, working in close collaboration with designated institutional counterparts and providing applied analytical support to institutional planning, monitoring, and reporting processes.

From a technical and methodological perspective, the Analyst will work in close coordination with the Data Intelligence Unit, the UNDP Policy Specialist and Digital Development Specialist, who will provide technical guidance, ensure methodological coherence, and support alignment with UNDP analytical standards and approaches. The Analyst will maintain regular communication and provide updates to support coherence, information sharing, and timely identification of emerging analytical needs.

The incumbent is expected to comply fully with UNDP’s administrative rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and to maintain high standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and quality throughout the assignment.

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 - Results-based Management:

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Development - Knowledge Facilitation:

• Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and 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

Business Management - Working with Evidence and Data:

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Data - Data Analysis:

• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Digital - Digital business analysis:

• Ability to support digital business processes across a range of digital projects, programmes and activities.

Digital - Visualisation & mapping:

• Ability to create clear visuals, maps, and dashboards that translate data into actionable insights for institutional decision making.

2030 Agenda: People - Gender:

• Monitoring and Evaluation on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum education requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Information Systems, or another field relevant to data analysis, public sector analytics, and institutional development is required; OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant national or international experience in data analysis, data management, monitoring and reporting, or project implementation. This experience must include applied data analysis and visualization (preparing tables, dashboards, charts, and analytical summaries) using standard office software, databases, and data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio, Metabase, or similar).

Desired skills:

• Experience working with administrative or operational datasets, including data collection, cleaning, validation, and basic analysis.
• Ability to support evidence-based planning, monitoring, and reporting processes in an institutional or project context.
• Experience working with or supporting public institutions, government pro-grammes, development projects, or large organizations requiring structured data management and reporting. Experience related to agriculture, rural development, or public sector digitalization is an asset.
• Familiarity with data governance principles, data standards, or interoperability considerations, combined with the ability to interpret and present data clearly to support decision-making is an asset.
• Previous experience with UN agencies, international organizations, or develop-ment partners will be considered an advantage.

Required languages:

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

Professional certificates:

• Additional training or certification in data analysis, data visualization, monitoring and evaluation, project management, public administration, or digital governance will be considered 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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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