The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015.

In response to the situation, in 2016, UNDP has established a Project Office in eastern Ukraine with a view to consolidate and deliver the various recovery and governance projects through a comprehensive, area-based Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP) in five conflict-affected oblasts: Donetsk and Luhansk (Government Controlled Areas), as well as Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro, and Kharkiv oblasts. RPP frames UNDP’s interventions in Eastern Ukraine to address the recovery needs of conflict affected population and communities. The Programme Component has three components focusing on: (1) economic recovery and restoration of critical infrastructure; (2) restoration of governance and support to decentralization reform; (3) strengthening community security and social cohesion. 

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator, Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure, the Specialist on Employment and Entrepreneurship will support implementation of the RPP Component activities aimed at enhancing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for local communities in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, specifically, stimulate economic growth by providing support and assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (hereinafter also - MSME). Specifically, s/he will perform the following key tasks:

• Initiate, create and develop long-term working relationships with relevant stakeholders including local authorities, major and minor employers, Public Employment Services (hereinafter – PES), business infrastructure organizations and others;
• Support the PES and other relevant institutions with the provision of employment promotion services to internally displaced persons (hereinafter – IDPs), returnees and local community members;
• Ensure development and implementation of training and re-skilling programmes to increase employability of IDPs and local population of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts and business development training programmes for those who are running or willing to run business;
• Formulate ideas, conceptual outlines, requirements and coordinate development of training and re-skilling programmes in partnership with key partners, including but not limited to the Public Employment Service (PES), centers for vocational education, universities and other educational institutions;
• Develop innovative solutions for creation of business development opportunities in the ‘grey zone’ near the contact line in the conflict area;
• Facilitate UNDP business grants programmes aimed at start-up, renewal and expansion of micro-, small and medium businesses;
• Facilitate processes of provision of financial support to MSMEs in the target oblasts, including but not limited to irrevocable grants and repayable loans for business development, and facilitate their linking to financial institutions for further financial support;
• Ensure preparation of business creation and development training packages (business plans, marketing strategies, etc.)
• Ensure the monitoring of the programme-supported businesses/enterprises during their gestation period;
• Facilitate the PES and other institutions for collection and processing of labour market data, marketing data and other studies relevant for the Programme Component;
• Perform situation analysis and lessons learnt from previous activities/projects implemented in Ukraine and other countries and propose new effective approaches and innovative tools for stimulating economic recovery and growth with special focus on creation of jobs and income opportunities in the RPP target regions;
• In partnership with local authorities, ensure identification and implementation of opportunities for cash-for-work and public works activities such as repair of infrastructure, street cleaning, but also archiving, digitizing and other similar activities;
• Develop tools and mechanisms for improving and strengthening business supporting infrastructure in RPP’s target regions (industrial/technological parks, business support centers, co-workings, hubs, clusters, etc.);
• Prepare annual, quarterly, and detailed implementation work plans, and other related documents for timely commencement and implementation of the component activities;
• Prepare specifications, terms of references (ToRs) and other supportive documents to procure goods and services in line with Component objectives and tasks;
• Check and provide certification of satisfactory completion of works of consultants or IPs for payment of their completed works. Ensure budget for the Component is efficiently and properly utilized;
• Monitor the field activities and provide technical support to ensure the Programme objectives are met in timely and quality manner;
• Participate in relevant working group meetings and share information with UN and non-UN partners and agencies;
• Prepare reports on completion of planned activities and provide inputs into narrative programme and donor reports;
• Draft, monitor and manage activity budgets for entrepreneurship and training sub-components with the support/oversight from Programme Coordinator
• Support the design and implementation of the monitoring framework and plans as it relates to the tasks of Component 1 of the RPP;
• Perform any other related duties as required and assigned by the supervisor.

III. MEASURABLE OUTPUTS OF THE WORK ASSIGNMENT:

• Full and appropriate implementation of the Component activities;
• Component results, experiences and lessons learned disseminated at the national and regional levels;
• Component reporting, quality monitoring and closure activities completed.

IV. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR EVALUATION OF RESULTS:

• Component annual work plan is fully and timely implemented;
• Component funds delivery reached 100%;
• Component activities are carried out in strict accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership;
• People Management;
• Communication;
• Delivery;
• Innovation;
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge Management and Learning;
• Development and Operational Effectiveness;
• Management and Leadership;
• Conflict Management;
• Result orientation;
• Teamwork;
• Self-management and emotional intelligence;
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things. Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.
• Client Orientation: Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion. Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Innovation and Marketing New Approaches: Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things. Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Competencies expected of the individual:

• Ability to manage Component activities for results, including the ability to translate strategic aims into achievable annual work plans; and prepare reports in a timely manner;
• Ability to handle politically sensitive issues and contacts within government authorities, public institutions and civil society organizations (CSO’s) community and within UNDP;
• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Sound judgment and maturity to foster a positive work environment;
• Familiarity with national policies, socio-economic context of the region, and relevant legislation;
• Demonstrated strong communication, coordination and facilitation skills;
• Excellent usage of computers and office software packages.

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Public Administration, Law, Social Sciences and/or any other related fields;
• At least 3 years of progressive working experience in in the area of employment and entrepreneurship promotion and/or local socio-economic development, including private sector development, experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, project/programme coordination or other relevant area;
• Experience of working in/with international organizations and/or multinational companies will be considered as an advantage;
• Familiarity with UNDP rules and regulations will be considered as advantage;
• Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian is required.

This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 6 JUNE 2019.
UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for a specific vacancy. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

APPLY ONLINE HERE https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=83214