International Consultant on Democratic Governance and Inclusive Political Participation (SSA)

Background:

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation democratic development human rights tolerance and non-discrimination and the rule of law. The ODIHR Democratic Governance and Gender Unit (DGGU) is assisting participating States to improve laws institutions and democratic processes with a focus on strengthening parliamentary integrity and ensuring a pluralist political party system including transparency of political finance and political parties and combating political corruption.

ODIHR assists participating States in furthering political integrity in line with OSCE commitments and in increasing the capacity of parliaments and other democratic institutions to carry out their legislative representative and oversight functions. Over the past years ODIHR has supported parliaments in the OSCE region in developing reform strategies outreach and legislative procedures in this regard.

OSCE commitments on youth and security draw on the 1975 Helsinki Final Act which foresees the participation of young people across all three dimensions of security in the OSCE region. Additionally OSCE participating States have acknowledged in the 2014 Basel Ministerial Council Declaration that youth and children require particular attention and that their needs concerns and interests should be addressed in a comprehensive manner. They have also recognized that youth are an important part of society and the role that youth can play in supporting participating States in the implementation of commitments in all three dimensions in the 2018 Milan Ministerial Council Declaration. A comprehensive overview of the OSCEs normative basis in the field of youth and education is provided by the Compilation of OSCE Commitments on Youth and Security and Education.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has a mandate to assist OSCE participating States in promoting womens political participation and to provide expertise and support to strengthen democratic institutions for advancing gender equality (MC decisions 14/04 and 7/09). In continuation of ODIHRs efforts to promote womens political participation and to further advance the level of gender sensitivity of parliaments and other democratic institutions ODIHR is conducting regular awareness raising and capacity building activities.

The importance of public participation is emphasised in the 2008 Helsinki Document which recognizes that human rights are best respected in democratic societies where decisions are taken with maximum transparency and broad participation. Political participation of persons with disabilities is enshrined in the Moscow 1991 OSCE Meeting Document where participating States committed to take steps to ensure the equal opportunity of such persons to participate fully in the life of their society and to promote the appropriate participation of such persons in decision-making in fields concerning them.

ODIHR is tasked to ensure that all its programmes and activities are mainstreaming a gender perspective into all areas of work.

Objective of Assignment:

The objective of the assignment is to adequately support the Democratic Governance and Gender Unit notably supporting the development of knowledge tools research and capacity-building activities across key areas of democratic governance integrity and inclusive political participation. The role also includes facilitating events management organisation and logistics institutional assessments and the preparation of related publications.

Duration of Assignment:

66 days between 15 September - 15 December 2025

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Democratic Governance and Gender Unit Democratization Department the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Contributing to the development and refinement of innovative tools and knowledge productsincluding guides handbooks manuals and factsheetsacross key thematic areas such as parliamentary integrity transparency in political finance and political party operations the prevention of political corruption and the political participation of underrepresented groups including women youth and persons with disabilities. This work may involve the conceptualization and design of research initiatives critical review and revision of existing knowledge tools and the strategic planning of programmatic interventions aligned with ODIHRs mandate.

2. Designing coordinating and delivering conferences study visits capacity-building programmes and institutional assessments in online in-person or hybrid formats. This includes but is not limited to initiatives such as the Parliamentary Oversight Conference the ODIHR/Transparency International Bootcamp and study visits for legislators. These initiatives will be tailored to engage diverse stakeholders including Members of Parliament political party representatives civil servants civil society organizations and other relevant actors in the democratic governance space.

3. The selected candidate will contribute to institutional processes in OSCE participating States by conducting and/or participating in research expert meetings side events workshops study visits and assessments or audits related to inclusive political participation public integrity democratic governance political finance lobbying regulation inclusion law and policy-making and broader issues concerning the rule of law and democratic institutions. The role also involves drafting reviewing and formatting institutional publications in line with OSCE style and language standards; ensuring clarity coherence and consistency in research and policy-oriented documents; and providing thematic input on parliamentary integrity and inclusive political participation where addition the candidate will support event management by preparing background papers agendas talking points and other event materials; finalising minutes and post-event documentation; coordinating logistics and official correspondence; and facilitating effective communication between ODIHR OSCE Institutions and national stakeholders.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree preferably in international relations gender studies political science social sciences law or other disciplines related to human rights or equivalent working experience in the areas of the consultancy;
• At least four years of progressively responsible experience at national and/or international levels related to governance rule of law public integrity transparency of political parties youth and women political participation;
• Demonstrated experience in research capacity building or organizational change design and implementation;
• Excellent knowledge of international standards and practice relevant to public integrity open government rule of law parliamentary ethics transparency of political party financing corruption prevention;
• Demonstrated experience in inclusivity-related research/knowledge products development capacity-building or organizational change design and implementation;
• Demonstrated experience in implementation of activities with OSCE field offices in the area democratic governance and/or rule of law.
• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications including confident use of online meeting platforms;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
• Knowledge of Russian is an advantage;
• Excellent presentation and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated gender and diversity awareness and sensitivity and an excellent ability to integrate a gender and diversity perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to work flexibly alone or within a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national cultural and other backgrounds.

Location:

The incumbent will work in person at ODIHR premises. Appointment and the end of contract travel will be covered by ODIHR as well as duty travels according to OSCE and government travel guidance and actual needs.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultants/experts 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 OSCEs online application link found under 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 be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.