Технічний/а експерт/ка з водопостачання та водовідведення для оцінювання проектних заявок – на короткостроковій основі

Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development Project, UCORD is looking for а Infrastructure Expert for Assessment of Applications

Expected Start Date: 04.08.2025 
Duration: 04.08.2025 – 28.11.2026 
Location: Remote

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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 one infrastructure expert – to assess full applications submitted under the WAS Industrial Zone Infrastructure Grant Scheme. The expert will determine whether each application meets the minimum quality and eligibility requirements in line with the scheme’s pre-defined criteria. Infrastructure specialist 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

Infrastructure specialist engaged under this invitation will undertake the following tasks: 

• Verification of Technical Consistency: The infrastructure expert will not conduct a separate evaluation but will review the technical documentation submitted with each application to confirm its alignment with the due diligence reports prepared during the zone selection phase. The expert will: 
  Confirm that proposed infrastructure elements align with the approved design, scope, and cost estimates validated during due diligence. 
  Identify any deviations or missing elements. 
  Prepare a brief technical note summarising observation for each application. 
• Coordination and Clarifications: The infrastructure expert will act as a technical resource during the evaluation process, responding to requests from the evaluators for clarification or interpretation of technical material. This ensures that evaluators can assess infrastructure feasibility without duplicating the technical due diligence process. 

• Documentation and Presentation of Findings: Infrastructure expert 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 
• Technical Verification  
• Individual Review  
• Evaluation Review Meeting 
• Final Documentation 

Input of infrastructure expert will be under “Technical Verification”, namely infrastructure expert will review technical sections of the applications to confirm that infrastructure proposals align with due diligence findings. While the expert does not assign scores, she/he may highlight inconsistencies and respond to specific requests from the evaluators for clarification on technical issues. 

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 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. 

• Technical Review Support: 2 days for every Full Application reviewed. The infrastructure expert will verify technical alignment with due diligence documentation and provide clarifications as needed. 

• Resubmission: For each resubmission, infrastructure expert will receive additional days based on the actual effort required. As a guide 0.5 day for the infrastructure expert 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 1 extra day for the infrastructure expert. 

Qualifications of the Expert 

Education: 

• A primary degree in civil engineering, water/sanitation engineering, infrastructure planning, or a related technical discipline. 

Experience: 

• At least 10 years of professional experience in infrastructure design, engineering review, or public utilities projects. 

• Proven experience in reviewing or validating technical documentation for infrastructure investments (e.g., water and sanitation systems, cost estimates, technical drawings, feasibility studies). 

• Knowledge of Ukrainian infrastructure regulations, standards, and permitting procedures is essential. 

Skills: 

• Ability to assess the alignment of technical documentation and identify deviations or risks. 

• Excellent communication skills and ability to clearly explain technical concepts to non-engineering audiences. 

• Proficiency in English. 

The infrastructure expert 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. 

An infrastructure expert 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.