Technical Expert – Civil Society, Media & Social Cohesion – COSMA Project ( Nationals Only)

*******Please note this position is contingent on funding ApprovalLocation: The Republic of Moldova (Various)Position Status: Full Time – National Position.Risk Level: ☐ Level 3 x Level 2 ☐Level 1(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)About Mercy CorpsMercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.We promote good governance, contributing to an enabling environment for inclusive decision-making, effective engagement between communities and local government counterparts, sustained and responsive service delivery, and stable, accessible markets. Our programs are designed to help address the underlying causes of conflict while reducing key social, economic. and environmental drivers of violence.About the ProjectThe planned Strengthening Social Cohesion through Civil Society and Mass-Media in Moldova (COSMA) project – funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) – aims to strengthen social cohesion in Moldova by enabling civil society organizations and independent media to act as trusted intermediaries between citizens and institutions, promote inclusive dialogue, and reinforce accountability in a highly polarized environment. Through a facilitation unit model, the project supports locally led initiatives that respond to citizens’ priorities, expand civic participation at the local level, and improve the quality, independence, and sustainability of civil society and media actors, with a particular focus on regions and communities where cohesion is most at risk.General Position SummaryMercy Corps is looking for technical experts with relevant experience in supporting civil society and media organizations in Moldova. This could be in the form of implementing programming directly, working with local partners to implement programming, or conducting robust monitoring and evaluation around this programming. We are also looking for strong facilitators for dialogues/trainings/stakeholder engagements or experts with a network across the spectrum of the current polarization, perceived as neutral and trustworthy.Key Responsibilities* Provide thematic and technical expertise to support COSMA interventions related to civil society strengthening, support for independent media and media literacy, social cohesion, community engagement, communication strategies, behavioral change communication, social psychology, intersectional pedagogy, experiential learning approaches, mediation, conflict resolution and policy advocacy. * Contribute to the design, review, and quality assurance of locally led initiatives, grants, and capacity-strengthening activities. * Support the application of conflict-sensitive, politically informed, and citizen-centered approaches across project activities. * Provide technical input to assessments, intervention strategies, and Theory of Change refinement. * Support capacity strengthening of local civil society and media actors through mentoring, advisory inputs, and tailored technical guidance. * Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) processes, including indicator development, reflection sessions, and adaptive management. * Participate in stakeholder consultations, learning events, and coordination meetings with civil society, media, public institutions, and donors. * Prepare or review technical notes, guidance documents, and inputs to narrative reporting, as required.Accountability to Participants and StakeholdersMercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.Knowledge and Experience RequirementsDepending on the specific roles, Mercy Corps is looking for the following types of qualifications in experts. (Individuals are not expected to fulfill all these criteria, just some of them as relevant to their profile.)* Degree in social sciences, governance, media studies, communications, international development, or a relevant field for this project * Demonstrated knowledge of the civil society and media landscape in Moldova * Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in civil society development, media support and literacy, governance, social cohesion, or related areas in Moldova * Demonstrated experience providing technical advisory support to donor-funded programs or initiatives. * Strong understanding of the role of civil society and independent media in democratic governance, accountability, and social cohesion. * Experience working in politically sensitive or polarized contexts, with the ability to apply conflict-sensitive and adaptive approaches. * Strong analytical skills. * Strong facilitation negotiation/mediation skills. * Fluency Romanian and/or Russian, with working knowledge of English * Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including local partners, public institutions, and international donors * Previous experience with SDC or similar donorsLiving Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThese positions will be based in Moldova with travel required to project locations across the country. The project will have nationwide coverage focusing on regions where social cohesion is particularly at risk, e.g., Gagauzia and the Northern region.Ongoing LearningIn support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and developmentTeam Engagement and EffectivenessAchieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organisation with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.We recognise that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.Equal Employment OpportunityMercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.Safeguarding & EthicsMercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, programme participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).HOW TO APPLYhttp://app.jobvite.com/m?3GBLpnwj