Terms of Reference Short-term consultancy services: Local Governance Technical Advisor Project: Local Public Administration, Citizen Engagement (PACE Local)

***About SALAR International ***

SALAR International is a subsidiary of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), representing all 290 municipalities and 21 regions in Sweden. As the international branch of SALAR, we work globally to support local democracy and good governance in developing and transitioning countries. Our expertise covers areas such as capacity building in municipal management and service delivery, local and regional development planning, support for local government associations, decentralisation policies and European integration. Geographically, SALAR International’s projects cover countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Sub-Saharan Africa.

***Description of the assignment context ***

The Moldovan-Swedish project “PACE Local: Local Public Administration, Citizen Engagement” is a four-year initiative that contributes to the strengthening of local governance in the Republic of Moldova. The project is implemented by SALAR International, with financial support from the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The overarching objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of Local Public Authorities (LPAs) through an improved local governance framework, ensuring that public services become more accessible, efficient and in line with the strategic orientation of the Republic of Moldova towards accession to the European Union.**

PACE Local is structured around three components: (1) Support for the government of the Republic of Moldova. This component includes support to the Government of the Republic of Moldova for the implementation of the Public Administration Reform Strategy, complementing the efforts of other development partners, ensuring long-term sustainability of reforms aimed at strengthening decentralization. The support targets the State Chancellery and key ministries with the aim of improving the coordination of local reforms and the efficient distribution of tasks between central and local public administration. The project also supports the Electronic Governance Agency in the development of the Local Public Administration Portal of the Republic of Moldova - e-APL. (2) Support for local public authorities. Representing the most complex component of the project, the focus is on supporting clusters of Local Public Authorities to catalyse collaboration to improve public services based on priorities identified together with citizens. Support includes capacity development, mentoring, technical assistance, and small-scale investments as leverage for larger investments (e.g. feasibility studies, technical documentation). It also includes the establishment and development of Unified Public Service Delivery Centers (CUPS). A central initiative under this component is the Local Governance Strengthening Program, which assists five (5) clusters of first‑level LPAs engaged in voluntary amalgamation. In October 2025, the project launched a competition to select LPA groups that had initiated the amalgamation process. The selected clusters benefit from tailored support aimed at strengthening institutional capacities, modernizing public services, improving local governance mechanisms, and fostering active citizen participation in decision‑making. Interventions are calibrated according to each cluster’s specific needs and stage of development. Across all participating LPAs, the Program strives to enhance governance capacity, catalyze local investments, and facilitate access to national and European funding sources. (3) Support to the Republic of Moldova in the EU accession process. The project encourages local involvement in the process of Moldova's accession to the European Union by promoting dialogue between local authorities, the State Chancellery (including the Office for European Integration), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and citizens. Activities that facilitate the preparation of local public authorities for accession, public information on the benefits and commitments related to accession and strengthening the capacity to access European funds are supported.

Through these complementary components, PACE Local provides a flexible, integrated, and context-sensitive support framework for local public administration in Moldova. The project acts not only as a source of technical assistance but also as a strategic partner to local communities, helping them modernize governance, improve service delivery, and strengthen civic participation.

Within this framework, the Project launches the present call to select a Consultant who will provide expert guidance and technical support for the implementation of activities under the Local Governance Strengthening Program (Component 2).

Conditions of the Assignment

Location: The Consultant may operate remotely or from the SALAR International office in Chișinău, with on-site visits to LPA clusters as needed.

Scope and Duration: The Consultant shall provide consultancy services throughout the contractual year for up to a maximum of forty (40) working days. Services will be rendered upon the Project’s request and based on the reporting of days effectively worked. The assignment is expected to start in February 2026. Extension for the remaining duration of the project (until December 2028) may be granted on annual basis, subject to the demonstrated necessity of consultancy services and agreement by the Project Manager.

A consultancy contract will be signed between SALAR International and the consultant which will outline the conditions for the position in detail. Please note this position is not an employment position, meaning that applicants must be established as consultants and will be liable to pay all relevant taxes and insurances. A competitive consultancy fee will be offered to the successful candidate.

Role description

The Consultant is a Moldova-based national position with solid experience in public sector operations, local governance, public procurement procedures, and implementation of local development projects. The role directly supports Component 2 – Support for Local Public Authorities, particularly the Local Governance Strengthening Program targeting clusters of first –level LPAs engaged in voluntary amalgamation and service modernization.

The consultant will be accountable to the project and should maintain close cooperation with the local project team, project management and other relevant experts. The role will include travel within selected localities from Moldova.

Main responsibilities: The Consultant will provide expert guidance, technical support, and professional advisory services to facilitate the effective implementation of project activities related to voluntary amalgamation and modernization of local public services. The role focuses on compliance assessment, feasibility review, advisory services, cost estimation, and capacity-building recommendations aligned with project objectives and eligible cost categories. The Consultant will work in close collaboration with the PACE Local Procurement Specialist, the local project team, and other relevant experts to ensure coherence, accuracy, and consistency in all technical and procurement‑related processes.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Assess the relevance and appropriateness of technical documentation requested by LPA clusters (e.g., feasibility studies, pre‑feasibility assessments, technical designs, concepts) ensuring that the proposed documents correspond to the nature and purpose of the intended interventions.
2. Provide technical advisory input for the development of Terms of Reference (ToR) for contracting companies responsible for drafting technical documentation, strategic documents, and feasibility studies, ensuring that the scope, requirements, and expectations are realistic, relevant, and aligned with the needs of LPA clusters and project objectives.
3. Identify potential risks, unrealistic elements, or gaps in LPA requests that could affect the practicality, relevance, or successful implementation of the proposed interventions.
4. Offer guidance on cost expectations for the preparation of technical documentation, ensuring that proposed cost estimates are realistic, justified, aligned with market practices in Moldova, and compliant with project procurement requirements and eligible expenditure categories.
5. Collaborate closely with the Procurement Specialist to validate the technical adequacy of documentation requests, ensure consistency with procurement standards, and provide advisory input throughout the preparation of procurement packages and related processes.
6. Perform other advisory and support tasks as may be reasonably required within the scope of the assignment.

Reporting and Communication

The Consultant is expected to maintain close communication and collaboration with Team Leader in Moldova and reports to the Project Coordinator. The Consultant will provide regular progress updates according to agreed timelines.

***Qualifications ***

• Graduate qualification in public administration, economics, law or related field. • Minimum 5 years of professional experience in local governance, municipal management, public sector reform, or project implementation. • Proven expertise in reviewing technical or strategic documentation and compliance assessment. • Good understanding of procurement processes and cost estimation principles, particularly in relation to local public services and infrastructure documentation. • Strong analytical and advisory skills. • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. • Excellent communication skills in Romanian and English, drafting ability and inter-personal skills to animate network discussions (both physical and digital). • Moldovan nationality is a requirement. Merits • Experience with EU-funded projects and an understanding of key issues faced by LPAs. (For example, pre-financing and co-financing, rules on eligibility of expenditure and public procurement, common pitfalls with project-writing and implementation.) • Working experience from EU institutions and/or international development cooperation projects, preferably in Moldova.

Selection Criteria

The selection of candidates will be based on the following criteria: technical skills and experiences, communication and organisational capacities, ability to travel in Moldova.

**Application: Send your application with max 3-page CV and max 1 page cover letter to moldova@salarinternational.se Please note “Local Governance Technical Advisor ” in the subject line.

Deadline: 30 January 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled prior to the application deadline.

The interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis. Only shortlisted applicants will receive a response by email when the recruitment has been finalised.

For any questions or clarifications, please contact: moldova@salarinternational.se Personal information provided by the applicant in the recruitment process will be handled by SALAR International.

*Diversity and equal opportunities *

SALAR International embraces diversity and respects human rights in all areas of its work. SALAR International strives to create a gender-equal and diverse working environment. Team members shall respect equal rights of individuals and strive to create an atmosphere where people’s differences are accepted and valued. SALAR International supports working arrangements that enable personnel to combine work with family commitments.