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Eurasia Program of the Open Society Foundations and

the International Renaissance Foundation, Ukraine

To populate a new Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) to support the Ukraine Government in its process of reform

HELP SHAPE UKRAINE’S REFORM AGENDA!

Ukraine urgently needs to elaborate and implement deep institutional and economic policies and reforms. The new government has inherited the previous authorities’ low institutional and functional capacity. To successfully translate its commitment to change, it needs to bring together all available intellectual resources to help prepare and implement institutional and structural reforms that would go beyond the much needed short-term stabilization and liberalization measures currently being implemented.

The Open Society Foundations (OSF) has offered to help design and implement a Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) on economic reform to provide the Ukrainian government with high level advisory assistance. The group’s goal is to help the government produce a comprehensive economic reform program, support its implementation over the medium term and to provide urgent ad hoc advice to meet immediate needs in close coordination with international financial institutions (IFIs), other international organizations and donor agencies. The group will be closely integrated in the policy elaboration process and could serve as a backbone for an institution, akin to a National Economic Council, to be based in the Cabinet or the President’s Administration and/or an independent body such as a Council of Economic Advisors. It should also feed into the creation of a domestic EU integration mechanism to work toward the implementation of the recently signed association agreement and harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with EU law and regulations.

A steering group established by the OSF is creating a pool of domestic and international knowledge and experts to serve in the SAG. The group will focus on economic reform but consider a broad range of policy areas, including anti-corruption and transparency, creating a positive investment climate, international trade policy, monetary policy and the financial sector, structural policy, decentralization, health and education policy and judiciary reform. The SAG will be led by a person recognized in the local and international community as a thought leader on Ukraine’s economy, and will be supported by a secretariat. Sector-specific working groups are expected to be headed by experienced Ukrainian experts (now working in the country or outside), supported by Ukrainian and international advisers as well as young professionals charged with organizing the group’s work.

The Open Society Foundations is looking for experts, who can lead the working groups or contribute as working members, including Ukrainians now working for international organizations or institutions, and high level internationally recognized transition specialists. The initial engagement will be for 4-6 months (full time or part time) to help prepare a comprehensive reform program together with the government. It may be prolonged to deepen the program, assist with the designing of implementation mechanisms or providing other forms of ad hoc advice.

For the implementation of this project OSF is working in close coordination with its local Ukrainian Foundation, the International Renaissance Foundation, the Ukrainian Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting and other Ukrainian and international institutions and has secured high level buy in from the Ukrainian government and its Ministers. It is also cooperating closely with Ukrainian civil society organizations who have set up their own Coordination Center for Support of Reform to support the government’s anti-corruption initiatives.

The steering group of the SAG (led by Dr. Ihor Burakovsky, Dr. Yevhen Bystrytsky and Dr. Alexander Pivovarsky) is soliciting expressions of interest from Ukrainian professionals and nominations for the roles of heads and members of the working groups as well as young professionals to serve as executive secretaries of the groups.

Personal and professional qualifications:

• Experience in providing high level policy advice in the areas of macro-economic, trade, monetary policy, inter-governmental finance, taxation and fiscal issues, but also potentially with regards to social security, energy, infrastructure, public administration, public health, education, decentralization, e-governance reform.

• Previous work experience in Ukraine as well as other emerging market countries.

• At least an MA from a highly respected university and 10 years experience in economics, law, humanities, social sciences or another relevant subject.

• Excellent analytical and report writing skills.

• Fluency in English (required), in Russia and Ukrainian (highly desirable).

• Proven interpersonal and conflict management skills.

• Demonstrated capacity to coordinate with multiple partners (governmental and non-governmental) would be valued.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The Expert will provide policy advice to the SAG and assist the beneficiary authorities in implementing policies and strategies. For this purpose the Expert will:

• Depending on the level of experience, participate in meetings of the SAG secretariat and/or its working groups in person in Kiev or virtually.

• Prepare policy recommendations, carrying out policy research, drafting analytical reports, contributing to the drafting of the comprehensive economic reform program for the Ukraine government.

• Participate in meetings with civil society representatives, focus groups and other stakeholders in Ukraine and amongst persons working on Ukraine reform issues.

• Liaise with and report to the SAG’s secretariat and when needed, with OSF/IRF appointed staff.

• Submit interim and final reports on his or her own activities to the SAG secretariat.

• Raise stakeholders’ awareness of the policy implications of the Government’s reform agenda and the IMF Memorandum and the EU Association Agreement implementation processes.

• Identify the main systematic and capacity gaps for effective implementation of the reform agenda and propose ways to close those gaps.

• Assist in the identification of policy and legislative priorities.

• Assist in drafting new legislation or amendment to legislation necessary for the implementation of the government’s reform agenda.

• Strengthen the institutional capacities of the beneficiary institution to design, manage and monitor policy.

• Liaise with other donors to ensure coordination and synergy of various programs in the area of expertise.

• Advise on the development of formal mechanisms to ensure that feedback from policy implementation is duly taken into consideration during monitoring and evaluation of policies.

The above responsibilities will be carried out through but not limited to: development of strategy documents, reviews, assessments, policy papers, advisory notes, methodologies, other relevant documentation as well as provision of technical on-the-job advice as required by the beneficiary, and support to networking of stakeholders.

To express your interest in joining the SAG or nominate candidates, please contact the steering group at the following email address: sagteam@sag-ukraine.com and sag_uareform@ier.kiev.ua.

To apply please submit a curriculum vitae, motivation letter and two referees at the bottom of the curriculum vitae

The SAG secretariat plans to begin operations by end-June so expressions of interest sent before end-May are most appreciated.