International Consultant– In support of advancement of the legislative and practical aspects of SALW deactivation framework (SSA)

Background:

Please note that this is a consultancy assignment of a temporary nature, with an expected duration of up to 120 working days per calendar year. Work location: home-based and field work. Travel within the OSCE region.

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, 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 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 Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) is an autonomous OSCE decision-making body that deals with military aspects of security. The FSC Support Unit co-ordinates and facilitates the OSCE’s role in the politico-military dimension. The primary task of the Unit is to provide expertise and support to the FSC. The Unit initiates, develops, implements technical assistance projects in the field of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition (SCA), including preventing and combating illicit trafficking in all aspects, as well as performs quality assurance and quality control of the implementing agencies (OSCE Field Operations, UN agencies, and commercial contractors). The amount of Unit’s workload, as well as the need for technical expertise under specific assistance projects, including those delegated for implementation to the Field Operations require relying on additional technical capacity hired through consultancy.

Objective of Assignment: 

To further support these processes, the FSC SU is seeking to employ a consultant who will be entrusted with substantive responsibilities in providing necessary expertise and advisory related to advancement of the legislative and practical SALW deactivation framework in support of improved SALW deactivation standards across the OSCE region. 
    
The consultant will work under the supervision of the FSC SU Project Officers and guidance of the project officers in the respective FOs. 

Duration of Assignment:
120 days

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The OSCE is looking for qualified candidates to the consultancy position of a SALW deactivation expert to assess the legal, practical, operational, infrastructure, financial, and all other requirements related to improvement of legislative and practical SALW deactivation framework. The consultant should also have an experience in policy drafting and analysis in the security field. More specifically, in close cooperation with the subject experts at the FSC Support Unit, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Provide support in analysing and reviewing the existing legal framework on SALW deactivation and related data collection methodologies, identify gaps and provide advisory support and recommendations for their improvement in line with OSCE best practices and other applicable international standards;
2. Conduct a needs assessment of relevant policies and procedures and LEAs' capacities for SALW deactivation, and thereby identify gaps and potential priority needs, finalizing findings and recommendations in line with the guidance and feedback received from OSCE personnel and representatives of relevant national authorities;
3. Organize and conduct interviews with respective stakeholders involved in the process, to gain insight on the current state of SALW deactivation in respect of regulatory and practical deactivation frameworks;
4. Advise on priority areas for advancement of the legislative and practical deactivation framework, including on necessary improvements of SALW deactivation facilities and equipment;
5. Provide necessary training and advisory related to certification of deactivation experts, and institutionalization of theoretical and practical deactivation training framework into the national training curricula;
6. Perform remote and face-to-face consultations (should these be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic) with the relevant stakeholders at various stages of the assignment;
7. Perform, as required, any other tasks related to providing support and assistance pertaining to advancement of the legislative and practical aspects of SALW deactivation framework;

Deliverables:
For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in law, police, security and/or military sciences, or similar education;
• Minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience at national and/or international level in law enforcement area, particularly academic and/or practical work with destruction/deactivation of SALW;
• Solid experience and knowledge of destruction/deactivation systems;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Strong ability to carry out work independently;
• Excellent analytical, diplomatic and negotiation skills;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent written/spoken communication skills; knowledge of other OSCE languages would be an asset; knowledge of local languages in the geographical area of OSCE practical assistance projects in South Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia would be of distinct advantage;
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure in a challenging environment and within limited time frames;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

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://jobs.osce.org/vacancies.

If you are not a national of a participating State, you must apply by submitting an offline application form which can be found under https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form.

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.