Associate Project Officer (P2) At Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Background:

This is an extra-budgetary position. The initial contract will be for one year, renewable until the project ends. The expected duration of the project is until 31 December 2023, and the selected candidate should commit to being available for the duration of the project.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR’s assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate.

ODIHR’s Human Rights Department (HRD) assists OSCE participating States in fulfilling their obligations to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Within the new 3-year project “*Increasing effectiveness, strengthening the enabling environment for human rights defenders”*, ODIHR will implement a set of interventions to promote a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders (HRDs), including national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and journalists, and to support them in conducting their work more effectively and securely. This will include assessing the situation of HRDs in participating States, building their capacity to conduct their human rights work safely, and strengthening their ability to communicate with target audiences and better advocate on key human rights concerns, including through the use of technology tools.

With the overall objective to increase the effectiveness of HRDs in promoting and protecting human rights in OSCE participating States the project will build on ODIHR’s strong track record of training HRDs on monitoring, including on the issue of freedom of peaceful assembly, as well as on safety, security and communication. It will increase capacity of HRDs in utilizing the new communication strategies, methods and technologies.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Project Officer and working closely with Human Rights Advisers as the leads on the substantive portfolios, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

1. Support the implementation of project activities, by:
2. supporting the organization of events, including drafting of agendas, compilation of event materials and correspondence with facilitators, speakers and participants;
3. contributing to the organization of needs assessment visits and other project-related missions as required;
4. analysing evaluation forms on project events, including on recommendations and follow up activities;
5. monitoring relevant political and other developments related to project activities, and regularly briefing the project team on issues of importance to the project implementation;
6. drafting concept notes, talking points and briefing material on project-related activities and topics for ODIHR staff, including senior management;
7. helping establish and maintain contacts with key stakeholders relevant for the implementation of project activities.
8. Implement civil society capacity building activities by:
9. contributing to implementing partner agreement (IPA) selection procedures, regularly monitoring IPA projects’ implementation, documents progress and lessons learned, collecting and analysing reports and otherwise liaising and coordinating with implementing partners on issues related to their projects’ implementation;
10. supporting and engaging in the provision of tailored coaching and capacity building for HRDs;
11. in close consultation with the Human Rights Adviser/Monitoring and Response Coordinator, supporting the communication with and coordination of experts engaged in coaching of assembly monitors.
12. Liaison with external service providers by:
13. ensuring efficient communication with, and coordination of the work of, contractors hired to support the delivery of project outputs;
14. ensuring that deliverables of short-term programmatic and administrative support contracted to implement the project are submitted on time, reviewed and finalized in accordance with the project’s work plan.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, please see https://www.osce.org/odihr.

Necessary qualifications:

· A first-level university degree in international affairs, law, human rights, social sciences or other relevant field;

· Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience working on human rights;

· Experience that provides knowledge of relevant international human rights standards and OSCE commitments, with a particular focus on human rights defenders;

· At least 2 years proven experience of working with national and international human rights organizations and experts;

· At least 1 year of experience in project management, in particular donor-funded projects;

· At least 2 years of experience in the implementation of training or awareness-raising projects with civil society organizations, at least one of which should have been gained at the international level;

· At least 1 year of experience organizing large international conferences and events of capacity building nature related to human rights and civil society;

· Experience that provides familiarity with the situation of human rights defenders and civil society organizations in the OSCE region;

· Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English. Working knowledge of other OSCE languages, in particular Russian, is desirable;

· Computer literacy with practical experience using Microsoft applications;

· Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds;

· Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, please see https://www.osce.org/odihr.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 4,150, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland. Social benefits will include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. The Organization contributes an amount equivalent to 15% of the employee’s salary to this Fund and the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.