Econоmic Growth Advisor

Background 

The USAID Democratic Governance East Activity (DG East) aims to strengthen the connection and trust between citizens and their government in eastern and southern Ukraine by promoting an inclusive civic identity, common civic values and a unified Ukraine by addressing the divisive impacts of the ongoing war, through increased citizen participation, improved service delivery and more responsive governance. DG East works to (1) develop greater acceptance of a shared civic culture based on common values and understandings, (2) increase participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform processes and help to resolve community problems. DG East provides opportunities for citizens to engage with their government, provide government with resources to support their citizens and create opportunities for citizens of Ukraine to create hope in their future and positive changes in their daily lives. and (3) strengthen local economic recovery of relocated, newly liberated, and frontline communities in the Government of Ukraine-controlled eastern and southern Ukraine. DG East activities are implemented across four regional portfolios and an office in Kyiv. DG East is expecting to expand its activities to support the economic recovery of the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, This includes creating and implementing economic activity and providing grant support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including private entrepreneurs. 

Position Description 

In cooperation with DG East project team, the Economic Growth Advisor (Advisor) is responsible for the implementation and oversight of project activities relating to Economic Growth including training and upskilling, professional training programs, and vocational training activities, In line with DG East draft annual work plan, the Advisor will work across DG East-portfolios to ensure Economic Growth activities are in line with program priorities, best practices, and align with the needs and expectations of government counterparts, private sector stakeholders, and USAID requirements. The Advisor will ensure and define how Economic Growth activities (including training and upskilling) result in job placements with a focus on IDP, veterans, and women. The Advisor will regularly confer with DG East management, technical specialists, and other technical team members to provide support that contributes to improving the business-enabling environment, access to finance and investments, support for businesses in a wide range of sectors, as well as with communications and operations staff to proactively coordinate the successful implementation of Economic Growth activities (including training and upskilling). The Advisor will ensure that Economic Growth activities are successfully implemented, responsive to national and local emerging opportunities and needs, and sustainable. The Advisor will also cooperate with the Grants Team to develop new grants activities, monitor their implementation, and report on progress achieved; and track performance indicators in cooperation with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Team.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities 

The Advisor’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Oversee and coordinate the implementation of Economic Growth activities (including training and upskilling) as defined in the draft annual work plan or its revisions, grant agreements, and subcontracts, or as otherwise required
• Prepare technical scopes of work, develop program descriptions for grants, and requests for proposals (RFP) to award subcontracts, coordinate grantees, and subcontractors relating to Economic Growth activities
• Maintain technical quality control for all assigned areas of training and upskilling-related work, including designing and implementing training curricula. Develop a cohesive, integrated, and sustainable training system at the local level with ongoing relevance for a national vocational policy.
• Ensure that the performance targets and deliverables relating to description (including the training and upskilling), as defined in annual work plans or otherwise agreed upon, are completed in a timely and cost-effective manner and that they meet high-quality standards
• Assess training methods and the results of training and upskilling programs, and lead in making improvements
• Assess business-plans and business models of DG East’s potential partners to ensure strong capacity and good performance of these potential activities
• Coordinate with various project and external teams, including logistical issues, to ensure smooth implementation of Economic Growth activities (including training and upskilling)
• Coordinate regularly with government counterpart representatives, including municipal representatives, and private sector stakeholders, National Chamber of Commerce, Business Associations. during oversight and implementation of Economic Growth activities.
• Coordinate with other USAID and donor-funded projects to support improved cooperation and knowledge sharing relating to Economic Growth activities.
• Provide input to DG East annual work plans; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans and activities; and daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting and planning
• Travel and provide regional monitoring visits to support and/or report on project activities if feasible and when determined to be safe
• Liaise with assigned grantees to ensure compliance with all terms of their respective grant agreements
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party

Supervision and Reporting:

The Advisor reports to and is supervised directly by the Chief of Party.

Location

This position will be based in Kyiv or another designated location within Ukraine.

Qualifications 

The ideal candidate will combine project management and technical skills. Required and/or preferred qualifications for the Advisor position include:

• Advanced degree in economics, business administration, development studies, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in economic development projects, preferably in post-conflict or transitioning economies.
• In-depth understanding of the socio-economic challenges faced by vulnerable communities such as IDPs, veterans, and women, with a focus on increasing their economic opportunities.
• Proven ability to design and implement vocational training programs that address critical labor market gaps, enhance professional opportunities, and contribute to workforce development.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting rural and agribusinesses, with a track record of increasing income generation for smallholder farmers through creating additional profit and improved market access, branding, and commercialization strategies.
• Expertise in fostering local economic development by collaborating with local businesses, associations, Chambers of Commerce, and other relevant stakeholders to drive growth and create sustainable economic opportunities.
• Proven experience in strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through market linkages, product development, and commercialization initiatives.
• Strong background in facilitating access to finance and promoting entrepreneurship among vulnerable groups, leading to increased economic participation.
• Extensive experience managing activities that include grant program components.
• Proven ability to work with both local and central government entities to support economic development and implement local economic strategies.
• Experience in building and maintaining private-sector partnerships to advance workforce development and economic growth.
• Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills, enabling successful execution of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Experience with USAID-funded projects preferred.
• Proficiency in English and Ukrainian required.

Requirements

To be eligible, applicants should be citizens of Ukraine residing in Ukraine

Application Instructions:  

Interested and qualified candidates should follow the LINK and fill out the attached form.

The deadline for the Economic Growth Advisor  is  December 5, 2024.

Candidates must ensure that their CV does *not* include a photograph, date of birth, and/or marital status information.   

No telephone inquiries, please. Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis, and only finalists will be contacted.   

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.   

Preference will be given to veterans or their families. 

Veterans and Their Families Encouraged to Apply: We value the unique skills and experiences that veterans bring to our team. We strongly encourage applications from veterans and their family members. Our organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors the contributions of military service.