Background

Ukraine’s vision of its strategic development may be defined by three conceptual frameworks – European integration, NATO Accession (Euro-Atlantic integration) and the Sustainable Agenda 2030. An adequate alignment of these frameworks as well as assessing their overlapping elements can address one of the key challenges of Ukraine’s long-term development planning.

Supporting institutional and policy reforms that foster inclusive, gender-responsive and sustainable human development in line with the national strategy and reform agenda is identified as Pathway I by the UNDP Country programme document for Ukraine (2018-2022) that identifies “Citizen expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability are met by stronger systems of democratic governance” as one of the key objectives in enhancing inclusive and effective democratic governance in Ukraine.

Forming the responsive, efficient and accountable governance institutions that can respond to citizens' needs and provide high-quality public services is the key objective of Ukraine’s 2020 Strategy of the Public Administration Reform and the Action Plan for its implementation in line with European standards of good governance. Increasing the efficiency of government bodies and local self-government is also one of Ukraine’s indicators for achieving the SDG 16 according to the 2017 Baseline National Report on SDGs.

In Ukraine, 2019 is marked by both presidential and parliamentary elections, with the respective changes in country’s political leadership and transitions of power at senior positions in key state institutions. The newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who received a landslide victory in the second round of the Ukrainian presidential election on April 2019 with 73 percent  of the vote, called snap parliamentary elections after he was sworn into office.

In September 2019, the President of Ukraine has adopted the Decree on SDGs, which instructs the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine: (1) to conduct the analysis of forecast and programme documents taking into account the SDGs of Ukraine for the period of till 2030; (2) to implement an effective system for monitoring the SDGs implementation for the period of till 2030; (3) to recommend to the academic institutions to take into account the SDGs when defining the scientific researches; thus, making the Sustainable Development Goals the highest priority of government policy.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Ukraine coincided with the uncertainties and changes in Ukraine’s political situation. With the population increasingly under lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis, new ministerial appointment, and a series of cabinet reshuffles took place. At the beginning of March, the Parliament dismissed the previous Government and appointed a new Cabinet of Ministers headed by Denys Shmyhal’. According to the President, these changes were made because the reform process was not moving fast enough.

The new Government operates under the Government Action Plan adopted in March 2020, which defines the strategic priorities for further country development.

UNDP and the Government of Ukraine have successful partnership in implementing the reforms in many different areas for the achievement of SDGs, which also tackles the European and Euro-Atlantic integration, including the joint efforts in participatory, inclusive and democratic governance; social wellbeing and healthcare; integrity, transparency and fight against corruption; sustainable environment and energy efficiency; recovery and peacebuilding; and others.

The sustainable development, human development and Ukraine’s European integration agenda are embedded in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Therefore, UNDP aims to support the Government of Ukraine, namely the Office of the Vice-Prime-Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, for effective implementation of Ukraine’s national SDGs plans, through better inter-ministerial coordination, development coordination, communication and regional outreach.

Based on urgent needs and strategic priorities UNDP Ukraine supports the Government of Ukraine, in particular, several key line Ministries, by establishing the Policy Advisory Units to provide high level/senior technical advice and strategic guidance to the Ministers/ Minister’s Office for improving strategic policymaking developing institutional capacities of Ukrainian Government. All PAUs will contribute to enhancing proper coordinated crisis response and ensuring policy development leaving no one behind.

In this context, the United Nations Development Programme is recruiting a Strategic Advisor on SDGs with relevant experience and track record.

The Strategic Advisor will be a part of the established PAU under the SCMU and will directly responsible for supporting the Government of Ukraine through its Vice-Prime-Minister’s Office to implement its national priority reforms within the framework of SDGs and the EU and Euro-Atlantic integration through more effective policy design and implementation and development coordination, including at the regional level.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will provide advice to the Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the VPM Office on policy design and implementation and development coordination, in order to enhance their ability to implement the reform agenda and SDGs achievement aspirations.

The incumbent will report primarily to Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, with a reporting line to the UNDP Ukraine and the UNDP Project Manager. The Advisor will work closely with the other members of the team of VPM Office.

S/he will provide support to the VPM Office and its respective staffs through the following functions:

• Provide policy, and institutional advice and expertise, reviews and recommendations to the Vice-Prime Minister’s Office on the implementation of important relevant reforms in line with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Ukraine’s intention in joining to the European Green Deal (EGD);  and within the framework of SDGs;
• Provide analysis of the institutional capacity gaps and make recommendations to address them, both in a short and medium/long-term in view of the implementation of the SDGs in Ukraine;
• Enhance the policymaking, strategic planning and policy management capacities of the VPM Office and across Ukraine’s governmental institutions required for the reforms’ implementation in line with the SDG targets and the overlapping priorities with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement across Ukraine’s governmental institutions;
• Support the implementation of the SDGs financing project and provide necessary technical advises to the Project team on its proper implementation and linkage to the Government activities;
• Provide strategic and technical expertise on alignment of the national development agenda with SDG framework and EU integration process through better coordination and streamlining of the international technical assistance projects supporting this area in order to ensure that support is concerted and focused;
• Review the existing international technical assistance policy, and provide recommendations for improving the assistance coordination mechanism;
• Advise on building, consolidating and nurturing partnerships with governments and other stakeholders that will advance the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and develop institutional capacity on the regional level to promote SDG and European integration;
• Support in preparation of analytical documents in the context of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement;
• Advise on introducing necessary policies and tools to take full advantage of a changing aid environment to generate domestic revenues and leverage alternative sources of development financing (e.g. unlocking local streams of SDG finance, SDG budget tagging as SDG budgeting and expenditure tracking at national and regional levels);
• Contribute to formulation of coordinated investment plans as an instrument to ensure implementation of SDGs and EU Integration agenda, provide ideas and initiatives that could feed into the relevant projects and programmes for consideration and possible implementation;
• Enhancing intergovernmental cooperation and increasing the effectiveness of the collaboration with the Verkhovna Rada for the achievement of the SDGs and green transition.

3. Measurable outputs of the work assignment/deliverables:

• Policy briefs, analytical papers, reviews, assessments, guidance, developed in cooperation with the VPM Office representatives, with proper reference to the SDGs – monthly;
• Advisory service on the above-mentioned issues provided - monthly;
• Progress reports are provided to UNDP - monthly;

4. Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

• Number of policy briefs, analytical papers, reviews, assessments, guidance, developed in cooperation with the VPM Office representatives, with proper reference to the SDGs;
• Timely submission of the regular performance reports.

5. Monitoring / reporting requirements:

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the consultant on a weekly basis. UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without approval of UNDP.

The consultant will work under the daily supervision of the Project Manager and will interact with UNDP to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed.

The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to endorsement of the Project Manager.

The Consultant will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP).

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

6. Experience and qualification requirements

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in political science, economics, public administration, law, international relations, or related field;

Experience

• 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public administration, law, international relations, economic field;
• Proven prior experience (at least 4 years) of professional or advisory services to the Government (or national level counterparts);
• Experience in the area of sustainable development (Agenda 2030, SDGs) and/or development planning and financing as an asset;
• Expertise in legislative drafting, knowledge of legislative parliamentary work would be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian languages is required

Skills

• Strong managerial and leadership skills, notably planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling, problem solving and decision-making;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Excellent writing, proficient communication and organization skills.

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

7. Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

8. Financial proposal

 Contracts based on daily fee

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee and payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel costs

Should any travel be necessary in connection to this TOR, UNDP will reimburse the expenses based on the duly authorized travel details, including travel and per diems.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

9. Evaluation criteria

Criteria A: Education - 10 points max

At least Specialist/Master’s degree in political science, economics, public administration, law, international relations, or related field

{10 pts – PhD degree in the relevant field or higher; 7 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree in the relevant field};

Criteria B: Work Experience – 40 points max

1. At least seven (7) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public administration, law, international relations, , economic field - 15 points max {up to 15 pts – 10 years and more; 13 pts – 8-9 years; 10 pts – 7 years);

2. At least four (4) year of relevant experience of professional or advisory services to the Government (or national level counterparts); – 10 points max

{up to 10 pts – 8 years and more; 8 pts – 5-7 years; 6 pts – 4 years};

3. Experience in the area of sustainable development (Agenda 2030, SDGs) and/or development planning and financing; - 5 points max

4.  Expertise in legislative drafting, knowledge of legislative parliamentary work; - 10 points max

{5 pts –proven experience; 0 pts – no experience};

Criteria C: Technical Skills – 5 points max

Language Skills – 5 points max:

Fluency in Ukrainian and English

{5 pts – Fluency in English and Ukrainian}

Criteria D: Interview – 15 points max (only those obtaining minimum 40 points for Criteria A-C will be invited to the interview. The applicant should provide relevant practical and well-elaborated examples to prove the following:

{5 pts - relevant experience of professional or advisory services to the Government (or national level counterparts);

5 pts - professional expertise in policy analysis and/or drafting legal documents;

5 pts - expertise in the area of sustainable development}

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

10. Evaluation method

 Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

* Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.