Консультант/ка (віддалено) – Дослідження потреб у зміцненні ветеринарного потенціалу в Харківській та Полтавській областях

Consultant (remote) – Veterinary Capacity Needs Assessment in Kharkiv and Poltava Oblasts

Location: Remote with field travel in Ukraine (Kharkiv and Poltava oblast rural hromadas)
Contract type: Short-term consultancy
Duration: ~48 working days over 3 months (intermittent)
Reports to: Ukraine Program Manager, Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB)
Preferred start date: November 17, 2025

1. Background

Veterinarians Without Borders is implementing the PAVE Ukraine program (Poultry farming And Veterinary Education) with the support of the Elanco Foundation. This initiative aims to enhance the resilience and food security of conflict-affected rural communities through improved veterinary support and increased smallholder farmer capacity, with a focus on women and men.

To inform implementation of Objective 1 – “Strengthened veterinary outreach and emergency response capacity through training, mentorship and capacity building” – a needs assessment will be conducted to identify priority training areas, gaps in veterinary infrastructure, and capacity-building opportunities in rural and conflict-affected areas of Ukraine. The results will directly inform the design of gender-sensitive, culturally relevant veterinary training programs and resources tailored to local realities.

2. Objectives of the Consultancy

The consultant will lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive, gender-sensitive veterinary needs assessment in targeted rural and conflict-affected areas of Ukraine. The objectives include:

· Identifying veterinary service coverage gaps across the targeted hromadas.

· Assessing priority training needs in emergency response, poultry/smallholder care, and preventive health.

· Understanding practical barriers faced by vulnerable groups (e.g., female-headed households, IDPs, the elderly, and vulnerable farmers) in accessing and utilizing veterinary care.

· Informing the development of localized training programs, mentorship models, and resource support.

· Identifying opportunities for local veterinary institutions to sustain capacity-building efforts post-project.

· Supporting improved coordination among stakeholders, including women-led organizations and government services.

3. Key Tasks and Responsibilities

The consultant will complete the following tasks:

1. Desk Review: Conduct a thorough review of relevant national and regional veterinary policies and strategies, and project reports.

2. Inception Phase & Validation: Develop an Inception Report detailing the methodology, work plan, and data collection tools. Present this draft Inception Report to VWB for feedback and validation before commencing fieldwork.

3. Data Collection Design (GESI-focused): Ensure data collection examines practical accessibility barriers such as time burden, childcare responsibilities, digital literacy, and mobility constraints that may restrict participation of marginalized groups.

4. Field Data Collection: Coordinate and lead stakeholder interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and field visits with support from local partners, focusing on:

· Assessing decision-making dynamics within the household and institutions (e.g., who controls livestock, veterinary inputs, and income).

· Identifying gender-specific barriers for women veterinarians in the context of conflict (e.g., disrupted networks, mobility constraints, dual burdens).

· Analyzing current capacity gaps across the three priority areas (smallholder poultry/livestock health, disease prevention, and emergency animal response).

5. Analysis: Analyze collected quantitative and qualitative data against project logframe indicators and the assessment objectives.

6. Program Inputs: Provide specific, localized recommendations and inputs to inform the design of the training curriculum, mentorship planning, and essential equipment/resource lists.

7. Reporting: Produce a final report and recommendations with a strong GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) lens.

4. Deliverables

1. Inception Report: (Methodology, detailed work plan, and finalized data collection tools).
2. Mid-point Briefing: (Presentation/meeting with VWB on emerging findings and any methodological adjustments).
3. Final Veterinary Needs Assessment Report: (Max 25 pages + annexes), including:

• Summary of priority veterinary training needs (linked to Logframe Output 2.1.1).
• Recommendations for curriculum development, mentorship, and stakeholder
• Specific GESI recommendations and resources for integrating gender equality and social inclusion into veterinary capacity-building.

4. PowerPoint Presentation: Summarizing key findings and recommendations.

5. Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in veterinary medicine, public health, or rural development OR equivalent professional experience (minimum 8 years) in conducting needs assessments and program design.
• Demonstrated experience working in post-conflict, volatile, or humanitarian/development contexts is essential.
• Strong familiarity with the Ukrainian veterinary education system and agricultural sector.
• Proven expertise in participatory assessment methodologies and GESI integration.
• Proven ability to synthesize findings and align recommendations directly with project logframes and strategic objectives.
• English fluency required; Ukrainian native/fluency is mandatory.

6. Timeline and Level of Effort

Estimated 48 working days between November 2025 and January 2026:

• Desk review and tool development: 14 days
• Field data collection: 20 days
• Data analysis and report writing: 14 days

7. Application Process

Interested consultants should submit the following to [email protected] with the subject line: Veterinary Capacity Assessment Consultant – Ukraine by November 7^th, 2025, including:

• CV
• Technical proposal (max 3 pages) outlining the proposed methodology and work plan.
• Financial proposal (flat rate, including any potential travel or field expenses).
• 1–2 examples of past needs assessments or evaluations.