Associate Programme Officer

Position description

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to assignment at OSCE/ODIHR must be borne by their authorities.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

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.

The post is located in the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues (CPRSI) within the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw. The Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues is the focal unit of the OSCE tasked with assisting participating States to effectively implement OSCE commitments pertaining to Roma and Sinti. The objective is further undertaken by sharing expertise, providing assistance, raising awareness and assessing the progress in improving the situation of Roma and Sinti throughout the OSCE region.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues, Chief of the CPRSI, the incumbent will contribute to the development and implementation of all programmatic activities and projects related to tasks assigned to CPRSI, including in the 2003 Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE area (the Action Plan) and/or as stipulated under relevant Ministerial Council Decisions related to Roma and Sinti. In particular, the incumbent performs the following functions:

1. Monitoring, analysing and reporting on the human rights situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE area, in particular as regards manifestations of racism and discrimination and situations that have the potential for escalating into tensions or conflicts; proposing responses to the Chief of CPRSI and ODIHR senior management;
2. Drafting reports, analyses, briefing papers, memoranda, background materials, talking points and other materials pertaining to the human rights situation of Roma and relevant policy processes, as well as related to the implementation of the OSCE Action Plan and subsequent Ministerial Council Decisions on Roma and Sinti. Analysing and monitoring the impact of new legislation and policies and their effects on Roma and Sinti, and identifying good policy models fostering inclusion and non-discrimination;
3. Contributing to the development and implementation of activities and projects related to the department’s strategic and programmatic outline, as well as of the tasks and overall activities of the department. Co-operating internally with ODIHR departments, and establishing and maintaining contacts with relevant OSCE institutions and field operations, and with other relevant intergovernmental and international organizations, national authorities, and Roma and pro-Roma civil society organizations;
4. Contributing to communication, outreach and facilitation of dialogue activities, by planning meetings, field visits, bilateral and multilateral events, drafting communication materials and correspondence in view of the mandate to assist participating States on implementing their OSCE commitments and improving the situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE area;
5. Planning, developing and implementing training activities and other events targeting stakeholders such as national authorities and Roma and pro-Roma civil society in relation to relevant thematic areas, and in view of strengthening the capacity of stakeholders; facilitating dialogue and networking and promoting trust and understanding.

Necessary Qualification:

• Second-level university degree in law, political science, sociology or social science, public administration, international relations or other disciplines related to human rights. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of two years (four years with a relevant first-level degree) of directly related professional work experience in human rights, public policy, or related field, preferably on Roma and Sinti issues;
• Very good understanding of the international environment and functioning of international human rights institutions and bodies in relation to minorities, combating racism and discrimination, equality and inclusion policies;
• Experience in human and minority rights, in Roma and Sinti issues or other vulnerable groups; familiarity with national, regional and international policies and initiatives addressing Roma and Sinti is desirable;
• Experience in designing, planning and implementing project activities addressing groups at risk of exclusion and/or discrimination, such as Roma and Sinti would be an asset;
• Experience in monitoring human rights or relevant field experience on human rights, preferably in relation to Roma and Sinti would be an asset;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is essential; knowledge of another OSCE language is desirable;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online Application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form to the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, 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 open for secondment, 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 the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 years.

Application instructions

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