Policy Support Officer, Eastern Europe Desk

**Background**:
This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.

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 OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) plays a key role in supporting and co-ordinating the OSCE's activities in the field, in providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairmanship, in leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and in supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE's role in the politico-military dimension.

The Policy Support Service (PSS) serves as the Organization's primary point of contact on all matters concerning field operations; it monitors the implementation of the mandates of the individual field operations and advises the SG and the Chairmanship on related policy and operational issues. It also analyses early-warning signals regarding the situation in the field and recommends the implementation of relevant preventive or reactive action. Support provided to the SG and the Chairmanship includes background information, policy support and advice, input to speeches and travel files as well as drafting summary records. PSS facilitates the co-ordination of programmes and activities among field operations and with those of OSCE specialized units within the Secretariat and institutions and assists field operations with their input to the budget cycle process. PSS also provides support for the Chairmain-in-Office's representatives dealing with protracted conflicts and related formats.

The PSS is composed of four regional desks covering Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

**Tasks and Responsibilities**:
The incumbent will be a member of the Eastern Europe Desk. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Policy Support Officer and the general guidance of the Deputy Director for Policy Support Service, as Policy Support Officer, you will carry out the following tasks:
Monitoring and analysing developments in the region; contributing to the formulation of relevant policy advice;
Monitoring the implementation of the mandates of the assigned OSCE field operations in the Eastern Europe region;
Following-up to ensure timely flow of information among the field operations, the Chairmanship, the Delegations and the Secretariat;
Taking an active part in performance-based programme budgeting process for the assigned field operations, including interacting with the delegations of the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance (ACMF), the Preparatory Committee, the Permanent Council and other relevant committees;
Contributing to research on selected political topics related to the region, drafting background papers and reports, and compiling briefing material;
Attending meetings and writing summaries, notes and reports for internal distribution;
Preparing visits of the Chairmanship and senior OSCE officials to region; accompanying high-level visits to the region and drafting reports on these visits;
Preparing in-house briefings, publications and other material;
In co-operation with the Programming and Evaluation Support Unit, reviewing extra-budgetary projects from field operations to ensure that these are in line with the relevant mandate, and proposing editorial changes and further action, as necessary;
Performing other related duties, including participating at CPC-related events, and replacing other Policy Support Officers on the desk during their absence.

**Necessary Qualifications**:
First-level university degree in political sciences, public or international law, international relations or another related field; a second-level university degree and regional expertise would be an asset;
A minimum of six years of professional experience in government, national administration or other relevant professional field;
Work experience in a diplomatic service and/or international organization would be an asset;
Professional fluency in English including excellent drafting skills; working knowledge of one of the languages spoken in the region would be an asset;
Ex