Programme Associate (G6)

Background:

The work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) focuses on a range of security issues, from countering terrorism, border security and transnational threats such as human trafficking, to developing the country’s regions, strengthening efforts to combat corruption on all levels, as well as supporting the reform of the justice sector, implementation of election reform, gender equality and building open and resilient societies.
The incumbent will be positioned within the Environmental section of the Economic and Environmental Department (EED). The section implements projects aimed at assisting the Host State in enhancing the capacities of the state institutions on environmental protection, monitoring, disaster risk reduction, awareness raising on environmental and climate change issues and development of the ‘green’ economy in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Main Purpose

The Programme Associate (PA) acts as a focal point responsible for implementing the programme objective that contributes to disaster risk management in co-operation with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic. The PA also supports the implementation of the Aarhus Convention through support for the functioning of the Aarhus Centres in Bishkek, Cholpon-Ata, and Naryn. The area of responsibility covers the delivery of project activities aimed at assisting the Host State in strengthening disaster risk management, raising the capacities of the state institutions, developing policies and implementing measures on disaster preparedness, early warning and emergency response. It also covers implementing activities to promote the Aarhus Convention and strengthening the capacities of local authorities and youth to address local and regional environmental challenges.   
Working with limited supervision, the Programme Associate provides technical support and recommends ways of improvement for the implementation of the programme/project and collaboration with respective stakeholders by performing skilled, semi-professional functions of substantial variety and complexity that require the application of different and unrelated processes and methods and an understanding of a broad area of operation within the field relevant for the project, including proposing new areas of activity. PA also provides substantive input to project design, planning, delivery, monitoring, and reporting of project activities. He/she will thus be tasked to contribute to the achievement of the project’s performance indicators within the components of disaster risk management and support the implementation of the Aarhus Convention.

Work Relationships

The Programme Associate reports to the National Environmental Officer (NEO), while the Regional Development Officer acts as the second-level supervisor. 
Internal contacts are mainly with other teams within EED, the Fund Administration Unit (FAU), the Public Information Unit, the Office of Head of Mission and others to provide advice or guidance related to project administration, including in relation to project documents, correspondence and expenditure, as well as to make administrative arrangements for the implementation of project activities. External contacts are mainly with state partners, such as the Supreme Court, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Office of the Prosecutor General, the High School of the Supreme Court, and non-state partners, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and European Union Delegation in the Kyrgyz Republic, to coordinate project assistance and to make arrangements for potential joint implementation of project activities. The incumbent collaborates with the international and national experts contracted by the POiB to achieve the programme and project results.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the National Environmental Officer (NEO), the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Collecting, registering, reporting and maintaining information on projects on environmental activities by reviewing reports and establishing and maintaining liaison with partners for implementation, following up on all aspects of the project, including project formulation and provision of functional support to project implementation; in coordination with partners for implementation assesses program implementation and other related issues; regularly reporting to the NEO, preparing various written outputs, draft background and briefing papers;
2. Following up on the implementation of ongoing project activities on disaster risk management and support to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention, conducting desk research on designated project activities, discussing findings with the NEO to identify implications for the work of the section as well as rationale and context of project activities, considering problem identification and problem resolution;
3. Coordinating the collection and verification of documents, actions and data; assembling and editing basic data required for planning and negotiation, as instructed by the NEO; checking project documents for clarity, consistency and completeness;
4. Preparing project/programme reports, activities and budget requirements for the planning of Unified Budget (UB) and Extra Budgetary (ExB) proposals; taking active role in planning, coordinating and developing project budgets in close cooperation with FAU; following up and keeping records on project expenditures and overall financial status; preparing Purchase Requests (PR), assisting in  allocation of funds from FAU for project activities, preparing and submitting financial documentation for the projects expenditures for UB projects and ExB projects, as relevant;
5. Compiling general background information from available sources for the assigned sector or area; designing and drafting supporting flow charts, schedules, graphs and tables; maintaining documentation to record programme and project history on ongoing activities;  
6. Attending and contributing to briefings for visiting delegations on matters relating to the Office’s mandate and other important sectors pertinent to the organization’s mission; Paying field visits to attend project activities or monitor their delivery; Participating in subsequent discussions and decision-making regarding follow-up actions;
7. Providing input for all reporting exercises (regular and ad hoc), drafting and taking notes for the management on issues and related topics as and when requested; preparing and providing accurate information when necessary for the NEO and Regional Development Officer.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, please see: https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-bishkek.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Completed secondary education supplemented by specialized training or formal studies in international development, business administration, project management, economics or environmental studies;
• A university degree in international/sustainable development, economics, or environmental studies will be an asset.
• Minimum of six (6) years of working experience in disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, environmental governance, and international multilateral conventions on environmental matters;
• Experience in an international organization is desirable;
• Established knowledge and understanding of the developments in national and regional context and Programme matters in regard to disaster risk management, environmental governance, and sustainable development;
• Experience in project management, including project design, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting;
• Experience working with state bodies, local and international NGOs, and national or international financial institutions will be an asset;
• Ability to collect and comprehend versatile information in aim to perform appropriate analyses;
• Ability to conduct independent research and collect information from a variety of sources;
• Digital literacy, proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and the Internet. Experience with ERP software is an asset;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Russian/Kyrgyz languages.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions, is EUR 1048.25/month. Social benefits will include the possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund.
Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please note that for this position the OSCE does not reimburse expenses such as travel in connection with interviews, tests, visas and relocation.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.