Expert: Decentralisation до Команди підтримки відновлення та реформ при Міністерстві розвитку громад, територій та інфраструктури України

Expert: Decentralisation

1. Objective(s) and Linkages to Reforms

The Recovery and Reform Support Team (RST) at the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (MCTID or Ministry) is a group of Ukrainian professionals (non-civil servants) funded on a temporary basis through the Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA)[1] programme that provides targeted technical support and assists the Ministry in the design and implementation of priority reforms. The RST will assist in filling capacity gaps in the design and implementation of priority reform strategies and programmes, while strengthening links and partnerships between the Ministry`s priorities and relevant donor support.

Priority areas for the RST at the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine will be:

• Transport Infrastructure;
• Municipal Infrastructure;
• Regional Development and Decentralisation;
• Digitalisation;
• Public Administration Reform and Capacity Building.

In terms of Regional Development and Decentralisation, the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine has achieved significant progress since 2015, when a process of amalgamation of territorial communities on a voluntary basis started, and a new framework for regional policy launched in 2019. Further developments in the mentioned fields are needed, considering the challenges that territorial communities and subnational governments are facing during the full-scale Russian aggression. Issues such as administrative capacity and the ability capacity to plan, implement, and oversee recovery and modernisation projects as well as provide high-quality public services, need to be strengthened.

2. Position and Reporting Line

The Expert on Decentralisation will support the implementation of Regional Development and Decentralisation reform in close cooperation with subnational governments, assist in building the administrative capacity of the Ministry and subnational governments (oblast state administrations and local self-governments) and their ability to perform effectively.

The Expert will be engaged in coordinating activities, developing projects and working plans, maintaining stakeholder relationships, and providing other expertise and organisational support in the area of decentralisation.

The Expert will primarily cooperate with the Deputy Minister in charge of Regional Development and Decentralisation reform issues and relevant subordinated structural departments of the Ministry.

The Expert on Decentralisation will be subordinated to the RST MCTID Senior Project Manager (Senior PM) on Regional Development and Decentralisation and, along with him/her, will support the implementation of related initiatives and capacity development at the Ministry and subordinated governments.

3. Duration of the Assignment

This consultancy appointment is expected to start in October 2024 and has an estimated duration till August 2025. Subject to the availability of funding, performance of the selected consultant and the specific needs of the RST, this appointment may be extended.

4. Main Duties and Responsibilities

The expert is expected to:

• assist Senior PM in coordination of Decentralisation reform implementation and capacity building activities in the Ministry (in close cooperation with the Deputy Minister responsible for regional policy and decentralisation) with donors and other stakeholders;
• assist Senior PM in supporting the expert groups under the Sectoral Working Group on Decentralisation and Regional Policy issues, and provide expert and legal assistance to their deliverables;
• support implementation of structural and functional changes in the Ministry in line with European Commission recommendations on Ukraine accession (chapter 22) and governmental plans;
• assist Senior PM in supporting the update of legislation related to Decentralisation reform in line with EU requirements;
• provide legal assistance to the development of legal regulations needed for implementation of subsidiary principles and multi-level governance approach;
• provide support in delivering presentations, conferences, and other related events to promote the Decentralisation reform;
• provide support in development of working plans, roadmaps, strategies, project plans, and policy papers on the Decentralisation reform;
• monitor and report to the donors/stakeholders on the status of implementation of initiatives related to the Decentralisation reform;
• perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior PM, and the RST Director.

The specified lists of the scope of work, services and expected deliverables can be modified and supplemented on request from the Ministry and in agreement with the EBRD and the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

5. Qualifications, Skills and Experience

5.1. Qualifications and Skills:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Public Affairs, Public Policy, Political Science, Law or other relevant field; Master’s degree is an advantage;
• good understanding of Decentralisation reform in Ukraine and relevant regulations/legislation;
• strong analytical, communication and presentation skills;
• impeccable ethical standards, and outstanding leadership skills;
• PC literacy in Microsoft software (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Project), Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs);
• fluent Ukrainian and English.

5.2. Professional Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of general professional experience;
• at least 3 years of experience in public sector, local self-governance consulting or related areas.

5.3. Other Competencies:

• Proven knowledge and professional experience in local self-governance and administrative division of powers;
• proven knowledge of Ukrainian legislation on public administration and local self-governance;
• familiarity with current Ukraine’s reform agenda, good understanding of policy formulation processes and policy dialogues;
• experience with government entities and their mandate and processes is an asset.

6. Funding Source

The funding source of this assignment is the EBRD Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA). Contributors to the MDA are Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union, the largest donor.

Please note that selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.

7. Submissions

Submissions must be prepared in English only and be delivered electronically by October 01, 2024, 23:59 (Kyiv time) to [email protected]

All submissions must include:

• a completed Application Form;
• the candidate’s Curriculum Vitae;
• NDA form;
• contact details of three referees who, if contacted, can attest to the professional and/or educational background of the candidate.

Important notice: only Ukrainian nationals are eligible to apply; civil servants are not eligible to apply unless 6 months have elapsed since they left such employment.

Only applications, which have been submitted using the correct template and are fully completed, will be considered.

8. Selection Procedure

Following the evaluation of all applications received, selected candidates may be invited to the written tests. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to the interview.

[1] Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA) is a comprehensive technical assistance programme deployed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union, to support critical recovery and reform processes in Ukraine. URA is financed from the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA) managed by the EBRD.