Gender Adviser OSCE SPU

FDFA - Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD)

The Peace and Human Rights Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is looking for Gender Adviser OSCE SPU in Kyiv within the framework of the co-operation between the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the OSCE. The OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) has been established in order to continue supporting the Ukrainian Government's reform efforts and mitigating the increased risks to civilians caused by the war against the country. The objective of the SPU - and therefore of all its projects - is to support Ukraine across all three OSCE dimensions on the government's reform efforts and on the evolving risks to civilians caused by the war, thus ensuring that the OSCE's work conducted over the past three decades and in the future, continues to impact positively the institutions and people of Ukraine and that Ukraine's comprehensive security is enhanced in line with the OSCE commitments. This post is financed from the extra-budgetary (ExB) SPU project under the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) at the OSCE Secretariat (SEC). The SPU is active until 31 July 2025 and planned to be extended until 2028. The post extension is subject to the extension of the project duration. 

Tasks and Responsibilities 

The incumbent will report to the Chief of Operations and should seek technical guidance of the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues. Furthermore, the incumbent will be tasked with the following: 

• Spearheading the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a systematic approach to integrate a gender perspective across the SPU's operations, with a specific programmatic focus on the OSCE's human dimension, security, and cross-dimensional issues. Internally, this involves analyzing existing systems, processes, and policies, leading to the recommendation of improvements for a more consistent and effective gender mainstreaming framework. Ensuring all gender initiatives are aligned with broader organizational goals. 

• Analyzing and supporting the development of projects, providing guidance to ensure they are fully gender-mainstreamed, to the extent possible, in alignment with OSCE commitments and the 2004 OSCE GAP. Ensuring the gender aspects are properly monitored and evaluated both within the framework of the project, and the scope of an SPU Gender Strategy and Action Plan, that is also aligned with the CPC Gender Workplan. 

• Conceptualizing and developing training materials for staff members and stakeholders, emphasizing capacity building in gender mainstreaming. Delivering OSCE tailored trainings on gender equality and mainstreaming, utilizing up-to-date and effective forms and methods for staff and stakeholders. Facilitating and moderating substantive discussions and training sessions, showcasing a high level of expertise. 

• Locating, analyzing and distilling specific data relevant for gender mainstreaming in the SPU and based off this, and upon request, providing technical expertise and guidance on priority issues of gender mainstreaming to the Chief of Operations. 

• On the basis of evidence, assisting both the SPU and the Gender Issues Programme in the design of gender equality projects, supporting their implementation, monitoring and evaluation and recommending improvements as appropriate. 

• Performing other relevant duties as requested. 

Requirements: 

• First-level university degree in gender, women's studies, social sciences, international development, human rights, international relations or other development-related field. 

• A minimum of seven years (five with a second-level university degree) of progressively responsible professional-level experience in gender issues, human rights in relation to gender equality, combatting violence against women and women's empowerment, preferably in an international environment. 

• Proven ability to analyze, conceptualize and evaluate critical matters in the field of gender related issues and to design strategies to address them. 

• Demonstrated experience in analyzing and implementing systems, processes or policies, and recommending improvements. 

• Experience in applying methodology of gender analysis, gender audits and gender mainstreaming as well as international texts and conventions related to gender equality and concepts of technical co-operation. 

• Experience in supporting human rights commitments and international practice on women's empowerment. 

• Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing and managing donor-funded projects, including field operations as well as in drafting and editing reports, presentations and other substantive work outputs. 

• Experience in conceptualizing, designing, implementing and conducting trainings and capacity building on gender mainstreaming and gender equality. 

• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills. Working knowledge of Ukrainian would be an asset. 

• 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. 

The requirements for Swiss candidates include: 

• Physical and mental fitness to work and in an environment with limited infrastructure (Assignments are subject to successfully meeting the medical standards); 

• Fluency in two Swiss national languages; 

• CH-citizenship. 

Duty station: Kyiv, Ukraine

Family: The duty station is currently designated as non-family duty station.

Start of assignment: On appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year, renewable

Deadline for applications: 14 April 2025 (The deadline for application in the OSCE advertisement is the nomination deadline for the participating states – 17 April 2025)

For further information, please contact: 

• Ms Janine Misteli, Recruitment Officer (janine.misteli@eda.admin.ch, + 41 58 46 26339) for questions on requirements and on the selection process. 2/3 

Assignment: 

The assignments take place within the framework of the Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding Section. All seconded experts to the OSCE receive a contract from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for the duration of their deployment (https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified compilation/20042290/index.html). 

How to apply: 

Candidates interested in this job position are requested to apply online using the application form to be found under the link https://vacancies.osce.org/jobs/gender-adviser-s-3962. The online application system will forward applications directly to the respective authorities in your country of nationality. The motivation part of the application is addressed to the OSCE and contains your assessment of the job position and what you may contribute. Please be aware, the online application is the only source for the decision to longlist or shortlist a candidate. Learn more about the OSCE recruitment process here: https://jobs.osce.org/ 

The Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding will examine the personal profiles and the job descriptions to ensure that proposed candidates meet the listed criteria. The candidates considered to be the most suitable will be short-listed and interviewed by OSCE before a final selection is made. 

Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding 

The deployment of civilian experts within the scope of Switzerland's policy on peace, human rights, and humanitarian issues is a long-standing tradition. Depending on specific needs, civilian experts are made available for temporary civilian peace projects as election monitors, police advisers or specialists in fields such as constitutional law and practice, mediation, the rule of law, human rights and humanitarian law (www.eda.admin.ch/expertenpool).

Sector: Nonprofit/Community/Social Services/International Cooperation

Role: Other

Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%

Job type: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)

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