AGRI Export Partnership Specialist

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support

04 November 2024

Kyiv

ERA BACKGROUND

Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery. Through partnerships with the government and robust private sector engagement, ERA has supported economic growth and resilience in Ukraine since 2018. Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent occupation of the part of Ukraine, ERA shifted from its focus on Eastern Ukraine to cover development priorities across the country that address Ukraine’s urgent needs in export logistics and infrastructural improvements.

AGRI-UKRAINE GRAIN EXPORT LOGISTICS

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently-needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.

INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS

ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.

ENERGY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (EER) SUPPORT

As one of USAID’s most flexible activities that responds to emerging and/or emergency needs, ERA is expanding its interventions that assist Ukraine businesses, communities or individuals in the fall and winter (September 2024-December 2025). The goal is to minimize the impact on the Ukrainian people and economy given recent power deficits. This is an adaptive component and ERA may also need to respond to other emergency needs in the face of ongoing Russian aggression and attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

About the Job

AGRI Export Partnership Specialist will be responsible for coordinating and providing necessary data and information to support colleagues in developing effective market linkages between Ukrainian Agriculture Commodity exporters and international commodity buyer. This role is focused on enhancing export performance and productivity. The AGRI Export Partnership Specialist will assist to develop and coordinate capacity building interventions in collaboration with Technical and Operations teams. The role ensures that all activities are implemented according to schedule, with accuracy and to high quality standards, and for monitoring and reporting on their progress. The AGRI Export Partnership Specialist is based Kyiv and reports to International Market Linkages Senior Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

Export Capacity Enhancement:

Liaise with the Supply Chain and Logistics Lead and other colleagues to maintain up-to-date market and activity information,
Analyze the private agricultural market and propose partnership strategies with selected beneficiaries,
Contribute to project planning, monitor progress, and ensure objectives are met within budget and time constraints,
Determine content adoption metrics and define marketing and trade enablement best practices,
Provide analysis and technical input on solutions developed for implementation of international programs and market linkages initiatives,
Verify potential reputational and compliance risks (Know-Your-Client) from the open sources,
Manage the repository of sales, trade, and marketing enablement content to ensure easy accessibility.

Content Management, Knowledge and Capacity Building:

Conduct field visits or other business trips within Ukraine for due diligence, visibility check, preparation of USAID meetings and other request,
Communicate with stakeholder to understand and respond to their needs in international trade training programs, with particular focus on supply chain development, and commodity sales and marketing,
Develop customized marketing materials designed for publication and distribution within Ukraine and internationally to stakeholders in the global agricultural commodity marketplace,
Assist to organize and launch marketing campaign aiming to enhance export sales, marketing, and trade performance for Ukrainian agricultural commodities,
Develop success stories, case studies, and guides on marketing and trade,
Lead the organization of events for USAID ERA beneficiaries and participate in various international trade shows to maximize market linkage opportunities.

Job expectations:

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI four core values:

Integrity: commit to civil and ethical behavior, play by the rules, and do the right thing;
Responsibility: be accountable to clients, partners, grant recipients, beneficiaries, colleagues, and communities where we work. If you fall short, you own up, fix the problem, and get it right the next time;
Excellence: adhere to the highest technical and professional standards in innovation, learning, and service;
Global Citizenship: respect the cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.

About you:

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Project Management, Economics, Sales and Marketing, or related fields.
6+ years private sector experience supporting sales and marketing or project coordination or management.
Excellent professional communications and negotiation skills and ability to work with people at all levels of an organization.
Ability to work both independently and in close cooperation with a remote team. Ability to work cross-functionally and internationally.
An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image.
A well-organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus. Ability to plan and meet specific deadlines.
Holder of a valid travel passport and able to travel in Ukraine, and out of Ukraine to potentially attend international export and trade events as needed.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in both English and Ukrainian. Fluency in any other international languages relevant to the target geographies of AGRI’s market export initiatives is a plus (e.g. Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian or Spanish).

WE OFFER

Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.

Start date: December 2024.

Benefits Package:

28 calendar days of annual leave
10 days of internal well-being paid leave per year
Medical Insurance for ERA staff and their families
Life and Injury Insurance for ERA staff
Full coverage of all business trip related expenses.

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to ukraine@dai.com .

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

Closing date for applications: December 25, 2024.

For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website https://era-ukraine.org.ua/en/

AGRI Private Partnerships Specialist

04 November 2024

Kyiv/Odesa

ERA BACKGROUND

Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery. Through partnerships with the government and robust private sector engagement, ERA has supported economic growth and resilience in Ukraine since 2018. Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent occupation of the part of Ukraine, ERA shifted from its focus on Eastern Ukraine to cover development priorities across the country that address Ukraine’s urgent needs in export logistics and infrastructural improvements.

AGRI-UKRAINE GRAIN EXPORT LOGISTICS

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently-needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.

INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS

ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.

ENERGY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (EER) SUPPORT

As one of USAID’s most flexible activities that responds to emerging and/or emergency needs, ERA is expanding its interventions that assist Ukraine businesses, communities or individuals in the fall and winter (September 2024-December 2025). The goal is to minimize the impact on the Ukrainian people and economy given recent power deficits. This is an adaptive component and ERA may also need to respond to other emergency needs in the face of ongoing Russian aggression and attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

JOB OVERVIEW

The AGRI Private Partnerships Specialist is responsible for working with AGRI logistics companies, grain traders, and agricultural holdings, both public companies and private-owned companies as well as agricultural associations/unions/councils. This role requires a strong knowledge of the AGRI commodity export industry, including logistics and supply chain management. The AGRI Private Partnerships Specialist will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with private sector AGRI companies and traders, working with them to identify and address challenges to the export of AGRI commodities, and supporting them in implementing best practices for AGRI products export and logistics. The AGRI Private Partnerships Specialist is based in Kyiv/Odesa and reports to the AGRI Operations Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop and maintain relationships with both private sector companies and state partners to promote the export of AGRI commodities.
Work with private sector partners to identify and address challenges to the export of AGRI commodities, including logistics and supply chain issues.
Support private sector partners in implementing best practices for AGRI commodity export and logistics.
Facilitate communication and coordination between private sector partners and other stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, councils, associations or trade unions.
Collaborating with the AGRI Team, elevate agricultural logistics and transportation capabilities, facilitating the streamlined and punctual export of agricultural commodities to global markets.
Work closely with other USAID ERA teams to ensure that private sector engagement is integrated into all project activities.
Join and closely follow the efforts of the AGRI team in promoting, reconstructing, and repairing various agricultural commodities export facilities.
Create meeting memos/reports timely with key bullet points to circulate among SMT upon request.
Follow-up requests to or meetings with beneficiaries upon request.
Conduct field visits or other business trips within Ukraine with the purpose of due diligence, visibility check, preparation of USAID meetings and other upon request
Contribute to project planning, monitoring progress, and ensuring that objectives are met within budget and time constraints.
Timely verification to their best knowledge the potential reputational and compliance risks (Know-Your-Client).
Analyze the private agricultural market and propose a strategy of partnership with selected beneficiaries.

Reporting:

Prepare accurate and timely field reports and other documentation as required.
Monitor and report on the progress of private sector partners in expanding and improving the export of AGRI commodities.
Support the MEL Team with deliverables, as it relates to private partnerships.

JOB EXPECTATIONS:

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI four core values:

Integrity: commit to civil and ethical behavior, play by the rules, and do the right thing;
Responsibility: be accountable to clients, partners, grant recipients, beneficiaries, colleagues, and communities where we work. If you fall short, you own up, fix the problem, and get it right the next time;
Excellence: adhere to the highest technical and professional standards in innovation, learning, and service;
Global Citizenship: respect the cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, business, economics, or a related field.
At least 7 years of experience working with private agricultural logistics companies and grain traders or associations/unions/councils.
Seamless cross-functional teamwork skills to elevate agricultural logistics and transportation capabilities, facilitating the smooth and timely export of agricultural products to global markets.
Strong knowledge of the AGRI commodity export industry, including logistics and supply chain management.
The ability to prioritize competing tasks, set realistic deadlines, and manage time efficiently.
Experience working with USAID or other international development organizations is a plus.
Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Fluent English and Ukrainian are required.

WE OFFER

Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.

Benefits Package:

28 calendar days of annual leave
10 days of internal well-being paid leave per year
Medical Insurance for ERA staff and their families
Life and Injury Insurance for ERA staff
Full coverage of all business trip related expenses.

Start date: December 2024

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to ukraine@dai.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

Closing date for applications: December 25, 2024.

For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website era-ukraine.org.ua.

Request for Proposal | Procurement of 5 Vehicle Driving Training Simulators

Procurement

31 October 2024

DAI, implementer of the USAID Economic Resilience Activity in Ukraine, invites qualified local vendors to submit quotations for the Procurement of 5 Vehicle Driving Training Simulators.

Please see details: REQ-KYV-24-0348 – Procurement of Driving Simulators

Attachment A1_RFP_Technical Proposal Template

Attachment A2_RFP_Price Proposal Template

Amendment 1 RFP REQ-KYV-24-0348

Please take note of these important dates and email addresses:

RFP Release Date:

October 31, 2024

Pre-Proposal bidders’ conference:

An online pre-proposal bidders’ conference will be held on November 08, 2024, at 4:00 pm, Kyiv, Ukraine Time), to be held online in Teams. Please send to ProcurementERA@dai.com e-mails and company name of online conference participants by November 07, 2024, by 3:00 pm, Kyiv, Ukraine Time.

Information of interest to all prospective Offerors will be presented. While attendance at the pre-proposal conference is not mandatory, all interested prospective suppliers are encouraged to attend in order to prepare acceptable proposals. Questions asked at the Pre-Proposal Bidder’s Conference, that would benefit all bidders, shall be provided in an amendment to the RFP.

Deadline for Receipt of Questions:	November 14, 2024, no later than 6:00 pm, Kyiv, Ukraine Time to the email address ProcurementERA@dai.com. All questions will be collected and replies to them will be sent via email to tender participants.
Submission of Proposals:	November 28, 2024, no later than 6:00pm Kyiv, Ukraine Time to the email address: ProcurementERAInbox@dai.com

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR RECEIPT OF QUESTIONS AND THE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS ARE DIFFERENT.

USAID ERA supplies 8 forklifts to enhance operational efficiency at Ukrainian border crossing points

Modernization of the BCPs

31 October 2024

USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has delivered 8 electric forklifts to the Yahodyn, Chop (Tysa), Luzhanka, Uzhhorod, Diakivtsi, Starokozache, Rososhany, and Krasnoilsk road border crossing points (BCPs) on Ukraine’s western borders. These forklifts will be integral to multiple stages of the cargo handling process at the BCPs. Primarily, they will be used to unload targeted cargo from trucks, especially for customs inspections. This will expedite the inspection process, enabling border agents to access goods quickly and safely without the need for manual handling, which is both labor-intensive and potentially risky.

Following inspection, the forklifts will be used to transport and organize cargo within the BCP facilities or designated storage areas, preparing it for onward transportation or reloading onto other vehicles for continued transit. By automating and accelerating these processes, the forklifts will help alleviate bottlenecks, enhance overall throughput at the BCPs, and enable processing more trucks in a shorter period, thereby reducing delays and improving the flow of goods across the borders.

Each of the forklifts supplied is powered by a 20V Li-Ion battery and equipped with a high-resolution LCD display that provides real-time updates on speed, battery status, and the duration the forklifts have been active, ensuring consistent high performance even under demanding conditions. BCP staff received training on forklift operation and maintenance to ensure the long life of the equipment. Each forklift came with a 24-month warranty. These forklifts will improve day-to-day operations and the overall user experience at these critical BCPs by increasing throughput, reducing operational costs, and maintaining high safety standards.

Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).

USAID ERA representatives attended the Agro2Food exhibition

31 October 2024

On October 30, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) representatives attended the Agro2Food exhibition, which has been bringing together producers of products, equipment, technologies, and solutions for agri-processing and the food industry for 10 years.

During the event, the USAID ERA team met with representatives of logistics companies, manufacturers, and distributors of laboratory equipment, particularly for grain analysis, which could benefit ERA’s agricultural partners export agricultural products.

Industrial Technologies for Ukraine’s Recovery: New Horizons of Construction and Investment

Modernization of the BCPs

28 October 2024

In October, representatives of the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) joined more than 50 experts from international organizations from various fields, including engineers, builders, and architects, at the “Industrial Technologies and Reinforced Concrete: A New Development Vector” event in Kyiv organized by Prof Build magazine. The participants discussed effective construction methods for rebuilding Ukraine, how to attract investors to the private sector, and what environmental technologies can be implemented for sustainable development.

Given the extensive destruction of housing due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine needs to restore housing at a rapid pace. Prefabricated buildings with ready-made walls and panels (prefabs) are being used to meet this need, with some of the reinforced concrete structures able to show greater resistance to projectile hits.

Conference participants discussed how their companies use industrial construction, its advantages and how to attract foreign expertise.

Oleksandr Stetsenko, ERA’s Senior Manager of Border Crossing Infrastructure Development, spoke on a panel about how ERA’s contractors are modernizing Ukraine’s western borders by installing prefabs.

“We are installing prefabs at all border crossing points (BCPs) being renovated by USAID ERA”, said Oleksandr Stetsenko. “Why exactly this technology? First of all, this way you can control the quality, because these buildings are manufactured at the factory in batches for different checkpoints according to a single project. We do not prepare project documentation separately for each location but do it once and agree it with partners once. This also speeds up the construction process.”

“The second advantage is that all prefabs will be equally energy efficient. The third is that it’s a significant time saver. Since the border crossing points work around the clock, we try to create as little inconvenience as possible for employees, citizens, and drivers,” he explained. “We cannot close the intersection for a long time, and it is more efficient to assemble the ready-made prefab from the component parts and quickly install it on the foundation.”

At the conference, representatives of construction companies also shared their experience in quickly erecting buildings and adapting Ukrainian legislation to European legislation, which will help attract foreign investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine faster.

USAID ERA supports the reconstruction of more than 40 border crossing points in Ukraine and invites qualified suppliers such as builders and contracting organizations to participate in tenders for the purchase of goods and services for their reconstruction and construction and other purchases of USAID ERA. Detailed information can be found on our website. https://era-ukraine.org.ua/

Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).