Position Information:
Post Title: Shelter & Housing Technical Advisor
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine preferred. However, the position is open to applicants located elsewhere in Ukraine, or internationally, who are willing to travel.
Travel: Travel within Ukraine, particularly to Dnipropetrovsk, will be required -security situation permitting.
Supervisor / Reports to: CACH Ukraine Humanitarian Programme Coordinator
Key interfaces: CACH Programme Manager, CACH Finance Manager, Partner Project Manager, Partner technical teams of partner organizations.
Duration: Part-time over the 12-month period with possible extension.`
Expected Workload: Approximately 65 days – the precise number of days will be discussed and agreed at contracting stage, and will be subject to funding.
Terms: Service Contract. The Business Consultant will be paid per daily rate. Applications are open to national and international candidates.
Background
Caritas Switzerland (CACH) is one of the leading Swiss NGOs in the field of poverty reduction in Switzerland and abroad. International Cooperation programmes focus on humanitarian aid, income generation, climate change and migration. The Ukraine Country Programme is delivering income, protection, MHPSS and Shetler projects in Ukraine, for people affected by the conflict. Caritas Switzerland works in collaboration with Ukrainian Caritas project partners, in the delivery of its projects.
The CACH Ukraine country programme have had a shelter programme in place since 2022. To date, this has primarily focused on household level repairs, collective site rehabilitation and winterisation. Alongside this, Caritas Switzerland have also commissioned research on social housing, and with our partner Caritas Ukraine, carried out preparation work to launch social housing programming in Ukraine.
Caritas Switzerland are set to develop a social housing project proposal, for submission by mid-late September.If successful, the project should be launched by the end of the year. While Caritas Switzerland, and our main partner counterparts are based in Kyiv, the project will be implemented in Dnipropetrovsk. Cartias Switzerland have two ongoing projects with shelter components, set to finish in the coming months.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this position is to provide technical advisory for the successful development and implementation of shelter programming, with a particular focus on the upcoming social housing project. The technical advisor will also support the development of CACH’s shelter strategy.
The advisor may be requested to support, to a limited extent, the current projects with shelter components as they reach their conclusions (i.e. two projects that include household level repairs, and collective site rehabilitation) However, any time spent working on these projects will be minimal.
Key Responsibilities
1. Shelter Strategy :
- Lead the development of CACH’s strategic approach for shelter and in particular social housing programming in Ukraine. The advisor should support CACH in clearly identifying its unique value add, and priorities, and longer-term objectives within the broader humanitarian and recovery context, in a manner cognizant of the roles played by other stakeholders.
2. Proposal Development:
- Contribute to proposal development, by leading technical design processes and providing technical inputs on project proposals, specifically, on the social housing project Proposal. The advisor will ensure alignment with relevant standards and best practices, while ensuring the project is designed and planned within the relevant legislative framework, and donor standards.
- Contribute to monitoring and evaluation frameworks by advising on shelter-specific indicators to track project progress and outcomes. Provide input and advisory on project budget development.
- Support the proposal development process to ensure the perspectives of CACH’s partner, local authorities are taken into account, and that the community is effectively engaged during design phase.
3. Project Implementation, Monitoring and Learning :
- Provide technical advisory and oversight for the successful implementation and monitoring of CACH’s shelter projects, in line with relevant technical standards, legislative frameworks etc. Including the development or review of workplans, technical plans, project tools etc., along with ensuring that shelter/housing project implementation plans comply with local building codes, safety standards, and risk mitigation measures.
- Develop and deliver technical support plans, in collaboration with CACH’s partners. This will include the provision of technical assistance, and where necessary capacity development support – to ensure quality project implementation.
- Carry out project monitoring visits, to assess the project progress in relation to relevant technical and quality standards – and support partner counterparts in project delivery.
- Contribute to or facilitate processes to identify and document learning from project implementation, to be fed back into CACH’s project cycle development, and programme quality improvement.
4. Coordination, capacity development:
- Monitor and assess on relevant updates and developments in the shelter, and specifically social housing sector within Ukraine – informing CACH management of key developments. Participate in relevant coordination forums or working groups, as required.
- Develop and maintain contact with key stakeholders and actors in the shelter and social housing sector, identifying areas of potential opportunity or collaboration – promoting information exchange and learning.
- Support capacity building of CACH and partner staff through technical training, mentoring, and the development of shelter-related guidance and tools.
- Participate in meetings/events organized by clusters, technical working groups, and governmental authorities on shelter and social housing.
Mode of Cooperation and Deliverables
The consultancy will be conducted over a total of 80 working days, distributed across a 12-month period, with possibility for extension envisaged.
The engagement will be arranged into two key batches of work.
Batch A – Proposal development phase
Timeframe: August 2025 – October 2025
Approx number of days: 20
The initial phase will focus briefly on defining CACH’s strategic approach, and then primarily on proposal development – responsibilities A & B listed above.
Indicative key deliverables during this phase are:
- Research, and presentation of options for CACH’s social housing strategic approach and implementation models, for management consideration and decision.
- Develop a Summary and deliver a briefing session on the legislative framework for social housing within Ukraine, synthesised for practical understanding for CACH’s non-specialist team members.
- Lead on the technical design of a social housing project proposal, utilising a participatory process of collaboration with CACH’s project partner. This may include analysis of needs, advising on community engagement, facilitating project design workshops, drafting project outlines, and eventually providing technical proposal inputs. The advisor will ensure key themes such as protection, inclusion, accessibility, sustainability etc are mainstreamed.
Batch B – Project implementation phase
Timeframe: November 2025 – July 2026
Approx number of days: 45.
Conditionality: Dependent on successfully securing project funds.
The second phase will focus on project implementation, coordination etc – responsibilities C & D listed above.
- Develop and deliver a technical support plan for the project, including capacity development support if required and mutually agreed with the project partner.
- Contribute to project start up processes including advising on or reviewing key project tools, plans, procedures, designs etc, in close collaboration with the partner technical team. This will include participation in and facilitation of parts of project planning and kick-off meetings.
- Monitor project progress in collaboration with partner technical teams, via regular coordination with partner technical teams – support the partner to proactively identify, plan for and resolve any technical issues. Carry out project site visits. Review project reports. Contribute to or facilitate project review or learning processes.
- Development of periodic updates or briefings for CACH management on developments, opportunities, resources etc in the Ukrainian social housing sphere – based on the regular coordination and engagement with relevant forums, stakeholders, partners etc.
The advisor will work closely with CACH’s Humanitarian Programme Coordinator, who is responsible for general project oversight and grant management, and CACH’s MEAL advisor. The Shelter/housing advisor will be responsible therefore for technical aspects of supporting project implementation, rather than more general project management.
The specific detailed deliverables and associated timelines will be agreed with the advisor’s supervisor in advance.
Competencies and Qualifications
- Education
- University degree in architecture, civil engineering, construction management, urban planning or a related field.
- Professional Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience in shelter and housing programmes, preferably within humanitarian or development context.
- Proven experience in the design, implementation, and technical oversight of shelter (and preferably social housing) projects
- Knowledge of social housing policy and strategy development processes..
- Strong understanding of housing codes/systems and social housing projects in Europe/Eastern Europe.
- Strong understanding of humanitarian shelter standards and best practices in durable shelter solutions.
- Experience working with local partners, authorities, and communities in complex or conflict settings.
- Strong coordination, communication, and capacity development support skills across diverse stakeholders.
- Familiarity with donor proposal development processes, particularly for institutional donors.
- Understanding of cross-cutting themes such as protection, inclusion, sustainability etc.
Desirable
- Experience in the Ukrainian shelter/social housing projects is an advantage.
- Understanding of the social housing project cycle and regulatory frameworks in Ukraine is an advantage.
2. Skills and Competencies
- Analytical mindset with strong critical thinking skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication with motivation to work in close partnership with national partners
- Excellent writing, proposal development, reporting skills.
- Ability to work independently and plan, manage time and meet deadlines with efficiency.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams and in multicultural environments. Good interpersonal skills.
- High level of adaptability in dynamic and evolving contexts.
- Proficiency in digital tools including Microsoft Office Suite and online collaboration platforms.
3. Contextual Knowledge and Vision
- Deep understanding and knowledge of the Ukrainian context, particularly dynamics affecting IDPs, returnees, and host communities.
- Familiarity with social housing models and legal frameworks in Ukraine preferred.
4. Language Requirements
- Very good written and oral English.
- Ukrainian or Russian language skills are an advantage.
How to apply
5. How to apply
Proposals responding to this job advertisement should include:
- CV detailing experience in conducting work relevant to this role.
- Maximum 1 page cover letter, with the inclusion of the desired daily fee in CHF.
- If selected for an interview, you will be asked to provide contact information for two references.
All applications should be submitted before August 05, 2025 17:00 Kyiv time to ua_program@caritas.ch. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, interested persons are therefore advised to apply early.
Please send us CV in English.