Call for Economics Expert: Contribute to the Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture Study in Moldova (Sep-Dec 2025)
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is currently seeking a highly qualified, dynamic professional to fulfil the role of a National Economics Expert in Moldova with experience in the economic assessment of infrastructure projects, strong understanding of CAPEX and OPEX estimation methods, and familiarity with EU or national frameworks for water management.This initiative is part of a broader study examining potential wastewater reuse in agriculture and effective water resource management practices, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2020/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum requirements for water reuse.
Job Duration: Immediate hire through December 2025.
Project Overview:
The Stockholm Environment Institute’s Green Agenda Moldova project works with governments of Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine along with experts to implement policy changes for greener economies, improved environmental governance, innovative technologies, and green job creation. To meet EU accession demands and international commitments, Moldova works to transition to a more sustainable economy, which includes applying EU regulations on minimum water reuse requirements. The EU regulation offers guidelines for safe water reuse, encourages a circular economy, supports climate change adaptation, and aims to manage water scarcity across the EU.
Wastewater Reuse Study
The research investigates the potential reuse of wastewater in agriculture in Moldova. It's part of the Green Agenda project, executed in cooperation with Moldova's Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture. The goal is to determine if and how to utilize reclaimed wastewater for irrigation, addressing water scarcity and improving resource management in light of climate change.
Stage 1, completed in March 2025, provided a foundation for this strategy by exploring the state of wastewater treatment and irrigation in Moldova.
Stage 2, from May to December 2025, will delve deeper, with an in-depth assessment of technical capacities, scenario calculations and socio-technical feasibility analysis at three pilot sites.
Consultancy Purpose: The chosen candidate will be responsible for contributing to Stage 2 of our project by covering costs and long-term economic benefits related to wastewater treatment upgrades and irrigation system adaptation in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2020/741. The main areas of study include Causeni, Cahul, and Cantemir.
Role and Responsibilities:
· Establish framework and system boundaries for cost-benefit analysis in collaboration with our wastewater and irrigation experts.
· Work closely with the project team to identify, quantify, and provide data and analysis on estimated cost ranges for investment, operation, and maintenance of the wastewater and irrigation infrastructures.
· Conduct scenario modelling to evaluate the economic feasibility of treated wastewater reuse, set user fees/tariffs, develop business models, and conduct sensitivity analysis.
· Maintain clear communication with project lead and SEI experts, join project meetings, and provide timely responses to inquiries, suggestions, and comments.
Qualifications:
· University degree in Economics, Finance, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Economics, Resource Management, or a related field.
· Minimum 5 years of experience in the economic assessment of infrastructure projects, preferably in water, wastewater, or agricultural sectors.
· Strong understanding of CAPEX and OPEX estimation methods for infrastructure projects.
· Familiarity with EU Regulation (EU) 2020/741 or EU/national frameworks for water management, wastewater reuse, or agricultural economics is a plus.
· Excellent command of Romanian is mandatory, working knowledge of English is a plus.
· Strong analytic, reporting, communication, and teamwork skills.
Consultancy Duration:
The National Economics Expert will be contracted immediately through to the end of 2025, with potential extension considerations. The anticipated effort for this assignment is 25 working days during Stage 2 of the project implementation. Compensation will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Application Guidelines: Candidates should submit an updated CV, a detailed cover letter describing relevant experiences and previous work related to the assessment, a financial offer indicating the proposed daily fee (in EUR, gross amount). Please email your application materials to Tatiana Echim, Senior Expert, Green Agenda Moldova, at [email protected].
The deadline for applications is 3 October 2025. All submissions will be assessed on a rolling basis, ensuring early applications are considered promptly. Only successful candidates meeting the required qualifications will be contacted for interviews.