Project Manager/Startup Ecosystem Coordinator for the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (M/W)

Описание

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

• democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
• peace, stability, and security ;
• climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
• health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

Ukraine holds significant potential to expand its startup ecosystem. However, the absence of a clear legal framework and the limited availability of financial instruments to support startups continue to constrain the growth of innovative companies and diminish their competitiveness in global markets.

To address these challenges and foster a more dynamic innovation landscape, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine is preparing to develop and introduce new financial instruments, accompanied by an enabling legal framework. This initiative aligns with the Ministry’s strategic objective of establishing favorable legal conditions for the development of Ukraine’s financial and investment ecosystem, potentially leading to increase the number and resilience of Ukrainian startups and innovative enterprises within the national and international innovation landscape.

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Program Director based in Tbilisi (Georgia), the Deputy Program Director, based in Chisinau (Moldova) and the Country Coordinator (Ukraine), the expert is responsible for the coordination of the processes, prepare key conceptual documents and facilitate dialogue with the respective government institutions, investors, as well as the ecosystem builders and stakeholders. 

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.

Objectives and tasks

In close collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukrainian, the expert will be responsible for developing conceptual policy documents that will lay the foundation for Ukraine’s startup support system:

• Startup Act Concept - a policy framework, that defines the legal and operational parameters of a startup in Ukraine; outlines the structural characteristics, eligibility criteria, associated benefits, and the roles of key ecosystem stakeholders. The framework seeks to create a shared understanding across government, investors, and entrepreneurs, thereby enhancing coordination and support. 
• Startup Financing Concept – a proposal diversified set of financing mechanisms that go beyond equity investment, including grants, loans, state guarantees, tax incentives, and other tools, designed to meet the varied needs of early-stage and growth-stage startups.

Scope of Work

Development of the Startup Act Concept:

·       Analyse the best international practices (EU, Israel, USA, etc.).

·       Draft the outline of the structured document in alignment with EU legal framework.

·       Draft the definitions of the key terms (startup, accelerator, business angel, venture capital fund, etc.).

·       Identify the mechanisms for startup support (tax incentives, access to finance, incubation and acceleration programs, etc.).

·       Map and outline the role of key ecosystem players (government, investors, universities, clusters, associations).

Development of the Startup Financing Concept:

·       Map existing financial instruments in Ukraine.

·       Assess startup needs at different stages of development.

·       Propose additional typologies of instruments (venture funds, crowdfunding, concessional loans, grants, state guarantees) based on the international best practices and in consultations with the international IFIs.

·       Recommend how to integrate the new proposed instruments into national policies.

Coordination and Facilitation:

·       Organize and facilitate working meetings with ecosystem stakeholders, government representatives, and donors.

·       Prepare analytical notes, presentations, and progress reports.

·       Ensure smooth communication among all relevant parties.

Expected deliverables 

·       Draft Startup Act Concept – with definitions, structure, initiatives, and stakeholder roles (prepared by the end of the year).

·       Concept on Startup Financing in Ukraine – with an overview of existing and proposed instruments. 

·       At least 6 stakeholder consultation sessions organized and facilitated.

·       Final report with recommendations and a roadmap for implementation.

Contribution to communication and visibility

●        Ensure visibility of the EU4Innovation East project together with its donors and implementing entity (EU, French government, Expertise France and EU4Innovation East) and reference in all communications related to the assignment.

●        Align with the EU4IE communication team on all the external communications related to the assignment.

Mission Timeframe

The expert will work on a task order basis and must provide the project with timesheets describing his/her involvement in the implementation of this service.

The expert may also be required to participate in missions organized by Expertise France.

The EU4Innovation East is a regional project aiming at enhancing the competitiveness of the startup ecosystem within 5 countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. At the heart of the project is a strategy designed to nurture high-performance incubators, expand funding and market opportunities for startups, and provide tailored support to Ukraine’s emerging tech sector. Through strategic co-financing, skills development, regulatory assistance, and a strong commitment to gender inclusion, EU4Innovation East is laying the foundation for sustainable, long-term growth in the region, ensuring that innovation is both inclusive and impactful.

The EU4Innovation East project is funded by the European Union, co-funded by the French government and implemented by Expertise France.

Expert Profile

●        Master's degree in law, economics, finance, project management, political science, international relations/cooperation, or a relevant field;

●        Minimum 3 years of experience in project management, innovation ecosystems, or startup development.

●        Understanding of business financing tools (venture capital, grants, loans, guarantees).

●        Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

●        Fluency in English and Ukrainian (both written and spoken). Knowledge of French is a plus.

Required Knowledge, Experience, Skills, and Abilities

●        Proven expertise and in-depth knowledge in finance, particularly in areas relevant to startup development and innovation policy.

●        Proven experience in legislative framework analysis and preparing analytical and policy documents;

●        Strong involvement in the Ukrainian startup ecosystem and good knowledge of its different players.

●        Knowledge of international practices of startup policy and support mechanisms;

●        Ability to develop an integrated approach to innovation at a national level;

●        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;

●        Skills in developing technical, narrative, and progress reports;

●        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.

Application process

The application should include:

●       CV

●       Track record of similar projects/initiatives implemented

●       3 contact persons for professional reference (name/position/company/email/phone number)

Application deadline

The applications should be submitted by January 12, 2026.