International Consultant – Expert on Sustainable Forest Governance and the combatting of illegal logging (SSA's)

Background:

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) with 57 participating States is the world’s largest regional security organization. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis. For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the OSCE decision-making bodies in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) works to strengthen security and stability in the OSCE region by promoting international co-operation on economic and environmental issues. The OSCE provides a platform for political dialogue to identify and reduce the security risks associated with climate change. To this end, the Organization conducts risk assessments, builds capacity and implements activities on the ground that seek to strengthen resilience and promote collaboration across borders and sectors.

Illegal logging poses a significant challenge to stability, security, governance and climate resilience in South-Eastern Europe (SEE), undermining local livelihoods and key economic sectors while contributing to biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and climate change. Yet reliable, comparable data on its scale, drivers, and impacts remain limited due to fragmented monitoring, differing methodologies, and uneven enforcement capacity. Furthermore, gaps in co-ordination and communication both within and across jurisdictions further undermine efforts to address the problem.

In response to these challenges, the OCEEA is in close collaboration with the OSCE Field Operations in SEE implementing the project Assisting the Authorities in South Eastern Europe to Reduce Illegal Logging and Address Associated Climate-Related Security Risk. The project aims to strengthen regional co-operation in SEE to prevent illegal logging and address associated climate-related security risks. Project activities will be structured around two key results:

• Improving understanding among relevant stakeholders in the six SEE jurisdictions of illegal logging, its underlying drivers, governance gaps, and associated climate-related security risks; and

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• Enhancing regional dialogue and co-operation among SEE jurisdictions for preventing illegal logging and addressing associated climate-related security risks

As part of this effort, a Regional Risk Assessment will be conducted across six jurisdictions (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo , Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) to assess the extent, drivers and consequences of illegal logging, including governance gaps and associated climate-related security risks, and identify entry points for addressing illegal logging at local and regional levels. The findings will inform the development of the Regional Strategy and Roadmap for addressing illegal logging and associated climate-related security risks in the SEE region.

Objective of Assignment:

OCEEA calls for an international expert to conduct a regional risk assessment of the extent, drivers, and consequences of illegal logging and its associated climate-related security risks in SEE and to identify entry points for addressing illegal logging at local and regional levels.

Duration of Assignment:

The duration of the consultancies will depend on the specific individual tasks over a period of 15 months.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the OCEEA, the successful candidate will contribute their expertise to the development and implementation of the above-mentioned regional risk assessment. The expert will also provide specialised expertise on sustainable forest governance and the prevention and detection of illegal logging and deforestation, ensuring that these dimensions are appropriately integrated into the assessment, including an analysis of their potential links broader environmental, social, and security implications.

More specifically, the tasks will include the following:

1. Development of a methodological framework for the regional assessment of the extent, drivers, and consequences of illegal logging in SEE and its associated climate-related security risk;

2. Quantitative and qualitative research and analysis on the scope and patterns of illegal logging and its associated climate-related security risks, with focus on the forestry-related aspects, using appropriate methods, including: desk research, key informant interviews, round tables, focus groups, surveys, etc.;

3. Review of legal, policy and institutional frameworks for sustainable forest governance as well as enforcement capacities and anti-corruption measures, institutional assessments and management arrangements, including inter-agency co-ordination mechanisms and transboundary co-operation frameworks;

4. Assessment of the interlinkages between forest governance, illegal logging, climate change and security, including their implications for governance, stability and regional co-operation;

5. Stakeholder consultations using appropriate methods and the promotion of inclusive stakeholder participation in the six jurisdictions. This includes the contribution to a regional expert meeting to validate the assessment findings;

6. Gender-sensitive assessment of the differentiated impacts of illegal logging and climate-related risks on women, men, and vulnerable groups, as well as the gendered dimensions of exploitation associated with illegal logging;

7. Contribute to the development of the Risk Assessment Report, including to the report outline and the drafting of the regional risk assessment report, with jurisdiction-specific annexes, based on the assessment findings and informed by international good practice. The report will identify capacity gaps and capacity-building needs among relevant authorities responsible for preventing and addressing illegal logging, and provide evidence-based, actionable recommendations to strengthen transparency, accountability, and community engagement at the regional and jurisdictional levels

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The assignment will be implemented in co-operation with a lead expert on climate change and security and with support of local experts in each jurisdiction, and overseen by the OSCE Project team.

Travels in South-Eastern Europe is associated with this consultancy, and will be covered on top of the renumeration package.

Deliverables:

• Methodological framework for the assessment;

• Regional risk assessment report, including jurisdiction level annexes, reflecting good international practice.

Specificities to be further defined at the time of contract conclusion, in line with the necessities of the above-mentioned project.

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in environmental science, forest governance, law, social and political science, interdisciplinary and applied disciplines or other relevant fields;

• Minimum four years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the above-mentioned areas of expertise;

• Demonstrated experience in conducting risks assessments and data analysis, or similar evaluative studies, including the development of assessment methodologies and data collection tools at national, regional and/or international level;

• Experience and political understanding of forest governance, climate change, environmental and socio-political dynamics in South Eastern Europe

• Good knowledge of the interlinkages between climate change, environmental degradation, forest governance natural resource management, socio-economic vulnerabilities, environmental illicit activities, and security risks;

• Experience in working in teams and participating in professional meetings (including stakeholder meetings), meeting facilitation on the topics listed above will be considered a strong asset.;

• Excellent knowledge of English, including excellent communication and drafting skills. Knowledge of SEE languages is considered an asset;

• Excellent analytical and writing skills and proficient use of Microsoft Office;

• Strong communication skills and ability to adapt to different audiences are essential for relevant assignments and an asset for the remaining fields;

• Experience is working in an OSCE context is considered an asset.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

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 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.

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