TERMS OF REFERENCE

 Head of the Secretariat for Independent External Assessment of Effectiveness of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine 

Background

The European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine (EUACI) Phase III is the biggest European Union (EU) support program in the area of anti-corruption in Ukraine, co-funded and implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark on behalf of the EU. It is a four-year program (2024-2028).

The overall objective of the EUACI Phase II is the reduction of corruption in Ukraine at the national and local levels through the empowerment of citizens, civil society, business, and state institutions. Such state institutions include Ukraine's whole newly set-up anti-corruption infrastructure, where National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) plays important role in targeting high-level officials' corruption.  

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine  is a central executive body which is directly subordinated to the Government of Ukraine (the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine). The NABU is a pre-trial investigation body tasked with pre-trial investigation of large-scale and high-level corruption crimes committed by senior officials authorized to perform functions of the state or local self-governance. The Bureau has strong guarantees of independence prescribed in the law.

Investigative jurisdiction of the NABU includes corruption and other related criminal offenses (e.g., active and passive bribery in the public sector, foreign bribery, trading in influence, abuse of powers, embezzlement and misappropriation, illicit enrichment, money laundering, false statements in or non-submission of declarations by public officials). Criminal proceedings concerning these offenses belong to the NABU’s investigative mandate if (i) the offense is committed by a high-level official (e.g., former President, minister, MP, judge, civil servants of the highest level, etc.), and/or (ii) if the damage from the offense or undue benefit obtained as a result of the criminal offense exceeds a specific monetary threshold.

Cases investigated by the NABU are guided and prosecuted by specialized prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. Judicial oversight at the pre-trial stage and adjudication during the trial in the majority of the NABU-investigated cases is carried out by the specialized court – the High Anti-Corruption Court.

The Law on the NABU sets out that an independent external assessment of the NABU’s effectiveness (NABU Audit) shall be performed annually.

Objectives and results

The Head of the Secretariat will play a critical role in supporting the NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) assessment by overseeing administrative and operational tasks, coordinating with various stakeholders, and ensuring the efficient functioning of the Secretariat. This role requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and a comprehensive understanding of anti-corruption efforts and legal frameworks in Ukraine.

Scope of work:

The Head of the Secretariat is expected to:

1. Leadership and Management:

-       Oversee the daily operations of the Secretariat.

-       Lead a team of administrative and support staff, providing guidance and support to ensure high performance.

-       Develop and implement operational plans and workflows to ensure the efficient execution of tasks related to the NABU audit.

          2. Coordination and Communication:

-           Serve as the primary point of contact between the NABU Audit Commission, external experts, and other stakeholders.

-           Facilitate communication and coordination among team members and ensure timely dissemination of information.

-           Organize and coordinate meetings, workshops, and other events related to the NABU audit.

          3. Document Management:

-          Oversee the preparation, review, and management of documents related to the NABU audit, including reports, statements, and correspondence.

-          Ensure that all documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and compliant with relevant regulations and standards.

-          Maintain a secure and organized filing system for all project-related documents.

     4. Support to Assessment Team:

-          Provide administrative and logistical support to the NABU Audit Commission and external experts.

-          Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, and other deliverables.

-          Coordinate travel arrangements, accommodations, and other logistical needs for the NABU Audit Commission and visiting experts.

           5. Stakeholder Engagement:

-          Represent the Secretariat at meetings and events, as required.

-          Foster positive relationships with all stakeholders to support the successful completion of the NABU audit.

          6. Monitoring and Reporting:

-          Monitor the progress of the NABU audit and provide regular updates to the Audit Commission and relevant stakeholders.

-          Prepare and submit progress reports, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

-          Ensure that the auditing process is transparent, accountable, and aligned with the Methodology.

The Head of the Secretariat will be subordinated to the NABU Audit Commission and perform all activities described above only based on their approval and direction. 

Deliverables:

-          Coordination and Communication delivered.

-          Serve as the primary point of contact between the NABU Audit Commission, external experts, and other stakeholders.

-          Communication and coordination among team members and ensure timely dissemination of information delivered.

-          Coordination meetings, workshops, and other events related to the NABU audit organized.

-          Support to the NABU Audit Commission is provided;

-          Documents, memoranda, etc are drafted ;

-          Time sheats indicating time spent on the assignment;

-          Short final report (max 2 pages) with a description of provided services and methodology used.

Start date and period of implementation of tasks

The intended commencement date is the date of signature of the contract by both parties and the period of implementation of the contract will be up to 5 months, with a maximum duration of 70 working days starting from July – November 2024.

Requirements for the Service Provider

The assignment requires the services with the following qualifications:

Education:

-          A bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Law, Business Administration, or a related field.

-          A master’s degree is preferred.

Experience:

-          At least 5 years of experience in a similar role, preferably within an anti-corruption agency, international organization, or government institution.

-          Proven experience in project management, administration, and coordination.

-          Demonstrated ability to lead a team and manage complex projects.

Skills:

-          Strong leadership and team management skills.

-          Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.

-          Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

-          Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools.

-          Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

-          Ability to prepare detailed reports and documentation.

Language:

-          Fluency in Ukrainian and English (both written and spoken).

Competencies:

-          High level of integrity and commitment to anti-corruption principles.

-          Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

-          Attention to detail and accuracy in all tasks.

-          Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

-          Strong understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks related to anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.

-          Familiarity with the operations and challenges of financial intelligence units and law enforcement bodies.

Preferred Qualifications:

-          Experience working with international donors and stakeholders.

-          Knowledge of the Ukrainian legal and political environment.

-          Prior experience in a role involving significant stakeholder engagement and coordination.

Monitoring and evaluation

Definition of indicators

The performance of the Service Provider will be judged upon reaching the purpose of this contract as well as obtaining its results, as indicated in the section” Objective and results" herein, respectively. Moreover, the performance of the Service Provider will be judged upon the successful implementation of all the specific activities indicated in the section" Scope of work” of the present document.

How to apply

Provide the CV and expected daily rate in EUR till 8 July 2024, 18:00 to the Anti-Corruption Expert Viktoria Popyk, the e-mail: [email protected] with the title The Head of the Secretariat for NABU Audit.

Bidding language: English.

Clarification questions:

Questions for the Request for Bid should be addressed to  [email protected]  no later 6 June 2024 18:00 Kyiv time.