Expert on Inland Waterways Transport in Recovery and Reform Support Team (RST) at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine

1. Objective(s) and Linkages to Reforms

The Recovery and Reform Support Team (RST) at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine (MDCT or Ministry) is a group of Ukrainian professionals (non-civil servants) funded on a temporary basis through the Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA)[1] programme that provides targeted technical support and assists the Ministry in the design and implementation of priority reforms. The RST will assist in filling capacity gaps in the design and implementation of priority reform strategies and programmes, while strengthening links and partnerships between the Ministry`s priorities and relevant donor support.

Priority areas for the RST at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine will be: 

• Transport Infrastructure;
• Municipal Infrastructure;
• Regional Development and Decentralisation;
• Digitalisation;
• Public Administration Reform and Capacity Building. 

Inland waterways transport reform as part of Transport Infrastructure is one of the top priorities of the Government of Ukraine and the Ministry. The water transport complex is a multifunctional structure that meets the transport needs of the national economy in transport. Sea and river ports are an integral part of the state's transport and industrial infrastructure. The competitiveness of the domestic transport system in the global market depends on the efficiency of the functioning of ports and the state of the relevant infrastructure and inland waterways, the level of their technological and technical equipment, the compliance of the management system and the development of the infrastructure with modern international requirements and standards.

2. Position and Reporting Line

The Expert on Inland Waterways Transport is needed to support the Government of Ukraine and in particular MDCT in the fulfillment of the Inland Waterways Transport sector as well as recovery and reconstruction of inland waterways transport sector after the destruction caused by the military aggression of the Russian Federation.

The Expert on Inland Waterways Transport will be a full-time consultant at the RST and work closely with the MDCT Maritime and River Transport Department. The Expert will be subordinated to the RST Director, Deputy Director on Transport Infrastructure and Senior Project Manager (SPM) on Inland Waterways Transport.

3. Duration of the Assignment

The consultancy appointment is expected to start in March 2025. Duration of the assignment is subject to the availability of project funding, the consultant's performance, and the specific requirements of the RST.

4. Main Duties and Responsibilities 

• Supporting SPM in the coordination of Inland Waterways Transport Reform  and its performance (in close cooperation with the Maritime and River Transport Department of the Ministry), as per recommendations outlined in key strategic documents – Ukraine Plan, Annual European Commission’s Enlargement Reports on Ukraine, National Transport Strategy of Ukraine up to 2030, and others, in the following areas:
  • analysis of current legislation in the inland waterways transport sector and preparing comments on its improvement;
  • analysis of European legislation and policies in the field of inland waterways transport;
  • assistance in drafting laws and bylaws, including for the implementation of EU acts, assistance in preparing supporting materials for draft laws and bylaws;
• Facilitating draft laws and bylaws during their approval process in  Ministries, Cabinet of Ministers, Parliament, and other state agencies;
• Contributing to the  development and update of the roadmap for reforming  inland waterways transport;
• Supporting the process of reforming and restoring Ukraine's inland waterways transport;
• Providing assistance in enhancing the efficiency of Ukrainian inland waterways transport state enterprises;
• Working on the development and the implementation of infrastructure projects and projects of public-private partnership (PPP);
• Participating in public discussions with the Government and private sector experts on inland waterways transport reform’s related legislation and inland waterways transport sector’s recovery issues;
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the RST Director, Deputy Director on Transport Infrastructure and Senior Project Manager on Inland Waterways Transport. 

Deliverables: 

• Comprehensive analytical assessment of current Ukrainian and EU legislation in inland waterways transport and proposals for improvement: Prepared reference materials and legislative recommendations;
• Contributions in drafting laws and bylaws, including EU acts implementation: Drafted legislation, proposed amendments, and prepared supporting materials;
• Development and update of the inland waterways transport reform roadmap: Proposed reform measures;
• Enhancing the efficiency of state-owned enterprises: analysis of operations and infrastructure, recommendations for optimisation;
• Contribution to infrastructure and public-private partnership (PPP) projects in inland waterways transport. 

The specified lists of the scope of work, services and expected deliverables can be modified and supplemented on request from the Ministry and agreement with the EBRD and the EU Delegation to Ukraine. 

5. Qualifications, Skills and Experience

5.1. Qualifications and Skills: 

• Master’s degree (or equivalent of a post-graduate degree) in Transport, Inland Waterways or Maritime Studies, Law, Public Policy or other relevant field;
• strong organisational, communication and presentation skills;
• strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex legal, commercial and financial information;
• impeccable ethical standards;
• PC literacy in Microsoft software (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Project), Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs);
• Fluent Ukrainian and English. 

5.2. Professional Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of general professional experience;
• minimum 3 years of experience in Maritime, or Inland Waterways Transport and/or public policy in transport domain;
• proven experience in drafting laws, bylaws, other legal acts.

5.3. Other Competencies: 

• Experience with the reform implementation in Ukraine, especially as related to the inland waterways or maritime sector and infrastructure is an advantage;
• experience with government entities and their mandate and processes is an asset;
• familiarity with current Ukraine’s reform agenda, good understanding of policy formulation processes and policy dialogues.

6. Funding Source

The funding source of this assignment is the EBRD Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA). Contributors to the MDA are Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

Please note, selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.

7. Submissions

Submissions must be prepared in English only and be delivered electronically by March 02, 2025, 23:59 (Kyiv time) to the email address specified in this section of the Terms of Reference, accessible via the Apply button in this announcement.

All submissions must include:

• a completed Application Form;
• the candidate’s Curriculum Vitae;
• NDA form;
• contact details of three referees who, if contacted, can attest to the professional and/or educational background of the candidate.

Important notice: only Ukrainian nationals are eligible to apply; civil servants are not eligible to applyunless 6 months have elapsed since they left such employment.

Only applications, which have been submitted using the correct template and are fully completed, will be considered.

8. Selection Procedure

Following the evaluation of all applications received, selected candidates may be invited to the written tests. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to the interview.

[1] Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA) is a comprehensive technical assistance programme deployed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union, to support critical recovery and reform processes in Ukraine. URA is financed from the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA) managed by the EBRD.