Country-Specific Information - Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian and socio-economic toll, global energy and food crisis, large-scale destruction of the country's infrastructure, and disruptions in the provision of critical services and degradation of social fabrics and communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements.
Severe attacks on energy and critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy and agricultural production, and also affect the poorest countries worldwide.
UNOPS support to partners spans the humanitarian-development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy and mine action sectors, through infrastructure, procurement and technical assistance / project management interventions, with the ultimate aim of supporting the country on its EU accession and in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Job-Specific Information
The Ukraine Mine Action Portfolio of Projects operates as an integral part of the Ukraine & East Europe Multi-Country Office (UEMCO).
In order to support a multi-year strategy of a major donor, a six- month (6) Critical Needs Assessment (CNA) is being undertaken as a prelude to an anticipated 5-year project delivering humanitarian mine action services to state entities in Ukraine. These services will include training, procurement, and infrastructure development. The needs assessment will cover various functional areas, including humanitarian demining, canine services, underwater demining, and academic enhancements, and is overseen by the Ministry of Economy (MoE).
The needs assessment will be both academic and practical, as practical planning for
service delivery will take place concurrently. The CNA team will work with the in-country donor team and MoE to establish regular board meetings and adjust project expectations as needed.
Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager- Mine Action, UEMCO, and in close coordination with the CNA Technical Lead, the CNA Knowledge Management Senior Advisor is required to compile a comprehensive and actionable document for the state institutions involved in this 5-year project, the State Special Transport Service (SSTS), the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU), and the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU). This document will serve as a blueprint for addressing critical needs and developing training self sufficiency in each of these state institutions.
A successful end state can be envisaged as a comprehensive analysis and recommendations for the delivery of a variety of projects over five years in staged milestones.
Reporting to the Head of Mine Action, the Technical Senior Advisor will carry out the following duties:
Summary of key results:
1. Institutional and Organizational Analysis
2. Technical Review
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
4. Products and Deliverables
1. Institutional and Organizational Analysis:
Strategic institutional and organizational review and vision alignment:
Lead a strategic review of SSTS, SESU, and the NGU focusing on expanded roles in humanitarian demining, EO training infrastructure reconstruction.
Develop a strategic framework that aligns training design and facility development with operational needs, long-term organizational goals, and global best practices.
Conduct comprehensive gap analyses to identify institutional, technical and infrastructure deficiencies and areas for improvement and innovation.
Provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership to ensure each state institution can deliver safe, effective, and sustainable demining, EO-related operations and reconstruction efforts.
Develop a strategic workforce plan, and training plan that addresses current and future skill gaps across the mine action sector.
2. Technical Review:
Evaluate and optimize resource allocation, logistics, training facilities, infrastructure readiness and equipment readiness to support large-scale and complex mine action operations.
Identify and mitigate technical and operational bottlenecks through innovative solutions, leveraging data driven decision-making and predictive analytics and practical solutions.
Identify innovative practices and technologies to improve operational effectiveness.
Review and assess Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) facilities, EOD/IEDD training centers, classrooms, and support infrastructure against international standards.
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:
Lead consultations with internal stakeholders, including STSS, SESU, and NGU leadership, training Staff, , and operational personnel, to ensure alignment with organizational goals, technical requirements, training facility needs, and training objectives.
Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and innovation.
Engage with external stakeholders, including relevant ministries, international organizations and donor agencies, to build strategic partnerships and identify potential synergies.
4. Products
Develop a comprehensive technical needs analysis, infrastructure and organisational training roadmap for SSTS, SESU, and NGU prioritizing key issues and providing actionable insights for decision-makers and international donors.
Design training frameworks and operational roadmaps that integrate innovative technologies, adaptive strategies, and global best practices.
Provide clear evidence-based pathways for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with organizational goals.
Produce detailed technical annexes on training facility and infrastructure requirements such as EOD, IEDD, EDD facilities, classrooms, and logistics.
A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, defined as experience in project management in military, humanitarian, conflict, post-conflict, or development contexts
A minimum of two (2) years of high level advisory experience, managing complex projects, budgets, and providing recommendations is required.
Experience in writing and reviewing reports is required.
Experience working in a developing country is desirable
Experience working in mine action, particularly in Ukraine, is desirable.
Language requirements:Fluency in English is required (read, write, speak)
Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA4/ICS12)