USAID MISRA is looking for a Business analyst to conduct a needs assessment study for a case management system for the Competition Council in Moldova

Organizații vizate:

o    Agenția SUA pentru Dezvoltare Internațională (USAID)

o    Nathan Associates INC

SCOPE OF WORK

Position:                                 Business Analyst (Consultant)

Project:                                  USAID Moldova Institutional and Structural Reforms Activity (MISRA)

Location:                                Chisinau, Moldova

Period of Performance:        January – June 2024

Total Level of Effort:             up to 45 days

Project Background

The USAID Moldova Institutional and Structural Reform Activity (MISRA) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Nathan Associates Inc. MISRA’s objective is to stimulate a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the regional crisis, improve the institutional, business, and trade enabling environment in Moldova by supporting Moldova’s public institutions and the private sector to accelerate the implementation of trade liberalization mechanisms, adopt structural and investment climate reforms, accelerate financial sector reforms, improve economic governance in the public sector, and enhance strategic communications between the private and public actors. MISRA builds on prior and ongoing USAID and US Government activities in the business enabling environment and trade facilitation space to strengthen Moldova’s economic growth and resilience, and by doing so, increase transparency and accountability.

MISRA is supporting structural reforms of the Government of Moldova’s regulatory and operational practices to improve trade and the business environment in support of job creation, investments, sustainable growth, and a quick economic recovery.

Overview

The Competition Council (CC) is the successor of the National Agency for Competition Protection (2007-2012) and is responsible for enforcing and ensuring compliance with legislation related to competition, state aid, and advertising. As an autonomous body, it holds a crucial role in regulating and monitoring economic activities to ensure a competitive environment in Moldova. The CC holds the central position among public authorities overseeing competition, as it supervises markets in all areas of the national economy.

The CC ensures compliance with competition legislation through actions to prevent anti-competitive practices, eliminate competition infringements, and promote and enhance a culture of competition. However, only through cooperation with the business community, government authorities, media, civil society, can the CC maintain a fair competitive environment.

Throughout 2022, the CC reported 77 ongoing investigations, including: 72 investigations relating to violations of the Competition Law; 3 investigations relating to violations of the State Aid Law; and two investigations relating to economic concentration. During 2022, the CC also held 40 meetings and 13 hearings, resulting in adoption of 15 orders to initiate investigations, 76 decisions, and the conclusion of 19 investigations relating to the Competition Law.

Despite its central role in supervising and promoting economic activities in Moldova, the CC’s capacities are limited in performing its functions effectively. For example, because the CC lacks a comprehensive information, document, and case management system, all its above-mentioned activities are performed on paper, thus draining its efficiency, transparency, and performance. Therefore, an automated solution is an urgent need for the CC, beginning with a preliminary mapping and needs assessment.

By implementing an integrated[1] document and case management system, the CC will be able to track and manage electronically all internal processes and case files, thus ensuring their accessibility and security. The system will also standardize organization, search, and retrieval of documents to facilitate access to case files by relevant staff and to information by parties involved in investigations.

The system ultimately, should also facilitate monitoring of specific assignments, tracking progress of ongoing investigations, and provide additional tools for market analysis. Furthermore, the system should have the capacity to generate reports and statistical data to inform decision-making.

Tasks

The Consultant will be responsible for carrying-out the following tasks:

Task 1. Internal processes mapping: The first step is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the CC’s internal processes. This crucial step is aimed at gaining a thorough understanding of how documents and information flow within the organization.

Task 2. Visual mapping: The gathered data will be used to create visual process maps that illustrate the current state of internal processes. This includes tracking the flow of case-related documents from initiation to resolution. The mapping of the current process will offer a visual representation of the CC’s existing case management procedures, including each step of case handling, access permissions, archiving procedures, etc.

Task 3. Identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies: Throughout the mapping process, any bottlenecks, redundancies, inefficiencies, and/or delays in the current case flows will be identified. This will help pinpoint areas where improvements and optimization are needed.

Task 4. Recommendations for streamlining processes: Propose recommendations for streamlining the internal processes within CC, for the purpose of digitalization.

Task 5Needs and requirements for a case management system: Identify the specific needs and requirements relating to the development of a case management system, including to engage with the CC’s stakeholders, staff, and management to understand their pain points and expectations. These requirements encompass functionality, accessibility, interpretability, user-friendliness, and scalability to ensure that the system aligns with the CC’s unique needs.

Task 6. Data security assessment: The assessment will evaluate the data security requirements to safeguard sensitive information. This will include assessing potential vulnerabilities, data encryption, access controls, and compliance with relevant regulations and standards.

Task 7System Description: Building on the analysis, a brief description of the proposed system will be developed, including specifications, functionalities, user interfaces, integration capabilities, and data handling protocols. The description will serve as the foundation for the system’s further design and development.

To ensure the accuracy and completeness, the Consultant will engage with the CC staff and management team during all stages of tasks described, as their insights and feedback will be invaluable in capturing the nuances of case management operations.  

Deliverables

The following deliverables will be developed in coordination with MISRA and the CC:

  1. Assessment of internal processes report: The report will be based on the findings from the process mapping and analysis (Tasks 1-4). The report will outline the current state of internal processes within the CC, offer a visual representation of the CC’s existing case management procedures, and highlight areas for streamlining and improvement.
  2. Needs and requirements for a case management system report: The report will present the needs, requirements, data security assessment, and brief description of the system (Tasks 5-7). The report will encompass aspects of functionality, accessibility, user-friendliness, interoperability with other national management information systems and platform, and alignment with CC’s unique needs.
  3. Final report summarizing the work completed, findings, and recommendations, using the MISRA template.

Supervisory Responsibilities and Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Deputy Chief of Party/ Lead of Component 2 and the Institutional and Structural Reforms Coordinator.

Skills and Qualifications

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in law, information technology or related field
At least 7 years of experience in providing legal advice to governmental institutions and preparing legal/normative documents, including supporting documentation such as informative notes, RIA, etc.
Knowledge of operations and functions of the Competition Council or similar regulatory bodies would be an asset.
Proficiency in process mapping and workflow analysis.
Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
Solid verbal, written and presentation skills, coupled with a strong technical mindset.
Fluency in both written and spoken Romanian language.

How to Apply

We welcome your CV and preferably cover letter at Moldovajobs@nathaninc.com. Please apply by October 30, 2023, with „Business analyst – Competition Council” in the subject line. This short-term position will remain open until filled.

[1] The term integrated references the intent to integrate data with the information system on state aid.