Consultant for the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Regarding the Project of Modernization of School Canteens

Background and context

Supporting Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts is a high political priority for the European Union and Denmark. By combating corruption, the Programme helps strengthen Ukraine’s democracy and economic growth, as well as its successful advancement toward EU integration.

The European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) in Ukraine is a joint programme funded by the EU and the Government of Denmark, aimed at supporting Ukraine in its efforts to reduce corruption at both national and local levels by empowering citizens, civil society, and public institutions. At the beginning of 2024, EUACI entered its third phase, which will run until mid-2027. Within this phase, EUACI was invited to identify activities related to schools.

In 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Strategy for Reforming the School Meal System for 2023–2027. One of its key components is the restoration and modernization of school canteens using modern technologies, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring compliance with HACCP principles.

In 2024 and 2025, the government allocated a subvention for the modernization of canteens in local communities.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (hereinafter – the Ministry) is responsible for implementing the subvention. The School Meal Reform Team, supported by First Lady Olena Zelenska, cooperates closely with the Ministry.

The Ministry approached EUACI with a request to support the implementation of this project in order to minimize corruption risks and violations.

Overall, cooperation is based on several components: assessment of project documentation, analysis of the public procurement process for the modernization (reconstruction and major repair) of canteens, and the introduction of distance technical monitoring of construction.

In 2024, a subvention amounting to 1.5 billion UAH was allocated and distributed among 173 projects. In 2025, a subvention of 960 million UAH was allocated and distributed among 78 projects.

As a result of the analysis conducted during the project selection process in 2024, 132.9 million UAH was saved and reallocated to include an additional 20 schools. In 2025, savings amounted to 187.5 million UAH, allowing for the selection of 16 additional projects. EUACI experts also analysis public procurement procedures and have provided methodological support to ensure transparency and compliance with legislative, conduct distance monitoring of construction works.

Distance monitoring of construction works is currently underway: between 2024 and 2025, 102 canteens have been completed, while another 103 projects are being finalized and require further monitoring.

The State Budget of Ukraine also provides the 1-billion-UAH subvention for the modernization of canteens under new projects in 2026. In November 2025, the Ministry asked EUACI for support in coordinating the work of construction contractors involved in ongoing projects in order to ensure they remain on track for timely completion.

In addition, the Ministry requested assistance in organizing the selection process for new projects eligible for the 2026 subvention, as well as support for the Ministry and other stakeholders engaged in the school meal reform in preparing analytical information on the status of projects funded through the canteen modernization subvention and ensuring professional communication with stakeholders involved in the reform.

Objective:

To provide expert support to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in the implementation of the subvention for the modernization (reconstruction, and major repair) of school canteens with a view to minimizing corruption risks.

Scope of work:

The scope of work of the assignment includes different tasks, including, but not necessarily limited to:

• Coordination and participation in the development of the regulatory and legal support for the implementation of the subvention for modernization of canteens.
• Analyzing challenges and irregularities in projects funded under the canteen modernization subvention.
• Developing analytical reports on the status of funded projects under the canteen modernization subvention for submission to the government, other authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Coordination of activities related to school nutrition reform, including working with local self-government officials at all levels and engaging them in reforming the school meal system.
• Supporting the EUACI’s project on minimizing corruption risks in the modernization of school canteens and ensuring close cooperation between the Ministry, the local authorities and the EUACI and its contracted experts.
• Facilitating professional communication with stakeholders of the School Nutrition Reform to engage them in building an institutional framework that supports the reform’s objectives and goals.
• Provide capacity building activities in the Ministry of Education and Science in order to ensure a future capacity to conduct coordination and analytical work as specified in these TOR.
• Support the EUACI in managing the project, including administrative tasks.
• Implementation of other tasks related to the scope of work on an ad hoc basis.

The Expert in Subvention Support will refer to the Deputy Minister for Education and Science and the EUACI. The Expert will mainly be placed in the Ministry of Education and Science but is also expected from time to time to work from the EUACI premises.

Expected deliverables:

• Responses to appeals and requests on activities that are related to the monitoring of implementation of subvention;
• Assisting in the development of draft regulations concerning activities linked to monitoring subvention implementation, agreed with the Ministry and EUACI;
• Written reports on the results of the activities of the expert and the documents developed;
• Organized meetings and processes, that are related to the monitoring of implementation of subvention;
• Developed drafts of regulatory legal frameworks necessary for monitoring and controlling the implementation of the subvention for the modernization of canteens;
• other deliverables agreed with the Ministry and EUACI.

The Specific Deliverables are presented below in Table 1 with a tentative schedule. All results are expected to be provided in Ukrainian unless otherwise agreed. Electronic copies are to be sent by email to the particular EUACI contact person.

The timelines indicated in the table above are indicative. The Expert may reflect on and update the timelines for different activities. Other deliverables are agreed upon with the Deputy Ministry and EUACI.

Qualifications:

The contract will be awarded to the expert meeting the following criteria:

1. a minimum of 3 years of professional experience working with educational institutions,
2. a minimum of a Master’s degree in law, finance, economics, social sciences, public administration, or similar field is required,
3. excellent written and oral communication skills,
4. ability to speak and write in English language will be an asset.
5. experience in legal drafting and working with educational institutions,
6. experience project management, monitoring / implementing of projects for the state and private sectors will be an asset,
7. experience in organizing the activities of public authorities is required.
8. experience in management of subventions (participation in the development of regulations, selection and monitoring of investment projects, and a number of other activities).
9. experience in establishing partnerships with regions and local communities, will be an asset.
10. experience from working with projects on anti-corruption, risks minimization and good governance will be an advantage.

The expert is expected to work from the premises of the Ministry.

Budget, timeframe, and location:

The intended commencement date is the date of signature of the contract with the Expert in Subvention Support and the period of implementation of the contract will be 11 months with a tentative start in January 2026 and completion on the end of November 2026.

The maximum budget available for this assignment is 28 500 EUR (up to 123 EUR per day).

During this period, the Expert in Subvention Support will be expected to deliver a maximum of 226 workdays.

Proposals, where the Contract Price offered, exceed the above maximum budget will be rejected.

Payments will require verification of deliverables and approval by the EUACI Component Team Leader of the Consultant ’s progress report and expense outlay.

It is expected that the Expert in Subvention Support will be based at the Ministry office in Kyiv and work closely with the Deputy Minister for Education and Science.

Reporting and management

Definition of indicators

The performance of the contractor will be judged upon reaching the purpose of this contract as well as obtaining its results, as indicated in the sections “Objective” and “Expected Deliverables” herein respectively.

Special requirements

By signing the contract, the contractor (and its representatives) agree to hold in trust and confidence any information or documents (“confidential information”), disclosed to the contractor or discovered by the contractor or prepared by the contractor in the course of or as a result of the implementation of the contract and agrees that it shall be used only for the purposes of the contract implementation and shall not be disclosed to any third party without EUACI authorization.

The contractor reports to the EUACI. The contractor shall de-brief the EUACI prior to finalizing the assignment.

Bidding Details:

The bidder must submit the following information to be considered:

1. The CV (no more than three pages long) that should include a description of the previous relevant assignments, and key duties on this assignment. (Annex 1)
2. A budget for the services in EUR, inclusive of all taxes or other such charges with a calculation of 226 working days, and information about the level of daily fees. (Annex 2)

If these documents are not submitted in line with the request above, the bid will not be considered.

Please be aware that the EUACI will publish the name of the winner of this tender.

The contract budget cannot exceed 28,500 EUR.

How to apply:

The deadline for submitting the proposals is 20 January 2026, 18:00 Kyiv time.

The proposals shall be submitted within the above deadline to [email protected] with copy to [email protected], indicating the subject line “Expert in Subvention Support”.

Bidding language: English

Any clarification questions for the bid request should be addressed to [email protected], no later than 15 January 2026, 18:00 Kyiv time.

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Evaluation criteria

Bids will be evaluated under the criteria provided below: