Technical Lead for Economic Recovery (Technical Expert on Economic Recovery) in HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation

Background 

HELVETAS is the largest Swiss nongovernmental organization with a dual mandate for long-term development and humanitarian response. It has been present in Ukraine for several year implementing development projects mainly through local partners.    

During 2022 HELVETAS initiated emergency assistance. Currently we are building our operational presence to deliver comprehensive response to the current humanitarian crisis. HELVETAS plan to be active in Ukraine for next 5 years.  

Overall goals: 

1. Support strategic development of sustainable economic recovery initiatives and skills development, based on sustainable methodologies such as Market Systems Development (MSD) approach in Ukraine. 

• Lead the design of technical components for new programs aimed at promoting economic competitiveness in targeted regions of Ukraine. 
• Develop robust intervention logics incorporating sustainable and inclusive market systems development principles tailored to Ukraine's evolving economic context. 
• Contribute to the identification and prioritization of value chains and geographic areas for impactful programming. 
• Collaborate closely with the Country Director, Program Manager and relevant staff in Helvetas HQ to formulate compelling proposals aligned with donor interests and Helvetas strategic goals. 
• Ensure that gender equality, inclusion, and environmental sustainability are integrated into program design.

2. Provide high-quality technical expertise and strategic guidance for program and business development, ensuring alignment with global best practices, Helvetas approaches and Ukraine’s economic context. 

• Provide key strategic guidance and capacity building to the Ukraine country office staff on the application of the integrated market system approaches through and continuous informal coaching and advice. 
• Support the Ukraine Country office in conducting quality research and analysis for focused and systemic interventions. 
• Identify and prioritise technical training and associated consultancy resource needs by the program staff and partners to ensure adequate understanding and application of the MSD approach. 
• Conduct frequent strategic reviews of specific program interventions using MSD lens and provide program teams with inputs and guidance towards the design and improvement of systemic interventions. 
• Provide program staff with technical support that allows them to successfully steer the program in compliance with the MSD approach, including advice of overall strategic orientation of program. 
• Provide hands-on support to program staff for facilitative action for effective engagement of partners/key market actors, developing partnerships, acting as a professional and credible voice for the program. 
• Support the Economic program development in conducting high quality research and analysis in order to develop an in-depth understanding of development issues and identifying points for focused and systemic interventions for economic recovery.

3. Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including donors, private sector actors, the private sector and government agencies, to foster sustainable economic growth.

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Ukrainian and international stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, civil society, and donors. 
• Represent Helvetas in national and international events, forums, and technical working groups related to economic recovery, skills development, private sector engagement and related topics. 
• Contribute to strategic communication materials and knowledge products to enhance Helvetas' visibility and thought leadership in Ukraine. 
• Spearhead coordination and learning exchanges between Helvetas Ukraine and other country offices or regional/global teams, facilitating mutuallearning and innovation.

Main Responsibilities:

1. Engage in program and business development efforts, including proposal writing, donor engagement, and strategic positioning.

• Identify and assess new funding opportunities aligned with Helvetas Ukraine’s strategic focus on sustainable, market systems-driven economic recovery and skills development, private sector engagement and related topics.
• Lead or contribute to the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals, ensuring coherence with donor priorities, national development goals, and Helvetas approaches.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with private sector partners, civil society, public sector stakeholders as well as donors, proactively positioning Helvetas as a credible and value-adding partner.
• Coordinate internal planning processes to ensure timely and strategic responses to calls for proposals, including facilitating input from technical experts and field teams. 
• Liaise with monitoring teams, and facilitate internal learning.

2. Lead knowledge management and learning, ensuring the integration of best practices in inclusive systems approaches (such as MSD) and skills development.

• Support Helvetas Ukraine program team and key partners understand and apply systemic market development approaches.

• Steer the improvement of the quality of research and analysis produced by Helvetas Ukraine, and the strategic program design.

• Ability to design and implement program interventions/actions are consistent with systemic market development approaches.

• Support programme staff in implementing the projects using key principles sustainability and applying inclusive market systems frameworks, such as the MSD approach.

• Functional MRM system with all the required tools and components is in place.

• Support evidence based decision-making within the program team.

• Develop methodologies and partnerships to engage the private sector in Helvetas’ work.

3. Represent the organization in national and international forums to advocate for systemic economic development solutions.

• Actively participate in national and international conferences, working groups, and coordination platforms, presenting Helvetas’ experience and approaches in economic recovery and inclusive systems approaches such as MSD.

• Advocate for systemic, inclusive, and sustainable economic development models by contributing to policy dialogues and technical discussions with government and development partners.

• Share evidence, lessons learned, and success stories from Helvetas programs for advocacy, as well as to generate partnerships with national stakeholders, donors and peer organizations.

• Collaborate with the communications team to develop speaking points, presentations, and visibility materials that reflect Helvetas’ positioning and strategic priorities.

4. Engage in Project management

• Lead or actively contribute to Project management, especially of Research type of projects.

• The project management engagement will be agreed and delivered in collaboration with Program 

  Manager and Country Director.

  
  

Key qualities for success in this role:

• Highly competent in inclusive, market-driven systemic development approaches, such as the Market System Development (MSD) approach
• Advanced understanding and experience of economic development (with concrete experience in private sector development, private sector engagement, public-private partnerships, value chain development [VCD], local economic development, and sustainability etc.)
• Experience in practical approaches to integrate vulnerable group
• At least five years of experience in development cooperation particularly in economic recovery and development, and a minimum of seven years of work experience since graduation.
• Application of a systemic/MSD approach to program implementation or consulting.
• Strong ability to think strategically and come up with innovative solutions.
• Competencies in facilitation, reporting/writing, communication, presentation techniques.
• Excellent knowledge in written and spoken English.

We’re Hiring – Inclusive Opportunities! 

At Helvetas, we believe that diversity and inclusivity make us stronger. We welcome professionals with disabilities and are ready to provide a supportive and accessible work environment.

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Helvetas - the largest Swiss non -state with a double mandate for long -term development and humanitarian assistance. It has been present in Ukraine for several years, implementing development projects mainly through local partners.

in 2022, Helvetas began providing emergency care. We are currently building our prompt presence to provide comprehensive assistance in connection with the current humanitarian crisis. Helvetas plans to be active in Ukraine over the next 5 years. To support the strategic development of initiatives on the restoration of sustainable economic development and development of skills based on sustainable methodologies, such as the approach of development of market systems (MSD) in Ukraine. Logic of intervention, which include the principles of sustainable and inclusive development of market systems, adapted to the changing economic context of Ukraine.

2.  Provision of high -quality technical expertise and strategic guidance for programs and business development, providing consistency with global best practices, Helvetas approaches and economic context Ukraine.

• Provide key strategic guidance and development of capacity for Helvetas office staff in Ukraine regarding the application of integrated approaches to market systems through continuous non -formal consultation and recommendations. and analysis for directed and systemic interventions. design and improvement of system intervention. by market actors, partnership development, acting as a professional and reputable representative aboutgrams.

• To support the development of economic programs by conducting high quality research and analysis to form a deep understanding of development issues and to identify points for directed and systemic interventions in the field of economic recovery. Strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including donors, private sector representatives, state agencies, to promote sustainable economic growth. donors.

• represent Helvetas at national and international events, forums and technical working groups concerning economic recovery, skills development, private sector attract in Ukraine.

• to lead coordination and exchange of experience between Helvetas in Ukraine and other countries or regional/global teams, facilitating mutual training and innovation. style = "font-style: italic; FONT-Weight: Bold ">

  Participation in Programs and Business Development, including Writing Offers, Interaction with Donors and Strategic Position. Helvetas Ukraine in the field of sustainable economic restoration, development of market systems, attracting private sector and related topics

• to manage or participate in the development of high -quality concepts and proposals, ensuring consistency with donors, national development targets and nd. and maintain a strong relationship with private sector partners, civil society, government agencies, as well as donors, actively positioning Helvetas as a reliable and valuable partner. teams

• interact with monitoring teams and promote internal training.