Chemonics International Inc. is looking for a qualified professional to fill the position Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Employment Strategy Development Consultant (Education Consultant)

Project background:

The eight-year USAID Democratic Governance East (DG East) Activity aims to strengthen the connection and trust between citizens and their government in eastern and southern Ukraine by promoting an inclusive civic identity and common civic values and addressing the divisive impacts and the consequences of the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. DG East works to (1) develop greater acceptance of a shared civic culture based on common values and understandings, and to (2) increase participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform processes and help to resolve community problems. DG East activities are implemented across four regional portfolios and an office in Kyiv.

DG East will support the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporary Occupied Territories of Ukraine (MRTOT) by providing short-term technical assistance (STTA) and expertise, The Education Consultant will : 

1. Develop the National IDP Employment Strategy 2025-2030 (Strategy)

2. Create local and national target programs to improve employment based on the draft Strategy

3. Develop IDP educational and re-training programs to include them in local education systems

4. Establish IDP self-employment assistance programs

Objective:

This activity will address DG East Objective 2. Increase participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform processes and help resolve community problems, 

• Sub-Objective 2.3. Improved local governance processes and capacities.

The objectives of the activity are as follows:

• Increase the number of opportunities and approaches for IDP employment.

• Find new opportunities for local and national authorities to increase IDP employment support.

• Improve local governance processes and capacities.

Purpose of Assignment: 

While MRTOT will take time and effort to design the overall aspects of IDP Employment Strategy Development in Ukraine, DG East will complement MRTOT’s efforts and take responsibility for certain key sectors and activities. In particular, DG East will take the lead in: 

• Designing and facilitating efforts to engage maximum partners related to IDP support in the strategy development process to ensure that the final Strategy reflects the priority needs and desires of the IDPs and MRTOT vision.

• Engaging two consultants (Lead and Education) to help design the Strategy and conduct a range of data collection exercises to collect and analyze IDPs’ needs and opinions for creating the Strategy with engagement from national and local organizations and institutions to increase the IDP employment.

Detailed Tasks:

Under this activity, the Education Consultant will review available national and local IDP education and re-training programs (universities, private, and local professional development centers) related to IDP employment issues. They will support close coordination with MRTOT, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, regional military administrations, territorial hromadas, IDP associations (and NGOs), national and local universities, centers of professional development, trade unions etc., that can be involved in the development of the strategy. The Education Consultant will also be responsible for creating  the duties for specific documents (programs, research, methodological, reports etc.) related to the development of IDP education and re-training programs and courses. These program and courses will be included in the national/local strategy planning process of increasing IDP employment increasing after approval from MRTOT and DG East.

The Education Consultant, in close cooperation with MRTOT, will take the lead in reviewing and analyzing the current IDP education and re-training program and courses as well as  issues related to this in order to create new specific IDP education and re-training programs, These programs will be mandatory and will include education programs for people with disabilities, veterans and women. They will be integrated into national and local education processes including universities, centers of professional development and trade union to increase IDP employment. The Education-Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Working daily with MRTOT and its various structures, including MRTOT, MRTOT State Secretary organogram to actively participate in all target events and activities related to IDP rights protection, IDP employment issues and IDP support.

• Analyzing current education programs and courses that are currently being used or could be used to increase IDP employment capacity, drawing on national, local, private, and potentially international experiences.

• Coordinating closely with the largest recruiting agencies in Ukraine (at least 3), trade unions, the Chamber of Commerce, and other related organizations to gather current statistics, needs, and issues related to IDP employment and business establishment.

• Developing drafts of education and re-training programs and courses, with support from MRTOT, to be practically piloted in 20 pilot territorial hromadas (through centers of professional development, universities, chambers of commerce, etc.) to increase IDP employment capacity. These programs and courses will include suggestions, recommendations, and key performance indicators (KPIs) from all stakeholders involved in the development process (recruiting agencies, trade unions, the Chamber of Commerce, and other related organizations).

• Developing comprehensive recommendations and suggestions for national and local legislation to improve IDP employment capacity. These suggestions and recommendations will include an implementation plan and KPIs for engaging IDPs in national and local education and re-training programs, with clear understanding of the results for IDPs in terms of work opportunities, partners, and outcomes after re-training.

Deliverables:

The Education Consultant will deliver the following deliverables, in accordance with the schedule set forth below. 

Deliverable No. 1: Report on periodical coordination with MRTOT/DG East and other related partners. The report will provide details regarding daily/weekly/monthly coordination with MRTOT, MRTOT State Secretary organogram, for ongoing participation in all target events/activities related to IDP right protection, IDP employment issues, IDP support etc. (in-person or online). The monthly report should be no longer than 10 pages (Word/PDF/PPP) and include:

• Description of supported/ conducted events (main results and outcomes).

• Suggestions for partner work improvement

• At least 10 pictures/screen shots from each event.

• Lesson learned/ Recommendation to partners after the conducted events.

• Participants’ feedback from the event. 

Timeline: Every month after the contract is signed and up to November 2024.

Deliverable No. 2: Analysis of IDP recruitment issues – In close coordination with the recruitment agencies in Ukraine (at least 3), trade-unions, Chamber of Commers and other related organizations the Education Consultant will collect the current statistics, needs and issues of IDP employment, IDP business establishment and prepare a market-research analysis of IDP recruitment issues and needs. The report should consist of propositions, solutions, and recommendations from contacted actors. The written report will be presented to MRTOT, DG East and other actors involved in the Strategy development process. The format of presentation is hybrid (In person and online).

Timeline: August 2024.

Deliverable No. 3:  Analytical report of the current education programs – This report will a detailed summary of the current education programs and courses that used or can be used for IDP employment capacity increase at a national, local, private, and potentially available international experience. The report should include reasons why current proposed programs work do not work and solutions to improve these courses. The expert will present the report to MRTOT, DG East and other actors involved in the Strategy development process. The format of presentation is hybrid (In person and online).

Timeline: August 2024.

Deliverable No. 4: Drafts of education / re-training programs and courses. After MRTOT approval of these education, re-training programs, courses etc. they must be implemented with 20 pilot territorial hromadas (through centers of professional development, universities and chambers of commerce) to increase IDP employment capacity. The education, re-training programs and courses shall include suggestions, recommendations and KPIs recommended by all actors involved in the programs/courses development process (recruiting agencies, trade unions, chambers of commerce and other related organizations). The Education programs/courses will consist of interactive tools, theoretical, deep-dive practices, PPP-slides, dashboards, etc.

Timeline: November 2024.

Deliverable No. 5: Final report. The report must include comprehensive recommendations and suggestions to national and local legislation for improving IDP employment capacity. The suggestions and recommendations shall include an implementation plan and KPIs for engaging IDPs in national, local education and re-training programs with a clear understanding for IDPs and other actors of the after IDPs are retrained (what work, whose work, with whose work in case IDP was re-trained etc.)

Required Experience: 

• University degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or any other related field. A Master’s degree is preferable.   

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in strategic planning 

• Strong experience in working with local government to ensure Education Policy is integrated into  the strategic planning process.

• Strong experience in developing education methodologies, training, and re-training courses. Possession of copyright for registered courses is preferable. 

• Specific expertise in sector-specific, priority in one of the following areas: 

     * IDP rights advocacy; 

     * Analysis of IDP issues and dynamic needs from 2014-2022; 

     * Knowledge of local, national regulations and policy context is required. 

     * Ability to write (in English and Ukrainian) documentation appropriate for the specified  deliverables in a concise and clear manner. 

The selected Education Consultant be able to draft all technical documents and reports; coordinate with the Lead Consultant, DG East and MRTOT and ensure compliance with DG East requirements. 

Supervision:

The Education Consultant will work under the supervision of the Lead-Consultant and under the guidance of the DG East South East Portfolio Director.  Final deliverables will be reviewed and approved by the Lead-Consultant, MRTOT and DG East.

DG East will cover accommodation and train tickets to required destinations (government-controlled area). Due to the security situation, the Education-Consultant must obtain DG East’s approval for the trip. 

Level of Effort: 

90 days of level of effort (LOE). 

Timeframe:

The timeframe for this assignment will be on or about July to November 2024.

Place of Performance:

The assignment will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV 

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

• Deadline for the IDP Employment Strategy Development Consultant (Education Consultant) is July 22, 2024.

• Candidates must ensure that 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.