Title: Support the development and implementation of the Capacity Building Plan on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Communal Services in partner LPA groups 

Project: MA IMPLIC – Project on Civic Engagement in Local Governance (Phase II: 2023–2027) Implemented by Skat Consulting Ltd. and financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

Contract Duration: December 2025 – December 2026  

Expected Consultants and Workload: The project foresees contracting three individual consultants, each responsible for tasks in their area of expertise: 

Consultant 1: Technical Operation & Maintenance Expert: up to 46 working days 
Consultant 2: Institutional & Managerial Expert: up to 46 working days 

Consultant 3: Legal Expert: up to 15 days 

1. Background 

Communal service providers in Moldova are responsible for providing essential public services — including water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, street lighting, and communal infrastructure maintenance. Yet, many providers continue to face significant operational, financial, and institutional challenges that limit the quality and sustainability of service delivery. In many cases, these operators are municipal enterprises or public utilities (specialized subdivisions) that are directly managed by Local Public Authorities (LPAs). However, their capacity to provide services at a sustainable quality level remains weak.  

Key Challenges  

• Fragmentation of services: Many rural and urban providers serve small populations, which limits economies of scale and drives up unit costs.  

• Institutional weaknesses: Limited governance frameworks and lack of professional management reduce operational efficiency.  

• Financial constraints: Tariff structures are often politically controlled, leading to insufficient cost recovery.  

• Infrastructure deficits: Much of the equipment is outdated or absent, resulting in low quality of service.  

• Citizen dissatisfaction: Low transparency and weak accountability mechanisms erode trust in service operators.  

Problem Statement  

Communal service providers face systemic issues that limit their capacity to provide sustainable and efficient services:  

• Insufficient human capital and technical expertise.  

• Fragmented institutional arrangements and weak governance.  

• Outdated equipment and low technological adoption.  

• Inability to mobilize financial resources or attract external funding.  

• Lack of standardized procedures and compliance mechanisms.  

 The MĂ IMPLIC project aims to improve local governance and enhance the quality and accessibility of public services in rural Moldova. In the current 2nd project phase (2023–2027), the project supports Local Public Authorities (LPAs) and Service Providers (SPs) to improve the management, efficiency, and sustainability of communal services such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, and street lighting in currently 12 LPA groups. Similar support is being rendered also to some of the partner LPAs of the first project phase. The Ma Implic project is implemented by Skat Consulting Ltd., a Swiss consulting firm, and is financially supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.   

The Capacity Development Plan for Communal Service Providers outlines a structured approach to strengthen these Service Providers by improving their technical, managerial, and financial capacities, promoting intermunicipal cooperation, and ensuring citizen-oriented, sustainable service provision. The development and implementation of the Capacity Development Plan will follow the Guide on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) for activity of services providers that was developed in the first phase by the project team.  

For the effective operationalization of this framework in Phase II, two consultants will be engaged, working in close coordination with the Local Public Authorities (LPAs), the communal service providers, and the project team. 

Additionally, one (1) short-term Legal Expert will be engaged to ensure that all Capacity Development Plan activities are aligned with the current and upcoming legal framework governing communal service provision. 

2. Objective of the Assignment 

The overall objective is to develop and support the implementation of the Capacity Building Plan on O&M for communal service providers in selected partner LPA groups, contributing to improving efficiency, governance, and sustainability of communal services.  

Whilst the overall responsibility for the implementation of the Capacity Building Plan is with the Ma Implic Component Manager, the objective of this assignment is to plan, oversee, and deliver the implementation of the plan on a day-to-day basis. For the implementation of the individual activities some other short-term consultants / practitioners will be involved. 

Specific objectives: 

• Strengthening the technical and operational capacity of service providers in O&M; 

• Improve institutional, managerial, and financial practices. 

• Promote intermunicipal cooperation and shared service delivery models. 

• Support digitalization and innovation in O&M management. 

• Facilitate the application of standard procedures, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms. 

3. Scope of Work and Key Tasks

Three consultants will work as a team, complementing each other’s expertise: 

Consultant 1: Technical Operation &Maintenance Expert 

Focus: Infrastructure, maintenance, asset management, technical efficiency. 

Key Tasks: 

• Assess the existing technical condition and maintenance practices of selected providers. 

• Develop and introduce standard O&M procedures tailored to service types (water, sanitation, waste). 

• Provide mentoring and hands-on technical support for preventive maintenance, equipment care, and safety compliance. 

• Support providers in developing O&M plans, maintenance logs, and asset registers. 

• Identify technical gaps and recommend low-cost, practical improvements. 

• Contribute to training modules on technical and environmental aspects of O&M. 

• Support introduction of digital tools (GIS mapping, billing, data collection). 

Consultant 2: Institutional & Managerial Expert 

Focus: Governance, management, financial sustainability, cooperation. 

Key Tasks: 

• Support providers and LPAs in improving institutional structures, job roles, and governance frameworks. 

• Deliver capacity building sessions on planning, cost recovery, tariff setting, budgeting, and reporting. 

• Facilitate development of internal management procedures (planning, procurement, documentation). 

• Guide LPAs and providers in preparing intermunicipal cooperation frameworks and agreements. 

• Provide training and mentoring on customer relations, transparency, and citizen engagement. 

• Support design of monitoring and performance tracking systems. 

• Draft sustainability recommendations and policy feedback for scaling up the model. 

Consultant 3: Legal Expert  

Focus: Align the Capacity Development Plan with current Moldovan legal framework; Anticipate upcoming legal and regulatory changes in communal services. 

Key Tasks: 

• Review the existing legal and regulatory framework relevant to communal service provision, intermunicipal cooperation, and operation of public utilities.  
• Identify upcoming legislative amendments or policy changes affecting governance, service delivery standards, or operator responsibilities.  
• Ensure that all Capacity Development tools, procedures, Standard Operational Procedures, and institutional recommendations comply with Moldovan legislation.  
• Provide legal guidance for improving governance structures, internal rules, and operational procedures of LPAs and service providers.  
• Support drafting or reviewing legal templates (Memorandum of Understandings, service agreements, cooperation agreements, internal regulations).  
• Provide recommendations for legal compliance and risk mitigation. 
• Contribute to national-level policy feedback based on field findings.

4. Expected Deliverables

The three consultants will jointly produce the following deliverables, ensuring clear attribution of technical vs. institutional contributions: 

5. COORDINATION AND REPORTING

The consultants will report to the MA IMPLIC Component Manager – Public Services and in close collaboration with the partner LPAs and service providers. Joint field missions will be organized when necessary. 

6. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum requirements (for all consultants): 
• University degree in engineering, public utilities management, or related field (Consultant 1); or in management, public administration, or economics (Consultant 2), or in public services law, utilities regulation, or local governance (consultant 3). 
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in operation, maintenance, or management of communal/public services, working with LPAs or service providers on legal compliance, institutional development, or delegation/organization of communal services. 

• Knowledge of Moldovan legislation on public utilities, public property, intermunicipal cooperation, and administrative procedures.
• Ability to translate legal requirements into practical institutional or operational tools.
  • Proven experience in training and capacity development at the local level. 
  • Familiarity with Moldovan local governance and public service frameworks. 
  • Good analytical and report-writing skills in Romanian. 

       7. DURATION AND LEVEL OF EFFORT 

Consultant 1: Technical Operation & Maintenance Expert: up to 46 working days 
Consultant 2: Institutional & Managerial Expert: up to 46 working days 

Consultant 3: Legal Expert: up to 15 days 

        8. LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT  

The consultants will use their own equipment. The MA IMPLIC project will cover costs related to partner LPAs, accommodation, and materials used during training and mentoring sessions. For the travel the Consultants will use the project cars. 

        9. APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

Interested candidates or companies may apply in one of the following ways: 

• Option 1: Submit a joint application as a team of three experts covering all required roles. 

• Option 2: Companies may propose a team of three experts with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. 

Each application (individual or team) must include: 

• A technical proposal (max. 2 pages) outlining understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology. 

• CV(s) of the proposed expert(s) highlighting relevant experience. 

• A financial offer specifying the daily fee (gross amount) for each expert. 

Candidates are encouraged to apply with the required documents to the email address: tender@int.skat.ch and the deadline for application is December 23, 2025.