Community Engagement Analyst, NPSA-8, DS Dnipro (National Position)

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so that countries can sustain progress. As the United Nations’ development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In Ukraine, UNDP operates in five programmatic areas of support: government capacities for crisis response and management; sustaining provision of public services; emergency works facilitating return and reconstruction; incomes, livelihoods and the private sector response; and civil society and maintenance of the social fabric.

The war in Ukraine has resulted in significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and devastating destruction of infrastructure, placing recent socio-economic achievements at risk. In this context, UNDP’s core engagement in Ukraine prioritizes safeguarding development gains, supporting the restoration of critical functions, and facilitating the country’s pathway back toward achieving the SDGs as quickly as possible.

The ongoing war has inflicted profound damage on Ukraine’s economy, infrastructure, and social fabric, creating unprecedented humanitarian and environmental challenges. According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4), released in February 2025, the total cost of reconstruction and recovery amounts to USD 524 billion over the next decade. For 2025, recovery and reconstruction priorities total USD 17.32 billion across public investment projects and non-investment programmes, identified through the Public Investment Management (PIM) system introduced by the Government of Ukraine in 2024. These priorities feed into a nationally coordinated pipeline of recovery interventions, relevant to the European Investment Bank (EIB)-funded Ukraine Early Recovery Programme (UERP), Ukraine Recovery Programme (URP), and Ukraine Recovery Programme III (URP-III).

The EIB-funded recovery programmes supported by UNDP Technical Assistance (TA) focus on five recovery priority areas: education facilities, healthcare infrastructure, housing, water and sewage systems, and public/administrative buildings. Since early 2017, UNDP in partnership with the EU and EIB has been providing TA to both UERP and URP with the implementation of 438 sub-projects in more than 170 communities, contributing to the successful completion of 117 sub-projects in 12 oblasts and benefiting around 4 million Ukrainians, including more than 460,000 internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.

Building on the successful implementation of previous EIB-financed recovery programmes – the UERP and URP – the new URP III aims at further supporting investments in critical public infrastructure in regions and communities affected by the RF’s military aggression and providing basic public services to affected populations. The UNDP Technical Assistance for the Ukraine Recovery Programme (URP and URP-III) is a 24-month initiative, funded by the EIB. It ensures that EIB-financed recovery investments are delivered efficiently and transparently, in full compliance with the EIB Environmental and Social Standards and the EIB Guide to Procurement, while applying build back better principles and ensuring that no one is left behind.

The UNDP TA team will support the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine (MDCT) and local authorities in planning, preparation, procurement, implementation, and monitoring of recovery sub-projects across multiple oblasts in Ukraine, with priority given to war-affected communities, addressing critical capacity gaps and operational bottlenecks. UNDP provides integrated technical assistance throughout the sub-project cycle, including engineering and procurement monitoring, environmental and social risk management, financial management support, integrity and anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder engagement. By combining UNDP’s national presence and technical expertise, the UNDP project is expected to accelerate the implementation of over 300 EIB-funded sub-projects, contributing to the restoration of essential public services, strengthening of infrastructure resilience, and improved living conditions for conflict-affected populations, including IDPs and vulnerable groups.

In this regard, UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Community Engagement Analyst.

The overall objective of this assignment is to ensure the proper implementation of Social Management Plan (SMP) and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the UERP/URP framework loans provided by the EIB. It is anticipated that the incumbent will contribute to expanding the EIB Programmes’ contribution to strengthening of social cohesion and inclusion in TA project target regions, and ensure community participation, transparency and accountability of the Programmes implementation by means of building stakeholder engagement and communication models, developing capacity of final beneficiaries, the civil society, the authorities and other key stakeholders to work together on social infrastructure recovery projects; and mitigating any adverse social impacts and risks related to the implementation of recovery projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

I. Ensure Project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Support the EIB Recovery Programmes in carrying out comprehensive needs assessments, as well as situational and policy analyses, in target regions and communities to identify priorities and inform strategic and project planning accurately.
• Establish and strengthen working relationships with partners of the EIB Recovery Programmes at sub-national and local levels. This includes, but is not limited to, regional/local authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), ensuring a collaborative approach to community development.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate stakeholder consultations and relevant field missions, employing participatory methods to ensure the inclusion of diverse community voices and perspectives in organization’s strategic and project planning and implementation.
• Contribute to the formulation of project concepts and proposals, the creation of detailed implementation plans, and the design of capacity-building and awareness-raising activities. This also includes developing initiatives that respond dynamically to community needs and policy landscapes.
• Liaise with partners and facilitate communication on project related activities.
• Manage the organization of project activities in alignment with the project implementation plan, adhering to quality standards and value for money, and following the organization’s procurement policies and procedures. Oversee the preparation of logistical and procurement actions necessary for activity implementation, including monitoring and evaluation. Provide recommendations for adjustments to work plans based on updated needs assessments as necessary.
• Contribute to the preparation of progress reports, and other reports as per required by the organization.
• Support in the planning and organization of Project Board meetings, ensuring the engagement of relevant partners and stakeholders and facilitating effective communication and collaboration among them.
• Execure work missions.

II. Ensure Community Development and Engagement, partnership building and resource mobilization
• Support various assessments aimed to identify local community recovery and development needs, priorities, and initiatives integrated into regional and local recovery and development strategies, plans and project portfolios.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping, develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies, engaging vulnerable and seldom-heard groups in project activities, local and regional decision-making, recovery and development projects and initiatives.
• Support the establishment of cross-sectoral partnerships for the implementation of local initiatives contributing to the regional and local recovery and development strategies and plans as well as UNDP’s programmatic objectives.
• Facilitate collaborations between the public authorities and multiple stakeholders within IDRPB-Regional Development projects and beyond.
• Work with local and regional stakeholders and support the development of community-led initiatives on the development and recovery.
• Provide support to local and regional stakeholders in the development and execution of resource mobilization strategies for community-led initiatives and projects.
• Support the communication and networking with project donors and other relevant donors, NGOs and UN agencies to generate their interest in project activities and to build synergy.
• Work as a trainer and resource person in the training organized for the communities and other partners in the region.

III. Facilitate knowledge management and communication of results
• Identify, communicate and share the best practices and lessons learned from the implemented local initiatives.
• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice where applicable.
• Proactively share information with the IG team and UNDP country office.
• Support the implementation of communication plans, production and dissemination of communication products to raise the profile of the project and awareness of action.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other UN agencies, governmental institutions, NGOs, and other organizations on monitoring and evaluation issues; keep abreast of the latest developments and professional norms, standards, tools and methodologies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor, and UNDP Ukraine Leadership.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement

The Community Development Officer will work under the strategic guidance of the ProjectManager and under the direct supervision of the Stakeholder Engagement Analyst

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision Making Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications. Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Business Management Results-based Management Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies,instruments, and tools. Business Management Operations Management Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, in order to convert the organization’s assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms. Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. Finance Budget management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets. Administration and Operations Documents and records management Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving. Administration and Operations Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings) Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc. 2030 Agenda: People Gender Gender and Crisis

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Law, International Relations, Political Science, Media or other related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the fields described above in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieur of Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in regional or community development or related areas.

Desired Criteria:

• Experience in capacity development and training in the areas of stakeholders/community engagement, community mobilization, environmental and social monitoring would be an advantage
• Experience in civil society development and civic activism would be an advantage;
• Familiarity with social and environmental standards of international organizations/institutions, in particular EIB Environmental and Social standards, would be an advantage;
• Experience of working/liaisoning with UNDP or other UN agencies and evidence of knowledge of the respecitve policies and procedures will be considered an asset.
• Experience in organizing events (forums, conferences, etc.) at national or sub-national levels (please list at least 5 events) is desired.

Required Language(s) :

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Ukrainian is required for local personnel.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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