National Consultant, Analyst on Religious Issues (SSA)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background:

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) will continue assisting the host State in strengthening its early warning and conflict prevention institutions. In this regard, the POiB decided to address the host State’s needs and accommodate its request through implementation of the project, which includes providing expert support to the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ministry of Culture), capacity building of Ministry of Culture’s 23 public reception offices, Monitoring Centre and co-ordination of activities with the Public Advisory Council on Interethnic Relations.

Under the project, the POiB will engage national consultants who will provide support to the Monitoring Centre’s monitoring, analytical and reporting work and the work of the 23 public reception offices, located in poly-ethnic regions of the country, in early-warning monitoring, conflict analysis and reporting. Monitoring Centre’s early-warning reporting will serve as an effective instrument for addressing and preventing interethnic conflicts at the local level.

The consultant will also be engaged in capacity building activities of the 23 public reception offices’ secretaries through delivering training courses and regular consultations and assistance.

This project is in line with the mandate of the POiB and addresses evolving needs and priorities of the Host country (official request). The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly the SDG #16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The project will also assist the host country to implement its international commitments. As an OSCE participating State, the Kyrgyz Republic has committed to conflict prevention, identified in particular by: the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe; the July 1992 Helsinki Document – The Challenges of Change; the December 1992 Stockholm Ministerial Council Document; the 1999 Istanbul Charter for European Security; the 2010 Astana Commemorative Declaration – Towards a Security Community; and the 2011 Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/11 on Elements of the Conflict Cycle, Related to Enhancing the OSCE’s Capabilities in Early Warning, Early Action, Dialogue Facilitation and Mediation Support, and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation.

Objective of Assignment:

To assist the host country in strengthening its early warning system and conflict prevention capacities and improving interethnic relations.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

• Provides analysis of the religious situation and developments on a weekly basis and prepares analytical notes for the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, compiled on the basis of information reports of the responsible secretaries of public receptions on interethnic issues;
• Provides assistance to the Monitoring Centre under the Ministry of Culture in contributing to the analytical capacities of the Monitoring Centre, including;
• Develops detailed methodological plan for monitoring and researching religious issues and interethnic relations;
• Conducts three case studies in multi-ethnic regions and cities of the republic on the following topics: 1) religious activity of ethnic communities; 2) the activities of traditional and radical religious movements, as well as citizens from among the proselytes; 3) the dynamics of manifestations of conflict factors among residents of multi-ethnic communities;
• Conducts at least three expert consultations with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Committee of Religious Affairs, local state administrations, and independent experts to discuss the monitoring plan aimed at preventing interethnic conflicts;
• Contributes to preparation and delivery of training courses to the 23 public reception secretaries, covering topics related to religion and early warning signals of conflicts involving religious factors;
• Support the work of the Chief Analyst as assigned.

The Consultants duty station will be the premises of the Ministry of Culture and use equipment (computers, mobile phone, internet services and other office supplies) provided by the Ministry of Culture.

Deliverables:

By the end of each month, the consultant will provide a narrative report on:

• Information on regular analytical and monitoring of the religious situation and developments, recommendations to the Ministry of Culture on related field;
• Information on contributing to preparation and delivery of training courses for public reception office secretaries;
• Information on regular consultations to the Monitoring Centre and public reception secretaries on early warning monitoring and reporting covering religious topics.

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

Necessary Qualifications:

• Higher education in the field theology, linguistics of Arabic language and literature;
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience working in the government bodies in the field of religion and anticonfessional relations;
• Professional fluency in both in official and state languages (Russian and Kyrgyz), both oral and written. Knowledge of a minority language would be an asset;
• Previous experience in developing strategic environmental documents would be an asset;
• Experience in delivering training, conducting round-table discussions, developing of methodological documents would be an asset;
• Analytical mind, a systematic and proactive approach, responsibility, and ability to work both independently and in a team;
• Skills of structured presentation of information and good communication skills;
• While performing duties, demonstrate values such as commitment, diversity, integrity and accountability;
• The project would seek to have diversity among the various teams and would therefore encourage both women and professionals from all ethnic groups to apply.

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.

Additional Information

• Issued by: OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek
• Requisition ID: OFF00003Z
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Bishkek
• Posting Date: Apr 6, 2022
• Closing Date: Apr 19, 2022
• Education Level: Bachelor's Degree (First-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Political Affairs