The EBRD Office in Ukraine is looking for a Senior Project Management Consultant in support of the Ukraine Reforms Architecture (URA) project.
1. Background
In late 2014, the Ukrainian authorities asked the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD” or the “Bank”), as an institution with a mandate to support broad policy and institutional reforms in the transition region, to help with the conceptualization and implementation of the reforms process in Ukraine, in the context of implementation of the “Strategy 2020”.
As a result, in early 2015, the EBRD provided technical cooperation support to the National Reforms Council (NRC) in the form of funding for the establishment and running costs of the Project Management Office (PMO), the technical implementation body of the NRC in charge of coordination of reforms across the various stakeholders.
On the back of the renewed reform efforts in early 2016, resulting in a new reforms architecture articulated by the Ukrainian authorities, since mid-2016 the EBRD has also been providing technical cooperation funds for reforms implementation.
This includes, inter alia, grant support to institutional capacity building within the Ukrainian public administration, with a view to carrying out reforms more efficiently.
The grant funding is provided by the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA), managed by the EBRD.
2. The Project – Support for institutions under the Reform Support Architecture for Ukraine
The Ukraine Reforms Architecture (URA) is a holistic instrument designed to stimulate implementation and delivery of critical reforms in Ukraine. It is composed of three mutually-reinforcing components:
- A Strategic Advisory Group for Support of Ukrainian Reforms (SAGSUR), providing high-level advice to the President, Prime Minister, line Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament of Ukraine). The group advises on the effective implementation of reforms, based on first-hand successful experience in other countries, offering best practice and linkage to international resources. SAGSUR is headed by Ivan Mikloš, former Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic.
- The Reforms Delivery Office (RDO) placed in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, coordinating and overseeing the reform processes across the Ukrainian administration; and
- Reform Support Teams (RSTs) currently embedded in seven Ministries and agencies to manage the implementation of sectoral reforms and Public Administration Reform (PAR).
The Reform Support Teams (RSTs) consist of Ukrainian sector experts, contracted in an open, transparent process on a temporary basis with the overall objective of facilitating implementation of key reforms and establishing a new generation of reform-oriented Ukrainian citizens motivated to enter public service in support of processes of change and modernisation of Ukraine’s Government at all levels. The specific objective is to provide targeted, temporary expert support to assist ministries and agencies in the design and implementation of priority sectoral reforms and restructuring of the ministries themselves. Support for the establishment of RSTs is provided only to ministries and public bodies that already implement or are committed to implementing priority reforms. With the PAR efforts happening in parallel across the administration, it is intended that over time the RSTs will be integrated under the relevant ministry or agency.
A pilot phase of the restructuring of the public administration, running in parallel with the work of RSTs, has started in 10 ministries. Among them are four ministries which are benefitting from RSTs, namely: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Regional Development and Ministry of Infrastructure (all financed through the MDA) and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, funded directly by the EU. Following this pilot phase, other ministries and state agencies are expected to join in the rollout phase of the restructuring.
The EBRD, via the MDA, also supports the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine Bank (FfR) - a legal non-governmental entity, set up in March 2015 by the Ukrainian authorities and the EBRD, with the objective to manage EBRD and other donor grants for reforms in Ukraine. The FfR currently manages two donor-funded grants on behalf of the EBRD in relation to this Project.
3. Objectives of the Consultancy assignment
In light of the growing project scope and increasing demand from various ministries and institutions to receive support under the Ukraine Reforms Architecture project, the EBRD is seeking a Kyiv-based Senior Project Management Consultant (the ‘Consultant’) . By being based on the ground, the Consultant will provide senior support to the project implementation, local insights, contribute to the establishment of new assignments under the project, engage in effective coordination with senior government counterparts and other donors, and ensure coordination within EBRD related to the project scope.
The Consultant will be based in the EBRD Kyiv Regional Office.
4. Scope of Services and Tasks
The Consultant will carry out the following:
- Provide senior support to the project team (Operation Leader and Project Management Consultants based in EBRD Headquarters and Kyiv Regional Office) in the smooth running and implementation of the Project;
- Contribute with intellectual leadership to the project design, identifying areas for further strategic growth by bringing best international practices;
- Proactively monitor reforms progress in Ukraine and suggest changes to project’s design as necessary to reflect changing circumstances;
- Skilfully deploy local political insights in order to effectively engage different stakeholders in achieving the project’s current and future goals;
- Establish and maintain close cooperation with other IFIs, international organisations, civil society and donors working on reforms implementation in Ukraine in order to identify possible areas of project intervention, avoid duplication of the reform efforts, and ensure effective donor coordination;
- Closely engage with all strands of the Reforms Architecture with the aim of ensuring consistency and complementarity across the Reforms Architecture project;
- Represent the EBRD as a delegated member of the Recruitment Committee during the recruitment and selection of experts for Reform Support Teams and Reforms Delivery Office, in close liaison with the relevant ministry or agency, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Foundation for Reforms;
- Ensure collaboration with the respective units / officers from the EU Delegation to Ukraine for effective joint delivery of the project;
- Ensure close oversight and maintain regular communication (including progress meetings) with project counterparts, such as various ministries, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Foundation for Reforms;
- As required, represent the Bank in conferences and other events in Ukraine, speaking competently on relevant reform-related issues;
- Contribute to internal reforms-related meetings and discussions held by the Senior Management of Kyiv RO and London HQ, debrief colleagues on progress of the Ukraine Reforms Architecture project;
- Any other relevant tasks as requested by the Operation Leader.
5. Profile
- Advanced degree in a relevant field, such as economics, politics, law, public policy or political economy.
- Extensive relevant experience in policy or public administration, international financial institutions, donor organizations or business environment, including strong understanding of the ongoing reforms processes in Ukraine.
- Extensive hands-on experience in Ukraine or other EBRD recipient countries; private sector experience a plus.
- Strong experience managing projects in a multi-cultural environment and delivering results.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of international best practice in the field of Public Administration Reform will be considered an advantage.
- A strong understanding of the reforms processes complemented with basic knowledge of its input into the economics/finance situation in Ukraine.
- Strong understanding of economic reforms, economic regulation, governance, public administration and political economy issues in the transition region and knowledge of economics/finance.
- Ability to operate independently in political, diplomatic and business environments; diplomatic skills required for regular contact with senior national and international officials.
- Excellent communication and report writing skills in English at the standard required for official documents.
- Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian is a must.
6. Reporting and Deliverables
The Senior Project Management Consultant will report to Bojana Reiner (Operation Leader, Associate Director for Policy Engagements and Grants, EBRD London).
The Consultant will liaise with key counterparts internally and externally including: London and Kiev-based consultants, the EBRD’s Technical Cooperation Department and Donor Co-Financing Team, the EU teams in Brussels and Kyiv, the EBRD Kyiv Resident Office, members of all strands of the Reforms Architecture, representatives of donors, international organisations, civil society and business, external consultants and experts.
The Consultant shall carry out all the scope of services as set out above under Section 4 in a timely and efficient manner.
7. Contact and further information
To apply for this position or seek further information, please contact Bojana Reiner, EBRD Associate Director for Policy Engagements and Grants: reinerb@ebrd.com or +44 207 338 6940.