Why you should join us:

The British Embassy in Kyiv is part of a world-wide network representing British political, economic and consular overseas. There now exists an exciting opportunity for a Governance Advisor to join its Economy, Recovery & Reconstruction Team. 

FCDO Governance Advisers support improvements in governance and politics that enable development, stability, and inclusive growth and improved opportunities for the poorest and marginalised groups. In so doing, they play an important role in helping FCDO to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and instability, which is central to the UK’s commitment to Ukraine.

This role is based in a team designing and then implementing a multiyear Economic Recovery & Reconstruction (ER&R) Programme focused on supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery through a range of lenses. The team is designed to have a pair of Governance Advisers – one UK-based, who works on ER&R but also covers other programming in the FCDO portfolio, and one (this role) locally-based which is dedicated to the ER&R programme specifically. Your in-depth understanding of Ukrainian systems and dynamics at different levels of government, as well as your understanding of how to promote inclusive economic growth, will be a crucial part of helping the team design and implement an appropriate, effective and flexible programme. You will work across the Embassy advising on public administration reform in different areas (such as energy, infrastructure and defence) ensuring UK policies and projects and thinking and working politically and considering Ukraine’s political economy.

The politics and political economy of reform in Ukraine are complex and you will be expected to bring to the table a strong understanding of both and have the skills to translate that understanding into programming decisions and to provide advice and support for colleagues across the team. You will need to build and maintain networks with relevant government counterparts at various levels –in particular the Ministry of Restoration, Agency of Reconstruction, civil society, technical experts, and like-minded missions who have a similar interest in seeing reform agendas succeed in Ukraine. 

You will also work closely with the team’s UK-based Governance Adviser with overall responsibility for FCDO-baseline programming, who will help to shape your role and work, and can provide advice and guidance as needed. Between you will also take on the broader task of increasing knowledge and uptake of developmental/governance approaches across the Embassy, working with a range of cross-government stakeholders in the UK to build in political economy considerations, and supporting improved integration of policy and programming as well as helping build the new FCDO culture at post and beyond. 

The current operating environment is challenging and rapidly changing. The role combines the need to respond to short term demands with delivery of strategic programmes, thinking and analysis. It also requires flexibility and tolerance for uncertainty and change. While this offers real opportunities to make a difference on issues that matter, it can also be extremely challenging, and you will require high levels of resilience.

The role entails:

(60%) Programme delivery:

Delivering high-quality governance advice to the initiation, development, and implementation of the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Business Case, including embedding governance approaches throughout the inception period and driving the strategic coherence of the programme. Develop and maintain a strong understanding of Ukraine’s political economy and politics in the Early Recovery & Reconstruction (ER&R) space, including through building networks with government counterparts, civil society, technical experts, and like-minded missions, and producing targeted political economy analysis as needed. Tracking key issues and developments around decentralisation, inclusive economic growth and public administration reform.

(20%) Cross-mission engagement:

Playing an active role in relevant Embassy cross-mission Delivery Groups and work closely with colleagues in Policy Delivery Team to design influencing and engagement strategies to support our programming and advance UK objectives Quality assure projects and provide light-touch governance advice as needed, leading Embassy thinking and advising cross government on public administration reform approaches and risks. Support learning by working closely with the programme team’s other Governance Adviser to support increased knowledge and uptake of developmental and governance approaches and evidence across the Embassy, including partners across government to help ensure interventions think and work politically.

(10%) Donor coordination and representation:

Representing the UK, leveraging our political influence and programmes to help advance our ER&R ambitions in Ukraine. Building and maintaining strong relationships with relevant donors to keep your understanding up to date and improve coordination. This will also include feeding into relevant international and multilateral fora and contributions to inward senior visits from the UK. 

(10%) Producing and quality assuring political economy analysis to guide UK policy and programming.

Given the rapid pace of developments in Ukraine and uncertain staffing it is possible the role may change, and you will need to be flexible and adaptable in deploying your governance skillset across a wide range of issues as required. It is possible you will act as project lead for a number governance programmes, working with others to ensure they comply with the Programme Operating Framework, meet HMG priorities, and deliver results. 

The current portfolio includes programmes working on – e-governance and digital transformation; anticorruption; procurement; damages and war assessments; regional recovery planning; judicial reform; elections and democracy; civil society resilience; and women’s and LGBTQ+ political empowerment and inclusion. You must be a team player willing to lean in where the need is greatest. 

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Ukrainian (C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
• Bachelors degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Public Policy, Political Science, Governance and Development Studies, International Relations, Finance and Economics and Management) 
• Strong governance expertise on political economy analysis, inclusive economic growth and decentralised governance Experience of judicial reform and/or public sector governance and/ or anti-corruption would also be useful.
• A creative, well-networked, assured and influential self-starter; able to conceptualise, challenge and lead debates on policy and programming; and confident and comfortable working across a variety of teams, organisations, disciplines and policy areas.
• The ability to research, benchmark, scope, design, implement and evaluate project delivery to tight deadlines on a range of themes. Demonstrable resilience to manage multiple projects concurrently is an advantage.
• A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.
• Experience of the full programme design, implementation and closure cycle.

Key governance technical competencies required for this role

Technical Competency 1: Applied Governance and Political Economy Analysis 
Technical Competency 2: Inclusive Growth and Economic Development
Technical Competency 3: Public Sector Governance and Service Delivery