Експерт/ка з менторського супроводу грантоотримувачів

Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development Project, UCORD is looking for а Ukrainian Short-Term Experts for Mentorship support of the grant recipients on Project Management, Strategic Sustainability, Community Engagement (UCORD)

Expected Start Date: 15.08.2025 
Duration: 15.08.2025 – 30.10.2026 
Location: Hybrid

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. 

The UCORD is progressing the Renaissance Clusters Grant Programme. This programme is supporting the establishment and development of cultural and cultural-tourism clusters. These clusters are intended to demonstrate significant contribution to regional development, creating added value for local economies, improving human capital, and strengthening social cohesion.  

In May, UCORD selected eight partnership initiatives across six pilot regions. Each partnership consists of a Lead Partner (typically an NGO) and other collaborators such as hromadas, cultural or educational institutions, public spaces, NGOs, and more. To support their efforts, UCORD is planning to launch a comprehensive Mentorship Programme that will provide tailored guidance, strengthen institutional capacity, and enhance the sustainability and impact of the Renaissance Clusters Grant Programme on regional development. 

Objectives of the Assignment 

The overall objective of this assignment is to strengthen the capacity of project teams (recipients of grant support under the Renaissance Clusters Grant Programme) to ensure effective implementation and long-term impact. Each project will be assigned a Primary Mentor based on a tailored needs assessment, with the possibility of one mentor supporting two projects with similar themes or operational needs. Primary Mentors will provide comprehensive, ongoing guidance in project management, strategic sustainability, and community engagement. 

 Scope of Work 

1. Lead regular (bi-weekly) mentorship sessions with each assigned project team and partners to provide hands-on guidance on project implementation, address challenges, and review progress, aiming to ensure a high percentage of planned activities are completed on time. 

2. Participate actively in coordination meetings with the Mentorship Coordination Lead and other relevant stakeholders to align efforts and share updates, supporting timely delivery of key outputs. 

3. Help project teams establish clear internal task management systems, including defining roles and responsibilities for all partners, and introduce tools like Gantt charts or Trello boards to track activities and deadlines, contributing to improved internal partner coordination. 

4. Support project teams in mapping all relevant stakeholders (e.g., local authorities, NGOs, cultural institutions, community groups) and develop concrete engagement plans to involve them effectively throughout the project lifecycle. 

5. Assist project teams in developing realistic long-term sustainability plans, identifying potential institutional hosts for project continuation, and exploring opportunities for collaboration across municipalities or with additional partners. 

6. Monitor project implementation through regular check-ins, help teams identify risks early, and adjust plans proactively to keep projects on track, ensuring adherence to budget and procurement schedules. 

7. Prepare and submit bi-weekly progress checklists and detailed monthly reports to the Mentorship Coordination Lead, documenting achievements, challenges, and next steps related to planning, team capacity, communication, risk management, partnership dynamics, and timely completion of deliverables. 

8. Encourage project teams and partners to engage in reflective practices by organizing sessions to discuss successes, challenges, and lessons learned, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. 

9. Promote a focus on sustainability by helping teams understand and plan for the wider community impact and systemic changes their projects can contribute to beyond donor funding. 

Deliverables 

• A detailed plan outlining the schedule and structure of mentorship sessions for each assigned project, including timelines for coordination meetings and reporting. 
• Bi-weekly coordination meeting short report and progress checklists detailing key decisions, action points, activity completion, budget use, procurement status, risk management, and partner coordination according to the templates provided by UCORD 
• Monthly progress reports covering project status, indicators, challenges, mitigation measures, and recommendations. 
• Note on stakeholder mapping and engagement activities, including updates on partnership development. 
• Strategic roadmaps outlining the post-grant sustainability plan for each project, with focus on community ownership and partnership models. 
• Midterm and Final reports summarizing lessons learned, recommendations and opportunities for future mentorship support tasks. 
• Conduct cross-project workshops on specific themes, leveraging the expert’s unique expertise to foster knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving among project teams. 

Qualifications of the Consultant: 

Education  

• A master’s degree in Public administration, Management, Tourism, Economics, Sociology, History, Culturology, Marketing or Journalism.

Relevant Experience:  

• A minimum of 5 years of professional expertise in formulating, overseeing, and managing projects in cultural-touristic/creative industries field, marketing or communications, preferably in tourism or cultural sectors.. 
• Proven experience in strategic planning and formulating sustainability frameworks for complex projects, and working with/for local governments or civil society organizations. 
• A proven track record in implementing large-scale projects in public and/or private sector areas. 

Skills 

• Excellent research and analytical skills. 
• Strong facilitation and mentoring skills with the ability to tailor support to different capacity levels of project teams. 
• Knowledge of participatory planning methods and community consultation practices. 
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation tools. 
• Strong storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives. 
• Familiarity with digital tools and platforms. 
• Strong project management skills 
• Proficient in articulating ideas through reports and presentations. 
• Strong written and communication skills 
• Knowledge of English (B2 or higher). 

Specific Knowledge 

• Regional policy, creative industries, tourism development policy at reginal level, marketing of the territories 

Reporting:

The expert reports to the Coordinator of the Mentorship program, and Component 3 Lead. 

Business travel:

The process of performing the tasks defined by this ToR and the Contract may require occasional business trips within Ukraine to places that differ from the expert’s place of residence. In such cases, an expert should obtain the Travel Authorisation approved by the Project Leader in advance, followed by the travel report that include the supporting documentation (invoices, receipts, acts etc.). Upon approval of the travel report, the expert will receive reimbursement for travel and accommodation expenses. Meals may be provided if included in the programme of activities. 

Response evaluation and selection:

Interested candidates should send their proposals to [email protected] by 10 August 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.