Expertise France is the public agency of French international technical cooperation. The agency operates around four priorities: - democratic, economic and financial governance; - security and stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations; - sustainable development; - strengthening health systems, social protection and employment. In these areas, Expertise France carries out engineering and implementation missions for capacity building projects, mobilizes technical expertise and acts as an aggregator of projects involving public expertise and private know-how. With an activity volume of 233 million euros, more than 400 projects in portfolio in 80 countries, and 63,000 days of expertise, Expertise France focuses its action towards France’s solidarity policy, influence and economic diplomacy. Expertise France is the French public agency for international cooperation, designing and implementing projects to contribute to the sustainable development of partner countries, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and France's external action priorities. EU4Innovation East is an EU-funded regional project (Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine) implemented by Expertise France with a duration of 4 years. The overall objective is to strengthen the innovation ecosystems of Eastern Partnership countries, focusing on enhancing the maturity and sustainability of the startup ecosystem, promoting convergence with the EU market and startup ecosystems, and providing targeted support to Ukraine's digital tech sector. The project aligns with the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Eastern Partnership, contributing to the integration of these countries into the EU startup ecosystem and supporting flagship initiatives related to private sector support, innovation, green and digital economy, and society. Women entrepreneurship promotion is integrated into all project activities, including dedicated training and cooperation with female business angel networks. A horizontal objective is to promote specialization in high-value-added sectors using digital solutions. Under the supervision of the Project Leader based in Tbilisi (Georgia) and the Deputy Project Leader, based in Chisinau (Moldova), the EU 4 Innovation East Country Coordinator is responsible for the project coordination in Ukraine . The Country Coordinator is based in Kyiv, Ukraine.  He/she supports the Project Leader and the Deputy by coordinating the activities at the local level, notably the consultations with local stakeholders. He ensures the communication of the project activities at the local level, mobilises the local stakeholders, and coordinates the Country Task forces that will be set up. The role requires a high degree of autonomy and interpersonal skills suitable for an international and multicultural environment. Building connections with local stakeholders is crucial for the project's success. EU4Innovation East is a EU-funded project aiming to support the Eastern Partner Countries (EaP) startup ecosystems’ growth. Title Initiative “EU4Innovation East” – Support to Digital innovation in the Eastern Partnership region Geographic scope Multi-country Eastern Partner : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine Duration and intended start date Duration: 54 months, i.e. 4.5 years (04/2024 - 10/2028) Intended start date: 1st April 2024 Co-financed by EU Commission: 20.000.000,00€  France: 2.120.000,00€, earmarked for Ukraine Implementing Agency Expertise France (EF) Overall objective Strengthen the competitiveness and maturity of the EaP start-up ecosystem  Specific objectives SO1: Enhance early-stage funding access for EaP startups, especially those led or co-founded by women, by creating a new funding mechanism and improving incubation programs, including technology transfer initiatives. SO2: Foster innovation development in EaP ecosystems by structuring and improving the business environment. SO3: Amplify the visibility of EaP startups and strengthen connections with European investors, fostering both funding acquisition, market access, and increased local interest in the entrepreneurial journey. SO Ukraine: Formulate a customised strategy for Ukraine, integrating French co-financing, to navigate and capitalise upon the distinctive challenges and opportunities encountered by the Ukrainian startup ecosystem during the ongoing reconstruction period. Pillars description PIllar 1 – Early-stage funding Pillar 2 - Backing high added-value segments and high-performance incubation Pillar 3 - Strengthening Community ties Pillar 4 - International Spotlight for EaP Startups Integrating European emblematic events   Position Description ResponsibilitiesUnder the supervision of the Project Leader and the Deputy Project Leader. Technical Aspect: Initially, during the inception phase, the Country Coordinator will: Lead the Country Deeper Diagnostic by establishing and overseeing task forces for each strategic pillar, ensuring effective cross-country collaboration, and crafting detailed action plans. Support the Grant Manager by facilitating local capacity-building initiatives, including tender preparation training and community events like the project kickoff, to strengthen the ecosystem. Throughout the project, the Coordinator will: ·    Conduct consultations with local stakeholders to set annual targets and develop annual strategic roadmaps, ensuring alignment with broader project goals. ·     Oversee the execution of annual action plans, acting as a key intermediary between the project team and local entities to ensure effective collaboration and achieving objectives. ·       Enhance synergies with other donor-funded projects. ·       Support and organize visits from the project team or external experts, enhancing their interaction with the local ecosystem. ·       Share local insights to promote understanding and integration of diaspora entrepreneurship. ·   Support the Project Communication Manager by suggesting content for project communications, such as articles and interviews, to support objective achievement. Quality Control and Reporting: Oversee the quality of technical deliverables from partners and service providers, ensuring compliance with project standards, in addition to the training and advice provided by grant officers. Consolidate and report on local activities, incorporating narrative reports from supported structures to provide a comprehensive overview of project progress and impact. Support the MEAL Manager by contributing to the project's monitoring and evaluation efforts, ensuring data and insights are captured accurately and timely. Strategic Implementation and Oversight: Direct the project's strategic alignment with local ecosystem needs, actively involving Environmental and Ecosystem Actors (EEAs) to ensure relevance and impact. Provide strategic guidance and operational recommendations based on field insights, aiming for continuous improvement and innovation within the project's framework. Develop a network of national partners and experts, fostering collaborative actions and partnerships to enhance project outcomes. Manage operational risks and develop mitigation strategies, ensuring any challenges in partnership management or activity implementation are promptly addressed and communicated to Expertise France. Institutional Relations, Partnerships, Governance, and Representation: In close collaboration with the project team, the Coordinator will: Ensure stakeholders (e.g., Ministries, local actors, implementation partners, Embassies, AFD, NGOs) are well-informed and engaged, promoting effective information flow and integrating each actor based on their role. Represent the project at local events on request, maximizing ecosystem actor involvement and keeping local EU or French representatives informed. Serve as the secretary for the Country Consultations Committees. - Master's degree in economics, finance, project management, political science, international relations/cooperation, or a relevant field. - Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in international environments, with experience in development and cooperation, donors, and relevance to the position's themes being advantageous. - Proficiency in English is required, knowledge of the local language is mandatory, and knowledge of French is a plus Required Knowledge, Experience, Skills, and Abilities Strong involvement in the local startup ecosystem and good knowledge of its different players. Knowledge of private sector development and entrepreneurship-related issues, including setting up seed or pre-seed funding mechanisms and/or working with ministries responsible for digital issues. Good knowledge of cooperation mechanisms and public development aid, especially for projects funded by the European Union and/or other European donors. Excellent mastery of project cycle principles (preferably in multi-donor, multi-country, and/or multi-operator projects) and team management. Skills in developing technical, narrative, and progress reports. Sub-grant monitoring skills is an advantage. Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and gender approaches is an advantage. Previous experience with one or more Eastern Neighborhood countries is a significant plus. Soft Skills Excellent communication skills. Excellent ability to build connections. Teamwork (multicultural) and adaptability. Diplomacy, empathy, and conflict management skills. Sense of responsibility, initiative, and responsiveness. Pragmatic and results-oriented. Organizational skills, rigor, and proactivity. WHAT WE OFFER Exciting work in an international environment. A 12-month contract (renewable for a total of 52 months) based in Kyiv (Ukraine) with potential travels to the EU or one of the other 4 countries of the project. The exact remuneration will be defined according to the experience recognized for the position.  Planned Start Date: 01/06/2024 Deadline for application: 21/04/2024 23:59