Local Liaison 

USAID Support for Trade, Recovery Opportunities, and National Growth in Ukraine (STRONG-UA) 

Position : Local Liaison   

Reports to : Deputy Chief of Party 

Location : Kharkiv  

Status : Local National  

Period of Performance : 5 years 

Overview: 

International Development Group, LLC (IDG) is an international development consulting firm that assists donors, governments, and the private sector to create and take advantage of opportunities for sustainable, broad-based economic development and poverty reduction. IDG provides entrepreneurs and policymakers with the practical tools and evidence-based solutions needed to achieve real and measurable impact for their communities and countries. IDG assistance programs aim to build the capacity, skills, and knowledge of local individuals and institutions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, fostering synergies between local knowledge and international experience. 

Project Description: 

The purpose of the Support for Trade, Recovery Opportunities, and National Growth in Ukraine (STRONG UA) activity is to support Ukrainian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at scale to: i) invest in their recovery and growth; ii) to develop new market linkages; iii) enhance their innovation and competitiveness, and iv) support a more conducive enabling environment to accelerate private sector growth during and after the war. Please note that this position is contingent upon the award of the proposal/USAID approval. 

Position Description : 
The Local Liaison will be the primary link between the project and SMEs within their designated geographic areas. This role involves outreach and communication with networks of finance transaction advisors, other business development service (BDS) providers, associations and other support organizations, as well as SMEs, to strengthen SMEs’ competitiveness, access to finance, and access to new markets.   

Key Responsibilities : 

• Contribute to identification, coordination and monitoring of trainers for transaction advisors, market linkage advisors (who analyze and find new markets for SMEs), and BDS providers as well as local networks of these advisors and consultants.   

• Contribute to subject matter design of grants and subcontracts to local organizations (eg, associations, think tanks) for SME support. Similarly, provide quality assurance on SME co-investment grants.  

• Serve as a facilitator for information flow between SMEs and the project’s technical teams in Kyiv. 

• Coordinate and oversee local workshops, training sessions, and networking events aimed at SME capacity building. 

• Build and maintain relationships with local business associations, municipal officials, and other stakeholders to create synergies for SME support. 

Qualifications : 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or a related field. 

• Strong network of SMEs, financial institutions, and/or business support organizations in the designated geographic area.  

• At least 3 years of experience strengthening SMEs competitiveness, access to finance, and/or access to new markets. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to build trust with diverse stakeholders. 

• Familiarity with the local economic landscape and SME ecosystem in the designated geographic area. 

• Experience working on USAID projects is preferred.  

• Proficiency in Ukrainian and English (oral and written). 

• Willingness to travel frequently within the designated geographic area, and periodic travel to Kyiv.  

Submission Guidelines: 

Please email your CV to  [email protected]  by December 15, 2024 and use the position title as the subject of your email.