Вакансія: HR Consultancy Services for Mental Health Centers in Odesa region (M/W)

Mission description

The REHAB project supports the operational set-up of five mental health centers in the Odesa region, initially supported through Expertise France Health Program. The overall goal is to contribute to a sustainable, needs-based mental health and psychosocial support service framework responding to local community priorities.

The Expertise France Health Program has recently completed a comprehensive operational assessment of mental health services in the Odesa region. This evaluation identified systemic gaps and initiated the development of tailored Action Plans aimed at strengthening service delivery across cluster hospitals. While these plans provide a clear roadmap, their successful implementation hinges on addressing critical human resource challenges. Hospitals in the region face persistent shortages of qualified professionals, uneven distribution of specialists between urban and rural areas, and limited opportunities for continuous training and professional development. These barriers undermine the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of care.

To overcome these constraints, the program will engage a dedicated HR Consultant who will bring expertise in workforce and logistic plannings, recruitment strategies, capacity-building initiatives, overall coordination and inter-operability between the regional Mental health regional ecosystem. The consultant’s role will be to support hospitals in aligning their staffing and operating models with national mental health strategies and reforms, ensuring that workforce structures are both efficient and suitable. This includes designing mechanisms to attract and retain specialists, strengthening supervision and mentorship systems, expanding training opportunities to build long-term institutional capacity and operates with the multiples actors and operators in their catchment areas. By bringing these interventions into hospital operations, the program will not only enhance immediate service delivery but also contribute to the resilience and sustainability of the regional mental health system.

Description of the Assignment

The HR Consultant will play a central role in supporting 5 hospitals in the Odesa region to translate facility-based Action Plans into concrete HR measures. This assignment is designed to address workforce shortages, uneven distribution of specialists, and limited training opportunities.

The HR Consultant will support hospitals to operationalise the Action Plans by introducing specific HR actions through:

• Workforce mapping – reviewing of staffing levels, specialties, and distribution across hospitals.
• Strengthening workforce planning and recruitment strategies for mental health professionals, developing tailored approaches to attract psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers, especially in underserved areas.
• Enhancing capacity-building frameworks (design training, supervision, continuous professional development activities).
• Ensuring HR practices compliance with NHSU Package № 72 requirements, gender equity, and inclusive care principles.
• Facilitation the coordination between hospitals, other healthcare facilities, Department of Health of Odesa Regional State Administration and Odesa City Council, NGOs and key stakeholders.
• Support the logistic chain related to the operationalization of the Mental Health centres to ensure efficient implementation of their activities.
• Establishment of indicators for monitoring and evaluation of the HR-related progress in Action Plan implementation.

By fulfilling these responsibilities, the HR Consultant will ensure that hospital Action Plans are effectively operationalised through durable human resource interventions. This will directly address systemic workforce challenges, strengthen recruitment and retention, and introduce inclusive, barrier‑free practices across facilities. This assignment will not only improve immediate service delivery in the Odesa region but also lay the foundation for a sustainable, well‑trained, and resilient mental health workforce aligned with Ukraine’s legislation and donor‑supported reforms.

 Duration and Terms of Performance

The assignment is expected to be implemented over a period of 6 months. The timeline remains subject to discussion and agreement with Expertise France. All activities and implementation details are to be coordinated and confirmed in advance by the designated focal point at Expertise France.

Expected start date: July 2026

End date: 20.12.2026.

Deliverables and Reporting

The Service Provider is responsible for providing Deliverables in English, in accordance with the timeline agreed upon with the Expertise France focal point. The contact person is: Hanna Niemtsova; [email protected]. The report must reflect the agreed deliverables described above and should be submitted via email.

Project or context description

Expertise France is the French International Technical Cooperation Agency, with the status of public institution under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministries of Economics, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. It is the second largest technical cooperation agency in Europe. Expertise France designs and implements projects that strengthen public policies over the long term in developing and emerging countries. As the French public agency for international technical cooperation, Expertise France operates in more than 100 countries, implementing more than 400 projects. The agency works in close collaboration with French public institutions, as well as with the European Union, to respond to the needs of partner countries that wish to improve public policies that tackle these challenges. In Ukraine the Agency has been regularly present since 2006 through series of technical assistance projects.

Expertise France in Ukraine

The MEAE has financed in 2023 Expertise France with an envelope of €14.5 million to position French technical cooperation and respond to Ukraine’s short, medium and long-term needs. This facility, entitled mAIDan Ukraine, finances and co-finances technical assistance projects to support Ukrainian authorities in preparing for reconstruction and the European accession process.

The ongoing other projects in Ukraine include: the EU-funded Project Pravo-Justice which promotes greater rule of law in Ukraine, in line with European standards and comparative practices; the “Stiykist” (resilience) project aims to contribute to social transformation and resilience in Ukraine by strengthening the capacities of national, regional and local institutions in the field of vocational training and social services, with a particular focus on the social inclusion of the most vulnerable; the Technical Support of the State Audit Service project which aims to mobilize French and national technical expertise to help bringing Ukrainian legislation into line with the acquis Communautaire, particularly in terms of protecting the EU’s financial interests and supporting the SAS in its role of inspecting and monitoring the use of reconstruction funds.

Expertise France’s Health Programme

As part of France’s strategy for reconstruction and aid in Ukraine focusing on the health sector The French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE)’s Crisis Center (CDCS) has financed €18 million over 36 months to the APPUI Sante Project from 2024 to 2026. The project, implemented in partnership with Ministry of Health of Ukraine and other key stakeholders aims to improve Ukrainian populations’ access to essential healthcare services in times of crisis. The project focuses on enhancing hospital cooperation between France and Ukraine, mobilizing French expertise, financing implementing partners, financing national healthcare authorities’ resources and projects, reconstructing and modernizing healthcare infrastructure and donating medical equipment at the request of Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

The REHAB project, funded by the French Development Agency (l’AFD) for €5 million over 24 months, from 2025 to 2026 aims overall supporting Ukraine in maintaining and strengthening its healthcare system to address the consequences of the conflict on the physical and mental health of Ukrainians. Activities are designed around enhancing mental health services and infrastructure in the Odesa region; strengthening physical rehabilitation efforts and infrastructure, while also emphasizing broader capacity-building initiatives across Ukraine with national and international partners; and identifying and conducting feasibility studies to prepare for concessional loan opportunities. Other projects under the Health Programme are ongoing development.

Required profile

Profile of the designated expert or team of experts responsible for the assignment implementation is provided below.

1. General Professional Experience

• University degree in one or several relevant fields (e.g. human resources, health management, social sciences, public health, psychology, sociology or related disciplines).
• Excellent written and spoken Ukrainian (C1 or higher).
• Experience in cooperation with international donors and organizations.

To be considered for the provider’s focal point:

• Fluent English (minimum B2 level).
• Strong analytical, synthesis, and report-writing skills.

1. Professional and Technical Experience

• Experience working with government institutions, local authorities, international organizations, or donor-funded projects in Ukraine.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in HR / management consulting within healthcare systems.
• Proven expertise in workforce planning, recruitment, and training in the health sector.
• Familiarity with Ukrainian health reforms, NHSU requirements, and donor-funded projects
• Strong facilitation and reporting skills.

Additional information

Eligibility, Evaluation, and Selection Criteria

This call is open for LLC companies registered as a legal entity in Ukraine or LLC international companies having official representation in Ukraine, as well as Private Entrepreneur (FOP) persons, able to provide the required services.

A procurement committee will evaluate all received proposals based on the specified criteria:

• Technical Proposal – 65%

o Methodology and technical approach – 20%
o Quality and relevance of the proposed technical offer and deliverables – 15%
o Proposed timeframe and Work Plan – 15%
o CV of the Expert – 15%

• Financial Offer – 35%.

The Service Provider shall submit:

• Technical Proposal including

  o proposed methodology
  o stakeholder engagement approach
  o indicative work plan
  o risk mitigation approach
  o sample of previous similar work (optional)
  o CV(s)

• Financial Proposal.

The selected Service Provider will be notified promptly upon completion of the evaluation process.

Deadline for application: 2026/06/26 23:55

Link for applying – https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/15583/1/hr-consultancy-services-for-mental-health-centers-in-odesa-region-hf/en_US