Background

The district heating sector in Ukraine is in a critical condition at all stages of production, distribution and consumption of heat for space heating and hot water supply. The share of district heating in Ukraine steadily decreases. Over the past few years, it has fallen to 60%, although still about 11 million apartments are connected to the networks. About 35 large CHP plants, more than 200 industrial plants and more than 100,000 boiler houses provide for the needs of consumers of heat.

In response to these challenges, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has developed the Ukraine Energy Rescue Plan, which defines the strategic framework for EIB lending activities aimed at safeguarding energy security during wartime and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential utilities and social services. Within this framework, the Ukraine District Heating Programme provides long-term financing to municipalities and communal utilities through Ukrainian financial intermediaries for investments in district heating modernization, energy efficiency improvements, and related infrastructure upgrades. The Programme focuses on enhancing system reliability, reducing technical losses, improving fuel efficiency, and strengthening the overall resilience of heat supply systems in line with European standards and Ukraine’s recovery priorities

UNDP supports public authorities in Ukraine in advancing sustainable recovery and resilience across key sectors, including the district heating sector. This support is provided through capacity building, project development, advisory services, and training that help national and local institutions strengthen governance, prepare investment-ready projects, and align with international standards. 

Despite these efforts, there remains a substantial financing gap that constrains public authorities’ ability to modernize infrastructure and implement large-scale investments. While UNDP provides critical technical assistance and institutional support, it cannot on its own mobilize or cover the scale of financial resources required. 

Against this background, the European Investment Bank offers a vital complementary role by providing access to long-term financing for Ukraine’s public sector. By combining EIB’s financial resources with UNDP’s technical expertise and capacity support, the two institutions can jointly address the dual challenge of limited local capacity and constrained financing. 

Against this background, UNDP has developed and is implementing the Ukraine District Heating Programme Technical Assistance, financed by a financial contribution from the EIB. The project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ukrainian public authorities and utilities, improve the quality and bankability of district heating investment projects, and facilitate effective access to sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, the Programme supports the preparation and implementation of priority district heating investments that enhance energy security, operational reliability, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Within this context, UNDP Ukraine is recruiting a qualified national professional for the position of Economics Analyst. The incumbent will support municipalities, public utilities and the UNDP Programme team in developing and analysing economic and operational models for district heating and energy efficiency investments. The role will focus on investment justification, cost-benefit analysis, affordability assessment, scenario modelling, demand and tariff-related forecasting, and preparation of analytical inputs for project appraisal and decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close collaboration with Engineering Analysts, the Economics Analyst will perform the following:

3.1.    Economic Modelling and Investment Analysis for Sub-Projects
•    Develop and maintain practical economic and investment analysis models for sub-projects submitted by municipalities, district heating companies and communal utilities, covering investment costs, operating cost structures, expected savings, revenue-related assumptions, implementation schedules and overall project efficiency. 
•    Prepare multi-period economic forecasting models for district heating rehabilitation, energy efficiency and renewable energy sub-projects, using technical inputs such as heat output, fuel consumption, efficiency improvements, consumer base and expected demand provided by Engineering Analysts. 
•    Assess and interpret key economic and project performance indicators, including payback period, lifecycle cost, cost-efficiency, expected energy savings, tariff coverage, affordability implications and other relevant indicators required for project appraisal. 
•    Analyse the operational and economic sustainability of municipalities and utility companies implementing proposed investments, including their cost structures, revenue base, expenditure trends, existing obligations and ability to maintain project results over time. 
•    Review and validate economic models, investment assumptions and supporting calculations submitted by sub-borrowers or their consultants, identifying errors, inconsistencies or unrealistic projections and providing structured feedback to the Project Manager and relevant partners. 
•    Prepare standardised modelling templates and user guidance adapted to the Ukrainian municipal, utility, tariff and accounting context, ensuring consistency of assumptions, cost categories and investment justification across the Programme.

3.2.    Operational Forecasting and Cost Analysis
•    Conduct operational cost and revenue-related analysis for heat supply companies and municipal utilities, differentiating between recurrent operating costs, investment-related costs, expected savings, budget support, grant co-financing and other relevant project-related flows.
•    Prepare investment-period and post-completion forecasts aligned with procurement and construction timelines, including quarterly breakdowns of investment costs, expected implementation milestones and commissioning dates.
•    Assess liquidity and operational risks of participating municipalities and utilities, including seasonal fluctuations typical for heat supply operations, accounts receivable, payment discipline, budget transfer dependencies and other factors affecting project implementation.
•    Produce consolidated forecasting summaries across the sub-project portfolio, enabling the Project Manager and EIB to track expected versus actual project performance and identify sub-projects requiring additional attention.
•    Update models and forecasts in response to revised technical designs, cost estimates, procurement outcomes, tariff decisions, implementation progress or macroeconomic changes, and clearly explain the impact of such changes on project assumptions and expected results.

3.3.    Stakeholder Support and Technical Assistance to Sub-Borrowers
•    Provide direct technical assistance to municipal administrations, district heating companies and other communal utility applicants in preparing the economic and analytical sections of sub-project applications, including investment justification, affordability analysis, expected savings and supporting modelling tables.
•    Liaise with partner banks and relevant stakeholders to understand project appraisal expectations, align modelling assumptions with application requirements and support the clarification of questions related to project-level economic analysis.
•    Support the preparation and organisation of sub-project data packages, including operational data, budget information, utility performance indicators, cost estimates, tariff information, receivables data and other inputs required for project assessment.
•    Advise municipal and utility teams on practical approaches to infrastructure investment planning, cost analysis, budgeting, tariff-related assumptions and evidence-based project preparation.
•    Participate in technical evaluation processes for sub-project appraisal, contributing the economic analysis and forecasting component alongside engineering, procurement and environmental/social specialists.
•    Consult with stakeholders and communicate on behalf of the Programme on economic modelling and project analysis matters, ensuring a clear and consistent flow of information between sub-borrowers, partner banks, the EIB and the UNDP Programme team.

3.4.    Knowledge Management, Reporting and Capacity Building
•    Prepare analytical briefs and economic assessment summaries for Programme progress reports, Technical and Economic Appraisal packages, Pre-Feasibility Studies and other project documentation submitted to the EIB or other partners.
•    Identify and document good practices and lessons learned in economic modelling, operational forecasting and investment analysis for district heating and energy efficiency projects in the Ukrainian regulatory and macroeconomic context.
•    Conduct training sessions and workshops for municipal representatives, utility specialists and Programme/Project staff on practical modelling techniques, investment planning, cost-benefit analysis, affordability assessment and preparation of analytical inputs for IFI-supported projects.
•    Contribute to Programme/Project work plans and regular reporting on progress for different stakeholders, including donors.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

  Institutional Arrangement

The Analyst works under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with Engineering Analysts and representatives of partner banks. The incumbent is responsible for economic modelling, operational forecasting, and analytical support functions under the District Heating Programme TA, in line with the Programme Document (ProDoc), Annual Work Plan (AWP), and UNDP corporate rules and procedures.

The incumbent maintains regular working contacts with sub-borrowing entities, including municipalities, KP/KPP heat supply companies and communal utilities, as well as partner banks, namely Ukreximbank, Ukrgasbank and Oschadbank, and the EIB technical team. The incumbent serves as the Programme’s focal point for project-level economic analysis, modelling assumptions and investment justification matters.
 

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition
Business Direction & Strategy Systems Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Direction and Strategy Entrepreneurial Thinking
  • Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
Business Direction and Strategy Negotiation and Influence
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations.
Business Management Communication
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  •  Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
  • Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. 
  • Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. 
  • Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
  • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
2030 Agenda: People  Gender 
  • Gender Mainstreaming.
Procurement  Supplier/relationship management
  • Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Administration, Energy Management, Infrastructure Planning, Utility Management, Business Administration, Data Analytics, or other closely related fields; or 

  • A first university degree (Bachelor's degree) in the above fields in a combination of an additional two years of qualifying relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced university degree..

Min. years of relevant work experience 
  • Minimum 2 years with Master’s degree or 4 years with Bachelor’s degree of relevant experience in economic analysis, infrastructure planning, investment modelling, budgeting, utility performance analysis, cost-benefit analysis, or forecasting, preferably in the energy, municipal infrastructure, public utilities or development sectors.
Experience , Knowledge and Skills
  • Experience in economic analysis, financial/investment modelling, budgeting, forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, or infrastructure/energy project appraisal. 
  • Experience preparing analytical reports, feasibility/pre-feasibility assessments, investment justifications, or similar project appraisal documents. 
  • Experience working with quantitative financial, operational, tariff-related, budgetary, or utility performance data. 
  • Advanced MS Excel skills, demonstrated through experience with calculations, models, forecasts, dashboards, or scenario analysis.
Desired Criteria
  • Experience preparing proposals, advisory documents, economic analytical papers, or results-focused report is an asset.
  • Experience in developing or reviewing economic/business models and analytical tools for infrastructure, energy, municipal utility, or public investment projects shall be considered an asset.
  • Familiarity with LCOE methodology, tariff gap analysis, and co-financing/grant blending structures for energy infrastructure projects is an advantage
  • Experience working with municipalities, state-owned enterprises, or public utility companies in Ukraine — particularly in the district heating, energy efficiency, or communal infrastructure sectors is highly desirable.
  • Experience working with international financial institutions (EIB, EBRD, World Bank, NEFCO or similar) or with IFI-financed sub-borrower appraisal processes shall be considered a significant asset. 
  • Experience working with government counterparts, development partners including the EU, and financial intermediaries/banks is an advantage.
Required Language(s) 
  • Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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