BACKGROUND

The National Democratic Institute (hereinafter referred to as NDI or the Institute) has actively supported Ukrainian efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and advance democratic reforms through supporting good governance and citizen engagement, political party strengthening and civil society development, election monitoring and strengthening the political participation of women and youth.

With the support of the USAID Ukraine - Responsive and Accountable Politics Program (U-RAP) NDI aims to support Ukrainian youth, including internally displaced and relocated abroad young men and women, persons with disabilities, veterans, LGBTIQ+ people and other vulnerable groups  civil society organizations and government officials in their efforts to preserve Ukraine’s democracy and rebuild Ukraine. As a part of the program, the Institute will partner with the Government of Ukraine and the Office of the President of Ukraine in order to increase youth engagement in national reforms, political processes, and recovery processes and will provide expertise, technical and organizational assistance to the Youth Affairs Council under the President of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as Youth Affairs Council).

SUMMARY

NDI seeks consultancy services from a qualified individual to provide organizational and technical assistance at the position of a coordinator  to the Youth Affairs Council. Under NDI’s direction and in close cooperation with the Youth Affairs Council, the coordinator will advise, develop and help implement strategic and operational plans of the Youth Affairs Council and advise on different aspects of Ukraine’s National Youth Strategy 2030 for a post-war  environment.

TIMELINE

Submissions are due by November 27, 2023 COB. Early submissions are encouraged. 

The consultancy contract is expected to start in November - December 2023. Please note that the vacancy is contingent upon donor approval. 

NDI reserves the right to contact the applicants to seek additional information and clarifications based on the submission of proposals following the submission deadline. 

GENERAL SCOPE OF WORK

The selected coordinator, in close collaboration with NDI and the Youth Affairs Council, and in communication with other relevant stakeholders would:

• • Develop, update and implement strategic and operational plans of the Youth Affairs Council;

• • Support the implementation of the Youth Affairs Council’s communication plans in close cooperation with the communication consultant and facilitate communication with main stakeholders;

• • Provide overall coordination and advise on organizational and capacity development of the Youth Affairs Council;

• • Develop and maintain the organizational structure of the Youth Affairs Council;

• • Enhance collaboration with youth, civil society representatives and other important stakeholders for the Youth Affairs Council, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, etc; 

• • Organize and facilitate regular meetings, presentations,  and the program-related events of the Youth Affairs Council; 

• • Coordinate the organization of the Annual Ukrainian Youth Forum and other events led by or relevant to the Youth Affairs Council and/or NDI;

• • Coordinate amendments to Ukraine’s National Youth Strategy 2030 and youth-related legislation at the request of the Youth Affairs Council; 

• • Provide weekly and quarterly reports to NDI, conduct monitoring and evaluation according to the program indicators; 

• • Perform other duties at the request of the Youth Affairs Council and NDI. 

The anticipated weekly workload will not exceed 20 hours. The position is Kyiv-based with the possibility to work in a hybrid mode. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Qualified individuals should submit proposals in English that include the following description of qualifications and experience, to NDI by the aforementioned deadline for full consideration:  

1. Motivational statement (up to 500 words)

2. CV that describes the individual’s previous experiences, including:

   1. At least 3 years of experience in managing organizational structures. Experience in working with government bodies and youth organizations will be a strong advantage. 

   2. Experience in leading the development of organizational strategies and plans, and management of teams.

   3. Experience in  coordination with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, international organizations and donors; 

   4. Understanding of youth civic and political participation, youth infrastructure, Ukrainian legislation related to youth and government-led efforts to support youth initiatives;

   5. Strong analytical, organizational and communications skills; 

   6. Fluency in Ukrainian and good working knowledge of English. 

3. Contact details (email address and/or phone number) for at least two referees who, if contacted, can attest to the professional background of the candidate.

4. Hourly rate inclusive of all taxes, indicating the currency.
   
   

NDI may contact potential candidates for additional clarifications on submitted documents. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for the interview to discuss their background and experience. 

The successful candidates will be selected based on the following criteria: relevant experience, background in a related field, and motivational statement. 

The bid should be valid for 60 days from the due date of this RFP.

CONTACT DETAILS AND SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Please submit the applications that include the above mentioned in English or Ukrainian via email to [email protected]  with the subject line: NDI consultant, Youth Affairs Council. The deadline for submitting proposals is November 27, 2023. 

NDI will evaluate prospective candidates based on their ability to meet the description of services needed, and professional experience.

Kindly note that there is no option for NDI and the Youth Affairs Council to answer questions regarding this announcement. The candidate should not contact NDI and the Youth Affairs Council. 

NDI reserves the right to reject any and all bids. NDI reserves the right to consider bids for modification at any time before a contract is awarded. NDI should not be liable for any costs associated with the preparation, transmittal, or presentation materials submitted in response to the RFP. NDI makes no certification as to the accuracy of any item and is not responsible or liable for any reliance on or use of the information or for any claims asserted therefrom. Bids are expected to be valid for up to six months from the publication date of the RFP.

NDI reserves the right to require any prospective contractor to enter into a non-disclosure agreement. All information provided by NDI in this RFP is subject to change at any time. NDI makes no certification as to the accuracy of any item and is not responsible or liable for any reliance on or use of the information or for any claims asserted therefrom.

Bidders must provide disclosure of any known past, present or future relationships with any parties associated with NDI. For example, bidders should disclose if a member of their Board is also a member of NDI’s Board currently or in the past, or if they are affiliated (such as a board member, current/past employee or family member, volunteer, etc.) with a civil society organization that is a current, past or planned recipient of NDI funding. The bidder also certifies that the prices offered were arrived at independently and without the purpose of restricting competition with other offerers, including but not limited to subsidiaries and that prices have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed to any other offerer unless required by law. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in NDI having to re-evaluate the selection of a potential bid.

INFORMATION ABOUT NDI

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. NDI has been supporting local democratization efforts in Ukraine since 1992. 

For more information about NDI, please visit: www.ndi.org.