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, strengthening efforts to combat corruption on all levels, as well as supporting the justice sector reform, electoral reform, advancing gender equality and building open and resilient societies.

The post is located in the Democratic Institutions and Elections unit within the Human Dimension Department (HDD). The unit implements projects aimed at assisting the Host State in strengthening democratic institutions by consolidating electoral processes, fostering public dialogue, facilitating civic education, enhancing the capacity of elected and relevant state officials and contributing to the enhancement of a gender-sensitive and inclusive parliament.

I. Main Purpose

The Programme Associate (PA) supports the strengthening of democratic institutions and electoral processes in co-operation with the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda and the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic. The PA facilitates legislative support, organizes dialogue platforms, promotes gender-sensitivity in Parliament, and supports civic education through capacity-building and awareness-raising initiatives. The role covers project activities on electoral reforms in line with international standards and OSCE commitments, enhancing inclusivity in political processes, and fostering the participation of underrepresented groups, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

Working under minimum 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. The 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 consolidation of inclusive election processes, civic education, enhancement of Parliament’s gender-sensitivity and other relevant components.

II. Work Relationships

The Programme Associate reports to the National Democratic Institutions Officer (NP1), while the Human Dimension Officer (S2) acts as the second-level supervisor.

Internal contacts are primarily with other teams within the Human Dimension Department (HDD), the Fund Administration Unit (FAU), the Public Information Unit, the Office of the Head of Mission (OHoM), OSCE Institutions, and other relevant OSCE offices, in order to seek advice, guidance, and the required clearance or approval on project administration. This includes matters related to project documents, correspondence, and expenditures, as well as making administrative arrangements for the implementation of project activities. External contacts are primarily with state partners, such as the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CEC), the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament), the Civic and Digital Education Centre under the CEC, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, judicial authorities, civil society, and international organizations, in order to co-ordinate project assistance and arrange for potential joint implementation of project activities. The incumbent also collaborates with international and national experts contracted by the Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) to achieve programme and project results.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the National Democratic Institutions Officer (NP1), the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Collecting, registering, reporting and maintaining information on projects related to democratization, in particular, election processes 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 co-ordination with partners for implementation assesses program implementation and other related issues; regularly reporting to the NDIO, preparing various written outputs, draft background and briefing papers;
2. Following up on the implementation of ongoing project activities on strengthening democratic institutions, primarily, election processes, and support to the implementation of the OSCE Commitments in the field of elections, conducting desk research on designated project activities, discussing findings with the NDIO 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. Co-ordinating the collection and verification of documents, actions and data; assembling and editing basic data required for planning and negotiation, as instructed by the NDIO; 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, co-ordinating and developing project budgets in close co-operation with FAU; following up and keeping records on project expenditures and overall financial status; preparing Purchase Requests (PR), assisting in allocation of funds between 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 organisation’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 requested; preparing and providing accurate information when necessary for the NDIO and Human Dimension Officer.

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

Necessary Qualifications:

Education:

• Completed secondary education supplemented by specialized training or formal studies in human rights, international development, business administration, project management, law or political studies;

Experience and knowledge/skills:

• Minimum of six (6) years of working experience (5 years with a first-level university degree or 4 years with a second-level university degree) in the fields of human rights, democratization, democratic governance, elections, inclusivity, gender equality or project management;
• Established knowledge and understanding of the developments in national and regional context and Programme matters in regard to democratization and elections;
• Experience in project planning, implementation and reporting;
• Experience working in an international or non-governmental organization is desirable;
• 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;
• Advanced computer literacy with practical experience in Microsoft Office applications. Experience with ERP software is an asset.
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Languages:

• 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.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

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 OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.

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 62 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.

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