Adviser On Gender Issues

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 Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, and co-ordinating tasks across the Secretariat. It groups horizontal services such as Executive Management, Communications and Media Relations, Legal Services, External Co-operation, Security Management, Gender Issues, Conference and Language Services, Central Records Management, and oversees the OSCE Document Centre in Prague (DCiP). The OSG ensures effective co-ordination of policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship, and management decisions taken by the Secretary General.

The Gender Issues Programme (GIP) supports the efforts of the OSCE Secretary General to ensure a continuous and sustainable gender mainstreaming process across the Organization. It supports the full implementation of the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, as well as other gender-related commitments undertaken by the OSCE participating States. It assists and advises the OSCE Chair in Office and the OSCE Structures in the implementation of the Action Plan by providing technical assistance for the mainstreaming of gender in all activities, policies, programmes and projects. The GIP/OSG also designs and implements projects and activities that are strategically important for advancing the implementation of the OSCE commitments in the field of gender equality.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

- Providing knowledge and expertise to departments at the OSCE Secretariat, Institutions and field operations on the development of a consistent and systematic approach to integrating a gender perspective in their programmes and projects, especially in the second dimension (economic and environmental affairs) of the OSCE’s comprehensive security work, in line with the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality (MC.DEC/14/04) and relevant Ministerial Council’s decisions;
- Providing technical expertise and inputs on priority issues of gender mainstreaming, including to senior management, with focus on economic and environmental issues and liaising, consulting and co-operating with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA);
- Drafting briefings, proposals and reports, including inputs to the OSCE Annual Progress Report on gender equality, related to the promotion of gender equality in the second dimension, while collaborating with all relevant Secretariat departments, Institutions and Field Operations;
- Drafting talking points for OSCE senior management and statements/speeches for the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues with a focus on gender in economic and environmental issues and representing the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues in meetings and conferences, as required;
- Advising OSCE Secretariat departments, field operations, and Institutions in designing and implementing projects and promoting the inclusion of a gender perspective in comprehensive security, with focus on economic and environmental activities; monitoring their implementation within the framework of OSCE standards and the framework of the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality and relevant Ministerial Decisions;
- Performing other related duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

- A second-level university degree in gender studies, international relations, political sciences, economics, environmental sciences or other relevant field; a first-level university degree in the said fields in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
- A minimum of five years (seven years with a relevant first-level university degree) of professional experience in gender issues, human rights, eco