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Community Development Consultant
22.07.2021

Chemonics International Inc. is looking for a qualified professional to fill the position Community Development Consultant.

The United States Agency for International Development in Ukraine (USAID/Ukraine) has awarded Chemonics International a contract (USAID Democratic Governance East Activity) to support USAID/Ukraine’s objectives of promoting inclusive civic identity, common civic values, and a unified Ukraine by addressing the divisive impacts of Russia’s aggression, cases of far-right Ukrainian nationalism, and the consequences of ongoing armed conflict through increased citizen participation, improved service delivery and more responsive governance. The Ukraine Democratic Governance East Activity’s (DG East) purpose is to “to strengthen the connection and trust between citizens and their government in Eastern Ukraine” and methodology is to (1) [develop] greater acceptance of a shared civic culture based on common values and understandings, and (2) increase participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform processes and help to resolve community problems. Activities across the two objectives will be implemented across five project offices: Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Severodonetsk, Mariupol and Kherson.

The overall goal of this assignment is to train members of communities, officials of amalgamated territorial communities and DG East partner cities to gain practical skills to effectively perform their duties while implementing fiscal decentralization reform. A team of three consultants (Lead Fiscal Consultant, Community Development Consultant and Consultant on Exchanges Program) will teach communities to find ways to increase their own incomes.

Title: Community Development Consultant

Length of Assignment: Short-term

Estimated LOE: 80 LOE

Assignment Location: Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Starobilsk, Stanitsa Luhanska, Sloviansk, Rubizhne and Toretsk.

Dates: o/a August 16, 2021 through February 24, 2022

Detailed responsibilities:

Phase 1:

• Consolidate the training program through working closely with officials of amalgamated territorial communities and in cooperation with the Lead Fiscal and Exchange Program Consultants;

• Manage the distribution of a questionnaire (Google form) in cooperation with the Lead Fiscal Consultant among city council officials/ civil-military officials and/or citizens (through community leaders) to clarify financial issues that need to be resolved in communities, namely:

o Setting the rates of local taxes and fees, real possibilities of expanding the revenue of local budgets;

o Property tax;

o Other local taxes and fees, non-tax receipts;

• Development of training course modules:

o Module 1: The main indicative forecast indicators of the local community budget. Program Budgeting;

o Module 2: The main priorities of budget policy in the local community, namely, as an example: promoting the development of small and medium-sized businesses, providing conditions for economic growth etc.;

o Module 3: Real estate tax. Payments for land and collection of other natural resources. Conducting annual inventory of the current real estate and analyzing receipts of payments for past periods and renegotiating lease agreements for property, including land etc.;

• In cooperation with the Lead Fiscal and Exchange Program Consultants deliver one (3-day) three-day training courses for 20 representatives of communities’ and municipal servants;

• Coordinate communication and conduct consultations with participants of target communities;

• Develop, in cooperation with Consultant on Exchange Program, the training Pre Test & Post Test form, a training Evaluation form, and analytical report;

• In preparation of the plenary sessions and panel discussions coordinate the discussion regarding the different formats of Territorial communities’ cooperation.

Phase IІ:

• Organize one (1) in-country study tour (3 days, incl. traveling) for up to 15 representatives.

• Organize the content of the program of Study tour;

• Coordinate the study tour, ensuring smooth course of all parts of the program;

• In cooperation with Lead Fiscal Consultant support participants in developing the action plans during the study tour (the purpose of action plan is to outline independent sources of budgeting and increase financial resources per capita (example: to conduct its own registers of payers of personal income tax, etc., to create a commission been set up to legalize wages and employment);

• Support Lead Fiscal Consultant during the study tour, taking place on site agreed on phase I and according to the ST program also agreed on Phase I;

• Assist in carrying out of the study tour, including but not limited to the following: Provide necessary support to the participants and local STTA during the study tour, take notes during meetings, provide reflections on how the new information relates to material and financial independence of local self-government and can be used in Ukrainian context;

• Draft and write the study tour report;

• Lead the organizing plenary sessions and panel discussions with the officials of amalgamated territorial communities and partner cities of the DG East Project to discuss different formats of cooperation among Territorial communities’ and a set-up the partnership market in close cooperation with other local STTA consultant’s. Exact division of tasks between experts will be determined in the process of organization the Round Table discussion. The document ”Local Budget Forecast” will include the main indicative forecast indicators of the local community budget, budget revenue capacity, financial support of priority areas, inter-budgetary relations;

• Draft the Round Table Discussion report and recommendations, with input of other local STTA consultants;

Phase IІІ:

• In close coordination with the Exchange Program Consultant, draft at least one city budget program developed by local fiscal specialists;

• In close coordination with the Lead Fiscal Consultant develop the” Potential for Revenue Growth” guide;

• Review the action plans developed by the study tour participants;

• Provide necessary support in implementation of the action plans. This includes regular meetings (up to 3 if necessary, per community) with the Local Government Entity representatives and online support;

• Co-organize with the Lead Fiscal and Exchange Program Consultants a round table evaluation of the results achieved in the study tour;

• Develop at least one action plan, for each community per target areas, to influence citizens solution to local problems. This action plan shall include the key indicative anticipated indicators of the territorial community's budget, capacity to accumulate the required revenue, funds for support of the priority activities, and aspects of inter-budgetary relations.

Requirements:

The Required experiences and qualifications under this assignment are:

• BA Degree in Public Business Administration, Economics, Financial, International Relations of other relevant field;

• At least 3 years of experience:

o Financial and/or program support service or other related field;

o Working with representatives of city councils developing strategies for addressing issues through city councils in Ukraine, citizen participation local government and governance focused projects in Ukraine;

o Working with municipal/local budget systems, action plans per target areas to address problems of citizens in the partner cities;

o Drafting manuals, guidelines and toolkits to support city councils at the municipal level in Ukraine;

o Demonstrated professional experience as a trainer;

• Good understanding of the regional context preferably earlier experience working in Ukraine or in Donbas region; and of the political context in eastern Ukraine;

• Experience working in large programs funded by international donors will be an advantage;

• Fluency in Ukrainian, and Russian, preferably proficiency of English.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to [email protected] with the subject line: “CDC” by August 05, 2021. No telephone inquiries, please. Only selected candidates will be contacted and shortlisted for an interview.

“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.”