Communications Manager on Higher Education at the Education Reform Communication Office

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ( MOES-C1-COM-0 6 - Communications Manager on Higher Education at the Education Reform Communication Office) UKRAINE Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results Project World Bank Loan No. 9238-UA Assignment Title: Communications Manager on Higher Education at the Education Reform Communication Office Reference No . MOES-C1-COM-06 Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) have signed Loan Agreement No. 9238-UA of US$200 million for the Project "Ukraine: Improving Higher Education for Results" (hereinafter referred to as the Project). The Project is implemented in Ukraine by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MoES) with the support of the World Bank Group. The Project implementation period is 2021-2026. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve efficiency, conditions for quality, and transparency in the higher education system of Ukraine. The Communications Manager will ensure that all messaging is aligned with the MoES Strategic Action Plan and the Operation of the World Bank, effectively promoting key policies, initiatives, and successes in higher education. The Consultant will be contracted through competitive selection in line with Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Feb 2025. The detailed Terms of Reference and submission modalities for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expression of Interest. MOES now invites qualified interested persons to submit their expression of interest in Ukrainian and English as provided in the Terms of reference. The deadline for submission of applications is 11:00 am Kyiv time January 22, 2026. TERMS OF REFERENCE for Consulting Services (Individual Consultant) Communications Manager on Higher Education at the Education Reform Communication Office Contract No. MOES-C1-COM-06 Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results Project World Bank Loan No. 9238-UA BACKGROUND Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) have signed Loan Agreement No. 9238-UA of US$200 million for the Project "Ukraine: Improving Higher Education for Results" (hereinafter referred to as the Project). The Project is implemented in Ukraine by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MoES) with the support of the World Bank Group. The Project implementation period is 2021-2026. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve efficiency, conditions for quality, and transparency in the higher education system of Ukraine. The Project includes six Parts: Part 1: Sector-Wide Improvements to Governance, Financing, Quality, and Transparency; Part 2: Alliances/Partnerships for Improved Efficiency and Quality; Part 3: Capacity Building and Education Environment Enhancement; Part 4: Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation Part 5: Support to Academic Scholarships under MoES and Social Scholarships under MOSP for Higher Education Students Part 6: Contingent Emergency Response (CERC) The Project supports two categories of expenditures: (i) traditional investments in goods, works, and services, for which disbursements are made against eligible expenditures, and (ii) defined performance-based conditions (PBCs), for which disbursements are also made against eligible expenditures conditional on the achievement of the PBCs as defined in the Loan Agreement and Project Operational Manual. More detailed information is given at the link https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P171050 The science in HEIs is one of pillars of the quality of higher education. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine now is facing a difficult task of restoring the research infrastructure of Ukraine, preserving human capital, and in particular, returning Ukrainian scientists from other countries. The preservation of the scientific domain is crucial for Ukraine's future, as the basis for rebuilding the country's human capital and economy. The key solution for restoring the research activities is the intensification of the communication within the research community, facilitating interest of the students toward research activities, especially in the STEM sector, highlighting the scientific advances and research opportunities in science. Parts 2 and 3 of the Project are designed to help selected HEIs in improving the research and education environment by providing research equipment to the selected universities. Part 1 aimed at the support of strategic and operational communications related to both the project and the larger higher education reform. The component will finance a comprehensive communications campaign and outreach effort for the ongoing higher education reform as a critical element both for transparency and building engagement and consensus amongst the higher education community in Ukraine The Ministry of Education and Science now seeks for consulting assistance towards developing and implementing new communication strategies for the Ukrainian higher education field. Specialist in communication and outreach for science in HEIs (hereinafter the Consultant) will be contracted through competitive selection in line with Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Nov 2020. This Terms of Reference defines the purpose, Scope and duration of consulting services and qualification requirements for the Consultant. OBJECTIVE The objective of this assignment is to develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy to enhance public awareness and stakeholder engagement regarding higher education reforms in Ukraine. The Communications Manager will ensure that all messaging is aligned with the MoES Strategic Action Plan and the Operation of the World Bank, effectively promoting key policies, initiatives, and successes in higher education. SCOPE OF SERVICES The Consultant shall provide the following services, including but not limited to: Developing and impleme