Mission Description

Limited access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity remains a barrier to socio-economic development, particularly in underserved and rural areas. In this context, the EU Commission has decided to provide an additional funding (top-up) to the EU4Innovation East project, in order to create and implement a new pillar designed to support the deployment of free public wireless access points in the municipalities of the Republic of Moldova, contributing to improved digital inclusion, access to information, and public service delivery. This new pillar 5, called WiFi4MD, will be implemented in parallel to other activities led by the project team.

To support the existing project team for the implementation of these new activity, Expertise France seeks to recruit a Project Manager responsible for overseeing the deployment of this Pillar 5, in close coordination with national and local stakeholders, as well as private sector partners.

The role requires a high degree of autonomy and interpersonal skills suitable for an international and multicultural environment. Building connections with local stakeholders is crucial for the project's success.

Objectives and tasks

Overall Objective

To ensure the effective and timely deployment of public Wi-Fi infrastructure in targeted areas of the Republic of Moldova.

Specific Objectives

-      Plan and coordinate the deployment of public Wi-Fi access points in selected municipalities

-      Ensure technical quality and compliance with EU standards (security, procurement, sustainability)

-      Facilitate coordination between public authorities, Internet Service Provider(s), and technical providers

-      Contribute to strengthening institutional capacities in managing digital infrastructure projects

Key Tasks

a.  Project Planning and Coordination

-       Develop detailed work plans, timelines, and implementation strategies;

-       Develop detailed call for application to select municipalities and coordinate the selection process;

-       Coordinate day-to-day project activities and ensure alignment with project objectives;

-       Monitor progress and ensure timely delivery of outputs;

b.  Technical Oversight

-       Define and validate technical specifications for Wi-Fi deployment

-       Supervise site identification and technical assessments

-       Oversee installation, configuration, testing, and commissioning of equipment

-       Supervise compliance with EU cybersecurity and data protection standards (including the EU’s toolbox for 5G security)

-       Define and validate technical specifications for potential additional technical expertise, select and recruit, and ensure the follow-up of their work

c.  Stakeholder Engagement

-       Liaise with national authorities, municipalities, and regulatory bodies

-       Facilitate consultations with local stakeholders and beneficiary communities

-       Maintain regular communication with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and vendors

d.  Procurement and Contract Management (In coordination with the AdminFin Team)

-       Contribute to the preparation of technical specifications and tender documents

-       Participate in the evaluation of bids and selection of service and hardware providers

-       Monitor contract implementation and service delivery

e.  Monitoring, Reporting and Visibility (in relation with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) manager)

-       Contribute to the development of monitoring tools and tracking of project indicators

-       Prepare periodic technical and progress reports in line with donor requirements

f.  Communication and visibility (in relation with the Communication team)

-       Contribute to communication and visibility actions, in line with EU visibility requirements

g.  Risk Management (in relation with the management team)

-       Identify operational, technical, and institutional risks

-       Propose and implement mitigation measures

-       Identify operational, technical, and institutional risks

-       Propose and implement mitigation measures

Expected deliverables 

The Project Manager will be expected to produce the following deliverables:

-       Detailed Implementation plan (within 2 months of contract start)

-       ToRs for technical expertise as needed

-       Technical specifications and deployment plan for Wi-Fi infrastructure

-       Regular progress updates (monthly/quarterly as required) including contribution to the EU4Innovation East yearly progress report

-       Inputs for monitoring and communication

-       Final report including results achieved, challenges, and recommendations