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Deputy Chief of Party at USAID 'Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity'
About ISAR Ednannia and USAID Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity
ISAR Ednannia is a Ukrainian non-profit organization founded in 1997 and officially registered in 1999. Our mission is to nurture and unite leaders of the nation. To accomplish this mission, we develop communities and philanthropy; provide financial support to CSOs; strengthen the capacity of civil society; strengthen the role and promote, and build a platform for interpectoral dialogue and cooperation.
The purpose of USAID's Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity (or “Activity” hereafter) is to improve the operating environment for civil society and strengthen the institutional capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) to advance the self-reliance of the civic sector in Ukraine. ISAR Ednannia implements the Activity as a prime implementing partner in a consortium with the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM).
ISAR Ednannia is seeking highly qualified candidates for the full-time Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) position to join the USAID's Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity team in Kyiv. Applications will be accepted by September 27, 2024.
Position Overview:
The DCOP will work with the Chief of Party (COP) to manage the program's implementation and oversee its performance, management, and operations. The DCOP will assist with high-quality, timely, and complete submission of work plans, financial reports, performance reports, etc. S/he will maintain communication and momentum among teams, closely monitor the progress of interventions, and work with MELP & Reporting Manager to ensure the proper operational support for successful implementation. The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; and to develop and maintain positive relationships with consultants, collaborators, co-workers, and other donors.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
The DCOP will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following tasks:
- Serve as a senior representative for the project with external stakeholders (ministries, GoU institutions, other projects, and donors) as required by implementation requirements and agreed upon with COP.
- Support the COP in the preparation of annual and activity work plans as outlined in the project design, contract, and deliverables schedule.
- Facilitate the achievement of program objectives and targets with management and technical support.
- Coordinate the work of the program components and ensure appropriate collaboration across all teams.
- Directly supervise and be responsible for the performance of key personnel.
- Support program learning and adaptive management.
- Ensure that project deliverables are technically sound, of the highest quality, delivered on time, and meet specifications as set forth by the donor or the COP.
- Oversee project operations, financial management, grants management, monitoring and evaluation, and communications.
- Demonstrate diplomacy and leadership to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, creativity, fairness, equity, innovation, and support for diversity.
- Support the COP in all management aspects of the project.
- Serve as acting COP in the absence of the COP, with all technical, administrative, and operational responsibilities.
- Other activities, as required and/or assigned by the COP.
QUALIFICATIONS
- An advanced degree (master’s, PhD, JD) and a minimum of ten years of relevant experience.
- Experience in the successful implementation of international development activities in local governance, decentralization, community development, civic engagement, and service delivery/infrastructure improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with governance sector professionals, including elected representatives and staff at all levels of government, local governance experts, public administration and public finance professionals, engineers, local economic development and service provision experts, civil society, journalists, and other donors.
- Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
- Fluency in Ukrainian.
- Strong training design, training delivery, and facilitation skills;
- Exceptional communication and problem-solving skills;
- Strong knowledge of reporting procedures, including USAID, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including impact evaluation.
- Demonstrated ability to produce and edit reports and technical documents is required.
To apply for the position, please send your CV in English and your motivation letter to office@ednannia.ua. Please, indicate “DCOP USAID Activity” in the subject line of the e-mail. Due to a high volume of applications received, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted in response to this job advertisement. After the pre-selection process, the best candidates will be invited for an interview. Only candidates invited to the interview will be informed about the results of the selection in writing.
ISAR Ednannia is the national partner of the U-RESTORE
ISAR Ednannia is the national partner of the U-RESTORE (Ukraine Recovery Support for Transparency, Outreach, Resilience and Empowerment) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Cowater International in partnership with the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.
We are responsible for working with civil society in communities: supporting CSO development, facilitating their engagement in recovery processes, strengthening dialogue between communities and local authorities, and building institutional capacity through training and mentorship programs.
Over the past months, the ISAR Ednannia team has been working on the preparatory phase of the project: conducting outreach and consultations with communities, carrying out field visits to Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk regions, assessing community needs, and participating in the application evaluation process.
📅 On March 23, the selection committee — including representatives of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, and ISAR Ednannia — approved 12 territorial communities out of 49 applications:
📍 Andrushivska
📍 Brusylivska
📍 Korostyshivska
📍 Luhynska
📍 Romanivska
📍 Ruzhynska
📍 Chopovytska
📍 Yarunska
📍 Zhovtovodska
📍 Krynychanska
📍 Magdalynivska
📍 Pereshchepynska
Ahead lies long-term cooperation through 2030. We are now entering the active implementation phase, working directly with communities and CSOs to strengthen their capacity, support inclusive decision-making, and contribute to transparent and sustainable recovery.
💛 We are looking forward to working together towards the recovery and development of communities!
Launching the second wave of the training program “Recovery and Development Consultants”
Ukraine’s recovery is not only about rebuilding infrastructure. First and foremost, it is about people, trust, and the ability of communities to shape the future together.
That is why ISAR Ednannia is launching the second cohort of the training program “Recovery and Development Consultants” – for those who work with communities or aspire to engage in recovery processes at the local level.
The first cycle has already brought together participants from different regions of Ukraine – representatives of civil society organizations, local self-government bodies, and the expert community.
Now we are expanding this community.
💡 The first module starts on April 24-26
The program includes:
📍 an in-person basic module in Kyiv
💻 a series of online modules
🚀 an advanced in-person module focused on developing project proposals
Participants will be able to:
• gain a deeper understanding of community recovery processes
• master tools for project management and facilitation
• learn how to build partnerships between government, civil society, and business
• apply European approaches and innovative solutions in local development
After completing the program, participants will have the opportunity to:
✨ take part in a grant competition for program alumni
✨ publish their profile in the Recovery and Development Marketplace on the Civil Society Home platform
✨ join a community of consultants working with communities across Ukraine
📝 Applications are open until 12:00 PM on March 30
We invite active professionals from civil society, local self-government, education, culture, business, and the expert community to apply.
🔗 Application form:
https://ednn.link/t4ZXKx
Detailed information about participation conditions, format, and program content is available via the link.
The program was developed within the framework of the “EU Unity for Community (EU U4C) Project,” implemented by ISAR Ednannia with the support of the European Union in Ukraine.
1.34 Million Young Women Outside Education and the Labour Market
On 4 March 2026, the Civil Society Home of ISAR Ednannia in Kyiv hosted the public presentation of the first comprehensive study conducted during the full-scale invasion:
“Girls and Young Women Outside Education, Employment and Training in Ukraine: Barriers, Needs and Pathways to Labour Market Integration.”
The event brought together representatives of government institutions, international organisations, civil society, and young women whose voices shaped the research.
Numbers That Change the Perspective
In Ukraine, 1.34 million girls and young women aged 15–34 remain outside education and the labour market.
The study challenges the common stereotype about “inactive women without education.” The real picture looks very different.
35% of young women aged 15–34 fall into the NEET category (not in education, employment or training), while the share among men stands at 11.8%. The gap is threefold.
The highest rate appears among women aged 25–29: 48.7% of women in this age group remain outside education and the labour market. This stage often comes after women complete their education but before they manage to secure stable employment.
At the same time, 70% of surveyed women in NEET status hold higher or vocational education. The challenge does not lie in qualifications but in systemic barriers.
75.2% of young women aged 15–34 in NEET status provide unpaid care for children or relatives, without access to viable alternatives.
26.6% of respondents are internally displaced persons, and 20.3% experienced discrimination while searching for a job.
“This research answers two simple yet crucial questions: what prevents young women from working, studying and realising their potential, and what can help change the situation.
This large-scale work maps the real needs, fears and expectations of young women who remain invisible to the labour market,”
said Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
Not a Choice but a Consequence
Researchers identified three interconnected groups of barriers.
Structural barriers include the lack of childcare infrastructure, transport isolation and digital inequality.
Institutional barriers involve the mismatch between education programmes and labour market needs, gender discrimination from employers, and an inflexible labour market.
Individual barriers stem from psychological trauma, chronic anxiety and the loss of life direction caused by the war.
One particularly striking finding shows that 39% of women in NEET status know nothing about support programmes, while 51% possess only limited information.
In other words, nine out of ten women who need support do not know where to find it.
“Girls and young women outside education and employment do not represent a homogeneous or passive group. They hold significant potential and show readiness to act when they gain access to opportunities that recognise their circumstances.
Our research clearly shows that the challenge lies not in the lack of motivation but in the lack of information about available opportunities,”
emphasised Nataliia Tilikina, PhD in Economics, Head of the NGO Institute of Youth and the lead researcher of the study.
From Research to Solutions
During the panel discussion, speakers included:
• Uliana Tokarieva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine
• Yuliia Zhovtiak, Director of the State Employment Service
• Clara Bastardes, Gender Programme Manager at UNICEF
• Anastasiia Matviienko, participant of the POWER4Girls initiative from Chernivtsi, whose personal experience of leaving NEET status became one of the most powerful moments of the event.
Government representatives confirmed that the research findings will directly inform the development of the National Youth Guarantee Plan and gender-responsive youth policy.
The discussion outlined five key directions for practical action:
• human-centred support and psychological assistance
• expansion of childcare infrastructure
• short practical training programmes and development of soft skills
• support for women’s entrepreneurship
• communication through social media, chatbots and real success stories
About the Study
The Institute of Youth NGO conducted the research in October–November 2025 at the request of ISAR Ednannia.
The methodology included:
• 512 structured interviews
• 8 focus groups involving 61 participants
• 23 in-depth interviews with representatives of hard-to-reach groups (IDPs, women with disabilities, and Roma community representatives)
• 30 expert interviews across all regions of Ukraine, except temporarily occupied territories and areas of active hostilities.
The full report and executive summaries in Ukrainian and English are available in the Analytical Library of ISAR Ednannia.
The event took place under the global UNICEF POWER4Girls initiative and the project Unlock Youth: Systemic Strengthening of Youth Services in Preparation for the EU Youth Guarantee in Ukraine Project.
