High-level mediator/High-level mediator in Chemonics Group UK Ltd./ PFRU 2

General information.

Program "Partnership for a strong Ukraine" Phase-2 (PFRU-2) is a multi-year donor program implemented under the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth of Nations and Development Affairs (MFA) of Great Britain in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine. The goal of PFRU-2 is to provide the Ukrainian state with better conditions for managing the inclusive recovery and revival of Ukraine in partnership with civil society and the private sector in the face of Russian aggression.

The Memory component of the PFRU Transitional Justice and Missing Persons Mechanism (TJ-MPM) project aims to meet the huge demand from on the part of victims of serious violations and their families to recognize their experiences and at the same time contribute to the mitigation of social tensions by popularizing practices of working with memory based on participative, inclusive and nationwide methodological principles. PFRU is looking for a professional mediator to work in the TJ-MPM project. The consultant will be expected to conduct mediation sessions in communities where there is increasing tension (both at the community level and between different levels of government) around memorialization processes.

The work will require physical presence and travel to identified communities in PFRU-II target areas that are not front-line but heavily affected by the war, viz. de-occupied and former front-line communities of Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Zaporizhia regions.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

With the support and guidance of the technical experts of the "Memory" component, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

• Conducting a generalized assessment of the conflict regarding memorialization issues in the target communities.
• Creating a comprehensive map of all parties and stakeholders involved in the conflict.
• Compiling a mediation plan with the definition of the appropriate format and guidelines, participants, minimum and maximum outcomes, as well as establishing the level of inclusivity necessary to start the mediation process.
• Together with PFRU experts, develop a risk minimization plan, including with respect to the principle of "do no harm", inclusiveness and mental health of the participants.
• Involvement of relevant stakeholders and implementation of confidence-building measures between the parties and confidence in the mediation process.
• Conducting mediation sessions in the mode of personal presence in accordance with the mediation plan for each identified community.
• Reporting to the PFRU component "Memory" on the progress of the mediation process(es) and its results in accordance with the provisions of the agreement concluded at the beginning.
• Establishment ofspecific cases of analyzing the dynamics of conflict and mediation based on participant observation and (if possible) summarizing the lessons learned regarding conflict resolution and their possible application to prevent conflicts in other communities.
• Promoting the exchange of information and coordinated interaction between mediation partners, donors and diplomatic structures.
• Identifying and managing political risks for the mediation process, including providing recommendations on their minimization and responding to them.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in political and social science, history, public administration, psychology, conflict studies or any related field;
• Minimum 7 years of experience in the field of high-level mediation;
• Deep understanding of transitional justice processes and memory dynamics in Ukraine, proven contextual sensitivity.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, ability to turn complex issues into discussionable ones.
• Prior experience in mediation in justice-related issues will be an advantage.
• Ability to manage expectations, remain impartial, objective and honest.
• Prior experience working with international technical assistance programs will be an advantage.
• High level of adaptability and readiness to adjust tasks and plans taking into account the context;
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is a must.

Management of the consultant(s):

The expert will report to the project manager and closely cooperate with the PFRU-2 program staff.

Period of work:

as soon as possible - 31/07/2027

Level of Engagement (LoE):

43 days

Application details:

Apply via the following link by December 5. For roles requiring knowledge of the English language, English-language resumes are preferred (but not required). We encourage applications from people with disabilities. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Please do not call. Chemonics will contact the finalists. 

PFRU-2 Recruitment - Candidate Application

Background

The Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine – Phase 2 (PFRU-2) is a multi-year, multi-donor funded programme managed by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and governed in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine. PFRU-2’s aim is to set improved conditions for the Ukrainian state, in partnership with civil society and the private sector, to lead on inclusive national recovery and revitalization in the context of Russia’s aggression.

Under the Transitional Justice and Missing Persons Mechanism (TJ-MPM) Project, PFRU Memory workstream is aiming at responding to the vast demand for recognition by victims and their families of serious violations, whilst helping mitigate social tensions by promoting memory practices that emphasise participatory, inclusive processes and national guidance. PFRU is looking for a professional mediator to work under the TJ-MPM Project. The consultant is expected to deliver mediation sessions in communities experiencing rising tensions - at the community level as well as between levels of government - around memorialisation processes. 

Work will require on-the-ground presence and travel to the determined hromadas in PFRU-II oblasts, which are not fronline hromadas, but strongly war -affected areas as deocuppied and former frontline hromadas of  Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolayiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

With the support and under the guidance of the memory team technical experts, the consultant is expected to carry out the following activities:

• Conduct a high-level conflict assessment, which pertains to the area of memoralisation in the targeted communities;
• Build a comprehensive mapping of all parties and stakeholders involved in the conflicting issue;
• Draft a mediation plan, including determining the appropriate format and guiding principles, the participants, the minimum and maximum outcome(s) as well as the identifying the level of inclusivity needed for the mediation process to start;
• Co-build with PFRU experts a risk mitigation plan, including around Do No Harm, inclusivity and mental-health considerations for the participants;
• Engage the relevant stakeholders and employ confidence-building measures to build trust between the parties and confidence in the mediation process;
• Conduct the mediation sessions in-person as set in the mediation plan for each identified community;
• As determined at the start of the contract, report to PFRU memory team on the progress of the mediation process(es) and its outcome(s);
• Create case-specific analysis of the conflict and mediation dynamics based on the participant-observation experiences, and, if possible, to generalize the lessons learned regarding conflict resolution and whether they can translate into conflict prevention in other communities;
• Facilitate information-sharing and coherence between mediation partners, donors, and diplomatic actors;
• Identify and manage political risks to the mediation process, providing recommendations for mitigation and response.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in political and social sciences, history, public administration, psychology, conflict studies, or any related field;
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in high-level mediation;
• Strong understanding of the transitional justice and memory dynamics in Ukraine and proven context-sensitivity.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to distill complex issues into accessible conversations.
• Prior mediation work on justice-related issues is a plus.
• Ability to manage expectations, remain impartial, objective and be a person of integrity.
• Prior experience of working with international technical assistance programme is a plus.
• High level of adaptability to adjust tasks and plans as the context requires it;
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Management of the Assignment: 

The expert will report to Project Manager while working in close cooperation with PFRU programme staff. 

Period of Performance: 

ASAP – 31/07/2027

Level of Effort:

43 days

Application Details: 

Apply using the following link by December 5th. For roles requiring English language skills, English language CVs are preferred (but not required). We encourage to apply people with disabilities. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists. 

PFRU-2 Recruitment - Candidate Application