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 work within the thematic area “Locally-led Recovery” (LLR) will focus mainly on recovery planning in partner Municipalities. A strong emphasis will be placed on: local ownership of the process by Municipalities; evidence-based formal spatial planning and strategic recovery planning drawing from a range of data sources; holistic and integrated planning; sustainability perspectives and future-oriented scenario planning; and the establishment of synergies between local and regional planning.

Role Description

An Expert in Development and Spatial Planning on Local Level will work on refinement of the existing methodological approach, further elaboration of the current task, comprehensive consultancy support to Municipalities in the development of strategic and urban planning documents, needs assessment, capacity building of Municipalities in this thematic area, and formulation of projects under the general recovery frame.

The role also involves assessing and strengthening the capacities of local self-government (LSG) officials in the areas of strategic and spatial planning, as well as infrastructure project implementation. The expert will coordinate the process and directly participate in the development of the Community Development Strategy for 2028–2034 and the Terms of Reference for the development of the Comprehensive Spatial Development Plan; provide institutional support, advisory services, and guidance on improving strategic and spatial planning processes and governance within partner hromadas.

Special attention will be given to advising the team and partner territorial hromadas on the application of Ukrainian legislation related to urban development, strategic planning, and recovery planning.

Please send your CV (no more than 3 pages), cover letter (no more than 1 page) in PDF format and portfolio of relevant conducted projects (descriptive and/or graphic part) preferably in English to ukraine@salarinternational.se. Please indicate in the subject line "Expert in Spatial Planning and Strategic Development on Local Level". Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email once the recruitment process is complete.

For more information, please download the Terms of Reference.

Deadline: September 7th 2026.