Експерт/ка з оцінювання проєктних заявок в сфері водопостачання та водовідведення – на короткостроковій основі
Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development Project, UCORD is looking for а Evaluators of Applications
Expected Start Date: 04.08.2025
Duration: 04.08.2025 – 28.11.2026
Location: Remote
Background
Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development project, UCORD, is implemented with support of Switzerland via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, by NIRAS Sweden AB.
UCORD aims for citizens, businesses, and public authorities to contribute and equally benefit from recovery actions and coherent regional development that fosters improved quality of life, resilience, peace, and social cohesion in Ukraine. The project currently supports six pilot oblasts of Ukraine: Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, and Odesa oblasts, targeting capacity development and awareness-raising initiatives throughout the country. UCORD consists of three components:
Component 1 embeds regional policy development in Ukraine by supporting and strengthening Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in pilot oblasts.
Component 2 aims to improve public service delivery in the WASAW (water supply, sanitation, and waste management) sector, with a focus on environmental sustainability.
Component 3 aims to construct social cohesion through culture, dialogue, and creative industries.
Introduction
In the context of Component 2, which focuses on improving public service delivery in the WASAW sector, UCORD is launching the Water and Sanitation (WAS) Industrial Zone Infrastructure Grant Scheme. This programme will support the development of essential water and sanitation infrastructure in formally designated and investment-ready industrial zones across five of UCORD’s pilot oblasts (excluding Sumy Oblast due to ongoing security risks).
The scheme is designed to accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery by enabling the operational launch of strategically located industrial zones that align with national development priorities. By investing in critical infrastructure, the programme aims to attract private investment, support business development and relocation, create employment opportunities, and improve regional competitiveness.
RDAs, in coordination with local authorities and communal service providers, will lead the preparation and implementation of projects. To ensure a fair, technically sound, and transparent selection process, UCORD will engage a panel of independent experts to evaluate the final applications submitted by RDAs and their partners.
Objective
The objective of this assignment is to engage a team of three evaluators to assess full applications submitted under the WAS Industrial Zone Infrastructure Grant Scheme. The experts will determine whether each application meets the minimum quality and eligibility requirements in line with the scheme’s pre-defined criteria. The evaluation team will provide evidence-based recommendations and justifications for each application, supporting transparent decision-making and alignment with the objectives of the UCORD programme.
Scope of Assignment
The three experts engaged under this invitation will undertake the following tasks:
- Evaluation of Full Applications: The three independent evaluators will review Full Applications submitted by RDAs under the WAS Industrial Zone Infrastructure Grant Scheme. Each application will be assessed using a pre-defined evaluation grid, based on criteria established for the grant scheme. The evaluation will follow a yes/no methodology, with written justifications provided for each judgment.
- Coordination and Clarifications: Evaluators will request clarifications or interpretation of technical material from infrastructure expert during evaluation process. This ensures that evaluators can assess infrastructure feasibility without duplicating the technical due diligence process.
- Documentation and Presentation of Findings: The evaluators are solely responsible for preparing written evaluations for each application, including clear recommendations and justifications. All three experts will participate in review meetings with UCORD to discuss findings.
Evaluation Process
The evaluation of applications under the WAS Industrial Zone Infrastructure Grant Scheme will follow a structured and transparent process, coordinated by UCORD and coordinated by UCORD and conducted in line with the Evaluation Protocol.
Only applications for industrial zones that have successfully passed the due diligence phase and have been approved by SDC, and the Ministry of Economy will be invited. These applications must be submitted by the RDA-led partnerships that will be responsible for delivering the proposed investment.
The infrastructure expert will not conduct an assessment but will be available to verify that the technical content aligns with the prior due diligence and to provide clarifications if required. Each application will be assessed by three independent evaluators, using a pre-approved evaluation grid and a yes/no methodology.
The process will follow these key steps:
- Review of Application Packages: UCORD will provide the evaluation team with complete application packages, including the Full Application Form, supporting technical documentation, and the due diligence report prepared earlier in the process.
- Technical Verification (Infrastructure Expert): This step will be provided by infrastructure expert.
- Individual Review (Evaluators): Each evaluator will independently assess the application using the official evaluation grid provided by UCORD. Written justifications will be provided for each criterion. The evaluators will base their decisions solely on the content of the application and supporting documentation.
- Evaluation Review Meeting: Once evaluators have completed their individual assessments, UCORD will convene an Evaluation Review Meeting with the full expert team. During this meeting, each evaluator will present their findings, and the group will discuss the application to agree on a common position. All decisions will be made by majority vote (i.e., at least two evaluators must agree). At the initial stage, only two outcomes are permitted:
- Recommend for award, or
- Request improvement and resubmission.
If an application is not approved during the initial review, the applicant may revise and resubmit their proposal. If the revised application is again not approved, a third and final version may be submitted. After this final submission, the evaluators must choose one of two outcomes:
- Recommend for award, or
- Recommend rejection.
No further revisions will be permitted beyond the third submission. The meeting will be chaired by a non-voting UCORD representative, who will ensure procedural integrity and validate that the decision aligns with the established criteria and evaluation protocol.
- Final Documentation: The evaluators will finalise and submit written evaluation reports for each application, including final decisions and justifications. These reports will be submitted to UCORD for recordkeeping. All documentation will be retained for audit and quality assurance purposes.
Note: UCORD staff, including a non-voting chairperson and secretary, will coordinate and support the evaluation process to ensure it is conducted in an organised, timely, and unbiased manner.
Allocation of Working Days
The following framework outlines the number of working days allocated for each stage of the evaluation process. These are estimates and will be finalised based on the number of applications received.
- Preparation: 1 day per expert for review of background documentation and participation in a single preparatory briefing session organised by UCORD. This is a flat allocation of 1 day in total, not per region or application.
- Evaluation of Full Applications: 2.5 days for every Full Application evaluated. Each evaluator will review applications individually.
- Review Meeting and Presentation of Findings: 0.5 day per Full Application for participation in the Evaluation Review Meeting, during which experts will present and discuss findings with UCORD.
- Resubmission: For each resubmission, evaluators will receive additional days based on the actual effort required. As a guide 1 extra day per evaluator may be allocated per iteration. If the resubmission involves a substantial rewrite or redesign, the Chairperson (in consultation with the Component 2 Lead) may approve up to 2 extra days per evaluator.
Qualifications of the Experts
The evaluation team (3 experts) will consist of three independent evaluators. The panel members should possess the following qualifications:
Education
- A primary degree in economics, public administration, or a related field.
Experience
- At least ten years of professional work experience.
- Demonstrated experience in assessing project proposals or investment plans submitted through competitive selection processes.
- Familiarity with infrastructure-related development programmes, regional economic development, or industrial zone planning is an asset.
Skills
- Ability to review complex documentation and provide evidence-based judgments.
- Strong report writing skills.
- Proficiency in English
The Evaluation experts should have no conflicts of interest with the applicant RDAs or their partners, ensuring an unbiased evaluation process.
Reporting
The evaluation panel will be coordinated by a non-voting Chairperson, designated by UCORD, who is responsible for overseeing the evaluation process.
Each evaluator will work under the guidance of the Chairperson, who will serve as their primary point of contact during the assignment.
The Chairperson, in turn, will report to the Component 2 Lead of the UCORD Project, who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the WAS Industrial Zone Infrastructure Grant Scheme.
All final evaluation documentation, including completed evaluation grids, technical notes, written summaries, and minutes of the Evaluation Review Meetings will be submitted through the Chairperson to the Component 2 Lead for validation.
Response evaluation and selection:
Interested candidates should send their proposals to [email protected] by 31 July 2025.
The proposal should include the following documents:
- а cover letter outlining relevant experience.
- Up-to-date CV outlining relevant experience and qualifications, including at least three contact addresses.
- а preferred day rate
The proposal should be submitted in English.
