The Executive Committee of ISOCARP invites expressions of interest from ISOCARP members to join a small advisory / expert team supporting the preparation and implementation of an international partner selection competition for the new General Plan of Kyiv.
ISOCARP has been invited to contribute its professional expertise to the structuring and delivery of this process, in collaboration with UN-Habitat and local counterparts in Kyiv. The assignment is conceived as a continuous engagement across all phases of the competition, from inception through evaluation and award.
While initial funding is currently secured for the preparation phases, the full process—including execution and evaluation—is expected to proceed once additional funding is in place. Members selected through this call are therefore expected to remain involved across the full duration of the assignment.
Overview of the Assignment
The advisory team will have the following tasks:
Phase 1 – Inception & Competition Design
- Review of existing strategic materials, visioning outputs, and contextual information
- Definition of competition objectives, structure, governance, and evaluation criteria
- Contribution to the overall competition framework and process design
Phase 2 – Preselection Stage (Call for Interest)
- Preparation of preselection documentation (Terms of Reference)
- Support to international outreach and dissemination
- Advisory support in the assessment and shortlisting of candidate teams
Phase 3 – Preparation of the Competition
(This phase is covered under currently secured funding)
- Preparation of the detailed competition brief
- Definition of submission requirements and supporting documentation for shortlisted teams
- Structuring of the competition process in readiness for launch
Phase 4 – Competition Execution, Evaluation & Award
(To proceed once additional funding is secured)
- Management of the competition period, including clarifications and quality control
- Design and facilitation of online briefings, exchanges, and guidance notes
- Support to jury evaluation, deliberation, and final selection
- Contribution to documentation of results and process outcomes
Members selected through this call are expected to continue their involvement into Phase 4, subject to funding confirmation.
Expected Team & Profile
- 2–3 ISOCARP members will be selected
- Open to all ISOCARP members, including Young Planners
- Experience with organizing or managing international competitions or comparable processes
- Strategic or metropolitan planning, post-conflict or recovery contexts and in urban planning in the post-soviet space are strong assets
- Ability to work effectively within a tight timeframe and in a complex, sensitive context
Language requirements
- Fluency in English: required
- Ukrainian: an asset
Timeframe & Availability
- Start of work: immediately after selection (mid-February)
- Initial preparation phases: mid-February – end of March
- Subsequent phases to follow subject to funding confirmation
- Availability for intensive collaboration during preparation, and continued engagement thereafter, is essential
Travel
- Advisory team members should be aware that 1–2 missions to Kyiv are anticipated over the course of the initial stages of the assignment
- Travel planning will be coordinated in line with project needs and prevailing conditions
Compensation
- This is a pro bono professional contribution, in line with ISOCARP’s public-interest mission
- Travel-related expenses will be covered in accordance with project arrangements
Application Process
Interested members are invited to submit:
- A short CV
- A brief motivation statement outlining relevant experience and availability
- Applications must be submitted via the ISOCARP website.
- Deadline to apply: 8 February
- Selection outcome communicated by: 13 February
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee appointed by the ISOCARP Executive Committee according to the following criteria:
1. Relevant Professional Experience (30%)
- Experience in organising, managing, or advising on international planning or design competitions, calls for interest, or comparable processes
- Background in strategic, metropolitan, or large-scale urban planning
- Experience with multi-stakeholder and internationally coordinated planning processes
2. Contextual Knowledge and Thematic Expertise (20%)
- Experience in post-conflict, recovery, or crisis-affected contexts
- Familiarity with planning systems and governance frameworks in Eastern Europe and/or the post-Soviet space
- Understanding of long-term strategic planning, resilience, and reconstruction processes
3. Capacity, Availability, and Commitment (30%)
- Demonstrated availability for intensive engagement during the preparation phases (mid-February to end of March)
- Willingness and ability to remain engaged across all subsequent phases of the assignment, subject to funding confirmation
- Ability to work reliably under tight timelines and evolving project conditions
- Responsiveness and sustained capacity for coordination within an international advisory team
4. Quality of Motivation and Institutional Fit (10%)
- Clarity and relevance of the motivation statement
- Alignment with ISOCARP’s public-interest mission and professional values
- Potential contribution to ISOCARP’s credibility and effectiveness within the partnership
5. Language and Collaboration Skills (10%)
- Fluency in English (required)
- Ukrainian or other relevant languages (asset)
- Ability to collaborate constructively in international, interdisciplinary settings
We encourage members who are motivated to contribute their expertise to a meaningful and high-profile international planning process, under exceptional circumstances, to apply.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia