Strategic Consultant in CommittedToGood

Job description

CTG overview

CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.

CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and have done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.

Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.

Visit www.ctg.org to find out more

Overview of position

• On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian & socio economic toll, global energy & food crisis, large scale destruction of the country's infrastructure & disruptions in the provision of critical services & degradation of social fabrics & communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements. 

• Severe attacks on energy & critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy & agricultural production & also affect the poorest countries worldwide.

• Our client support to partners spans the humanitarian development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy & mine action sectors, through infrastructure, procurement & technical assistance / project management interventions, with the ultimate aim of supporting the country on its EU accession & in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).

• The consultants will be recruited & asked to join the mine action team in Kyiv to review the development of a Mine Action (MA) program positioned within Kyiv. The consultants will visit in 2024 & provide the program with their report & recommendations following their mission. The scope of the mission, as well as the detail required for reporting, necessitates that two consultants are hired.

• The consultants are expected to travel to areas outside of Kyiv, depending on the security situation in Ukraine at the time. This will include visiting national entities in oblasts not currently accessible to UN staff. The consultants will travel to minefields, where UN staff are required to go with a driver & armored vehicle. They will visit with implementing partners & state institutions, in their own vehicles. 

• The consultants will report to the Head of the Mine Action Program & provide suggestions in line with the needs of the program. 

• Our clients MA section in Kyiv (hereafter the section) has arranged a series of meetings that will enable the consultants to judge the complexity of the international support to MA (IED disposal is within the chapeau of MA). 

• The consultants will meet with Ukrainian national entities operational, NGOs, & two commercial sector actors also a representative from the Irish embassy. National state entities met were the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), the State Emergency Services of Ukraine (SESU), the State Transport Special Service (SSTS).

• In depth discussions were undertaken with the section & others in the Kyiv office, with two video meetings with our clients PSC office in New York.

Role objectives

Overall object of this assignment:

• Provide advice in the development of a country program strategy by generating recommendations in order to facilitate streamlined project objectives implementation & donor reporting.

Considering relevant documents, including:

• Ukrainian state MA & development strategies & priorities.

• Our clients corporate objectives & goals.

• Mine action strategies & policies of the broader UN system.

Guiding the team in the creation of a program logical framework & theory of change, which would:

• Encompass impact, outcome & output level.

• Provide outcomes covering comprehensive MA services, including those not yet delivered under the current projects.

• Consider in detailed focus project design, pipeline projects & provide recommendations for further improvement.

Review & evaluate the evolution of the program since its inception in July 2023, including the implementation of the recommendation of the earlier review, structure, work procedures, project delivery, placement within our clients strengths & weaknesses:

• Provide the Head of Portfolio & the MA team with a holistic picture of the program’s achievements & setbacks.

Consider technical recommendations to the Head of Portfolio, including but not limited to the following areas:

• Evolution of EO threat & MA needs in Ukraine.

• Application of MA technology & innovative approaches.

• Provide recommendations for our clients opportunities to embrace new technology & innovations & value add of our clients MA team in facilitating the development of MA sector in Ukraine.

Deliver a detailed high quality report covering points the above points to consist of at least the following sections:

• Stocktaking of recommendations provided by MA team.

• Suggestion on the improvement of the program strategy, in alignment with the strategic vision of the Head of Portfolio.

• Program logframe.

• Program SWOT analysis.

• Recommendations & priorities for future programming.

Analysis / description of development an observations & recommendations for future development of program, including program development, project design, pipeline prioritization with regards to:

• Evolving EO threat & mine action needs in Ukraine.

• Ukrainian state actors & policies in MA.

• Programming & approaches of NGO & commercial MA entities in Ukraine.

• Donor trends & program financing opportunities.

• Support to SSTS in alignment with their current needs.

In order to deliver on these points, the Strategic Consultant will:

• Undertake desk review of relevant policies & reports before traveling to Ukraine.

• Travel to Ukraine & visit relevant stakeholders (program to be confirmed). 

• Draft & submit a draft report to the program, with the report to be accepted by the Head of Portfolio.

The report structure will be as follows (but is open to adjustment):

• Context overview.

• Environment, to consider the environment in which the programme is taking place, political, legal, economic, social, etc.

• Strategy proposition, this will detail an advised strategy based on the environment.

• Necessary steps, this will set out necessary steps for the program irrespective of approach (baselining, database development, M&E, etc.).

• Programming options, this will set out a range of options that could be taken.

• Operational considerations, this will identify & assess the key operational considerations that should be taken, with recommendations as to how these issues could be dealt with.

• Annex's, including list of those consulted, primary data, etc.

Other responsibilities include:

• Consider the programmes of the MA sector in Ukraine by International NGOs (INGO's), local NGOs (LNGO's), commercials, donors; as related to our clients Ukraine MA program.

• Review program development & recommend steps for further maturity including staff development, compliance measure, sustainability & gender mainstreaming, coherent collaboration & delivery along with other UAMCO units & providing concrete short & medium term recommendations.

• Review the operations of Ukrainian state MA actors such as National Mine Action Authorities (NMAA), Ministry of Economy (MOE), SSTS, SESU, NPU to contribute towards program stakeholder analysis. A particular focus will be given to SSTS, as a primary partner for the organization in MA initiatives. 

• Consider impact of MA Coordinator shift from UNDP to RCO & its bearing on our clients MA mandate in Ukraine.

Project reportingThe selected candidate will report to the Head of the MA Program.

Key competencies

• Master degree with 7 years of relevant experience or bachelor’s degree with 9 years of relevant experience is required.

• 15 years of MA experience, program management or related field of work including humanitarian or development work is required.

• 10 years of experience with donor engagement is required.

• Familiarity with emergency contexts, particularly war.

• Previous experience with the mapping of whole country program strategies.

• Knowledge of the Ukranian context, including key stakeholders, relevant ministries, key partners for our client.

• Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience working in Ukraine.

• Fluency in English (read, write & speak) is required.

• Develops & implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term & externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates & perceives the impact & implications of future decisions & activities on other parts of the organization.

• Treats all individuals with respect, responds sensitively to differences & encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational & ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity & inclusion.

• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates & supports the development of others. Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs & inspires others to succeed, utilising appropriate leadership styles.

• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners & always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds & maintains strong external relationships & is a competent partner for others (if relevantto the role).

• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self & / or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities & takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our clients impact on their beneficiaries.

• Open to change & flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences & modifies own behaviour. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

• Evaluates data & courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation & creativity to problem solving.

• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise & open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings & needs of others. Actively listens & proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion & finding common ground.

Team managementThis role has no team management responsibility.

Further informationQualified female candidates candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.

Disclaimer:
· At no stage of the recruitment process will CTG ask candidates for a fee. This includes during the application stage, interview, assessment and training.
· CTG has a zero tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) which is outlined in its Code of Conduct. Protection from SEA is everyone’s responsibility and all staff are required to adhere to CTG’s Code of Conduct at all times.