Description of the context

To address the changing needs of Ukrainian municipalities and national level stakeholders during wartime, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has initiated a broader programme in support of multilevel governance and recovery. This programme is called “Polaris: Supporting Multi-level Governance in Ukraine”. It is implemented by SALAR International and planned for four years (July 2024-May 2028).

Polaris Programme aims to work with both short and long-term focus, addressing the needs of the multi-level governance system in Ukraine and in parallel strengthening municipalities’ public service provision, as well as their direct engagement in the recovery and reconstruction processes, in line with the requirements of Ukraine’s EU accession.

The Programme’s support is provided through two operational components: one focusing on policy and collaboration with national stakeholders, and the other providing direct support to municipalities. The support encompasses six thematic areas: Education, Fiscal Decentralisation and Budgeting, Administrative Service Provision, Locally-led Recovery, Municipal Enterprises, and International Municipal Cooperation. In addition, the Programme will provide material support to meet short-term material crisis needs of municipalities.

The thematic area ‘Financial Decentralization’ works to establish an effective, equitable, and transparent local finance system by supporting national and local authorities in data collection and analysis, as well as by providing regular monitoring of subnational finances and evidence-based policy recommendations.

Role Description

An local finance expert will carry out tasks aimed at strengthening the financial capacity of hromadas, improving approaches to local finance management in light of changes in the public investment management system, supporting hromadas recovery and development processes, and developing policies and practices related to ensuring the financial capacity of Local Self-Government.

The role also involves collaborating with relevant central executive authorities, local governments, associations of local governments, and other stakeholders.

The expert will provide analytical, methodological, and advisory support on issues related to the financial capacity of hromadas, local finance management, funding for territorial recovery and development, strengthening the financial capacity of hromadas, improving mechanisms for the financial support of local self-government, and developing the public investment management system.

The focus will be on strengthening the financial resilience of hromadas during martial law and post-war recovery, developing tools for planning and financing local development, and formulating recommendations for improving public policy in the area of local finance and financial support for Local Self-Government.

Please send your CV (no more than 3 pages) and cover letter (no more than 1 page) in PDF format to ukraine@salarinternational.se. Please indicate in the subject line "Short-term Expert on Local Finance and the Financial Capacity of Hromadas". Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email once the recruitment process is complete.

For more information, please download the Terms of Reference (Ukrainian).

Deadline: 25 August 2026