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Procurement

Local Experts – UKRAINE

Published on January 14, 2026 - Closing date: January 30, 2026

1. BACKGROUND

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) is a public-private delivery mechanism created to support effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) through partnerships between governments and the private sector. GATF is a cooperative effort funded by Canada, Germany, the European Union, and Sweden.

GATF’s Secretariat is composed of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-WBO), and the World Economic Forum (WEF), with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as an implementing partner.

GATF is looking to support the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) advance its digitalization transformation strategy through two workstreams:

  1. Development of the front-end for the new eFood public services system
  2. Development of four e-services for certification of food products

To support the implementation of this potential project, GATF plans to hire local experts to work with the Office of Digitalization of the SSUFSCP created by the Order on the Establishment of the Office of Digitalization under the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection No. 621, dated of September 9, 2024.[1]

 

2. GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The local experts will work closely and cooperatively with the Office of Digitalization, private sector stakeholders, and the rest of GATF’s team to ensure a timely and adequate implementation of the project; providing both day-to-day management of project activities and expert support in all areas of the project

 

3. TECHNICAL PROFILE OF CANDIDATES

For this potential project, GATF, together with the SSUFSCP, has preliminarily identified it would need local support from 4-5 professionals, who will serve as lead, general coordinator, IT-specialist (product-owner, business analyst) and subject matter experts (including lawyers).

3.1 Qualifications

  • Master’s degree or equivalent university degree in Law, Business Administration, Business Process Reengineering, Agriculture and Food Safety, Trade, Economics, Engineering, Information Technology, Project Management or another relevant field.
  • At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in project management, law, public reform and/or digitalization, ideally overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder engagement and procurement processes.
  • Experience and understanding of Ukraine’s political context and public administration reform;
  • Intermediate to proficient in English and Ukrainian, both written and spoken.

Must be legally authorized to live and work in Ukraine.

 

3.2 Relevant Knowledge and Experience

  • Knowledge of regulatory legal acts processes, in accordance with the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
  • Knowledge of relevant Ukrainian legislation in the fields of digitalization and food safety and consumer protection would be an advantage.[2]
  • Appropriate level of communication skills to ensure proper cooperation with ministries and other official bodies, partners and representatives of business communities in the field.
  • Understanding of public service delivery processes ideally in the field of food safety and consumer protection.
  • Experience working with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and State Special Communications Service of Ukraine would be an advantage.
  • Experience establishing and coordinating working groups in state bodies.
  • Proven experience in designing, coordinating, or supervising the implementation of IT systems or digital tools, preferably within or for government agencies or regulatory authorities.
  • Previous work experience with both public and private sector stakeholders in Ukraine, especially in digitalization, trade-related, regulatory, or modernization projects.
  • Experience supporting digital transformation efforts, e-government services, or risk-based compliance systems.
  • Hands-on experience with monitoring, evaluation, and results reporting for donor-funded projects.
  • Understanding international trade facilitation principles and frameworks such as the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, WCO SAFE Framework, SPS and Origin regulations.
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; able to manage multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
  • Ability to learn quickly, work independently and in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

 

4. SCOPE OF WORK

Under the supervision of the designated GATF Officer, the activities of the local experts will include, but are not limited to:

  • Providing project management services to facilitate the development of the initiative in accordance with GATF’s goals.
  • Advising on legal, regulatory, administrative, financial, information technology and business process matters, in accordance with their profile, experience and the needs of the project.
  • Leading project activities, with emphasis in collaboration and coordination with Ukrainian government officials, as well as public and private sector organizations.
  • Liaising and managing relationships with Ukrainian government officials, private sector stakeholders, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations.
  • Drafting, reviewing and updating the project strategy, documents and reports on a regular basis.
  • Coordinating the Project Working Group.

 

5. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

It is expected that the local experts will conduct, as a minimum, the following activities with the Office of Digitalization:

  • Update and manage the project plan.
  • Arrange consultations with the private sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout the execution of the project.
  • Organize regular meetings with the Project Working Group and ad hoc meetings with other stakeholders, as needed.
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports (including executive documents and presentations as needed) highlighting the activities conducted, challenges faced, proposed solutions, and monthly and quarterly objectives.
  • Elaborate workflows, validate proposed operating procedures with stakeholders, draft regulatory reforms and promote their approval as needed.
  • Manage and undertake the required measurement activities including but not limited to carrying out project surveys, collecting data for logframe and trackers and implementing the results planner.
  • Execute data collection requirements to measure project results in coordination with the Alliance Metrics and Benchmarking team.
  • Lead the procurement process of any consultant or service provider required to implement the project by drafting terms of reference, validating requirements with relevant stakeholders, evaluating technical and financial proposals if necessary.
  • Supervise and support the work of all the consultants or service providers engaged to implement the project activities, including their coordination with public and private project counterparts.
  • Co-lead project review exercises to adjust, organize, and streamline procedures, schedules, and plans, identifying risks for project implementation and proposing corrective actions if needed.
  • Document all changes requested to project scope, schedule, and budget.
  • Translate brief documents from English to Ukrainian and vice versa as needed.

 

6. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The duration of the contract is expected to be twelve (12) months with the possibility to extend depending on performance and project status. Expected start date: February 16, 2026.

 

7. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

  • Candidates should already reside in Kyiv (Ukraine).
  • The assignment will require approximately 75-80% of the experts’ work schedule.
  • Travel within and outside Ukraine to meet with government officials and private sector operators could be required. All work-related traveling expenses outside of the Kyiv area will be funded by the program.
  • Local experts will act as contractors, engagement shall not be deemed to constitute a partnership, joint venture, agency, or other form of joint enterprise with any of GATF’s host organizations, nor be deemed as their employees, subcontractors, agents, or representatives.
  • Office space will be provided by SSUFSCP, subject to availability, therefore the consultants are expected to work at their premises or remotely.
  • The project will not provide computers for the experts; consultants are expected to utilize their own equipment and basic office software.

 

8. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The selected candidate will submit invoices monthly to GATF for approval and payment. GATF will make payments upon receipt and acceptance of said invoices.

 

9. APPLICATION

To apply for this opportunity, candidates must send their resume and cover letter in English, including their financial compensation prospect, to tradejobs@cipe.org by 5:00pm Kyiv Time, January 30, 2026 with the subject line: “GATF Ukraine – [FULL NAME]”.

Consulting firms and other legal entities can send an application as a group, provided that it contains the resumes of all proposed professionals and a breakdown of their monthly fee.

Any questions should be communicated in writing before the due date to the same email address.

 

10. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

Evaluation of the applicants’ suitability for this consultancy will be based on their technical background as provided on the resume and cover letter, as well as their financial requirements.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to an interview.

This Request for Proposals does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of GATF and its host organizations, nor does it commit the organizations to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

 

[1] The Office of Digitalization under the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is a collegial consultative and advisory body established to ensure effective digital transformation, digital development, and digitalization of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, as well as enterprises, institutions, and organizations falling within its scope of management.

[2] Basic Principles and Requirements for Food Safety and Quality; Administrative Services; Administrative Procedure; List of Documents of a Permitting Nature in the Sphere of Economic Activity; Protection of Information in Information and Communication Systems; State electronic registers; Order of the CMU 205 on issues of creating, administering and ensuring the functioning of an information tool, among others.