Background:
 

The Republic of Tajikistan is implementing comprehensive reforms in its water sector. These reforms aim to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks, enhance infrastructure, and ensure the financial sustainability of water resource management, particularly in agriculture, the country’s largest water-consuming sector.

As part of these reforms, sound economic principles are being integrated into regulatory and legal frameworks to promote efficient and sustainable water management.

To support this process, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) is establishing a roster of qualified national economics experts with experience in water resources, irrigation, and infrastructure finance. These experts will provide analytical support, deliver training to relevant stakeholders, offer evidence-based recommendations, and assist in developing policies and legislation - thereby strengthening the economic and financial foundations of water governance and building national capacity in water and irrigation management.

 

Objective of Assignment: 
 

The objective of this roster call is to invite qualified National Economics Experts in Water Resources, Irrigation, and Infrastructure Finance to support the development and refinement of legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks related to water, irrigation, and land reclamation through expert economic and financial analysis. The consultant may also provide evidence-based recommendations and deliver training to relevant stakeholders to promote efficient and financially sustainable water management in line with international best practices in water economics.    

Duration of Assignment:
 

The duration of the assignment will depend on the tasks and deliverables assigned.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
 

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Economic and Environmental Department, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1.   Analytical support
•    Conduct economic and financial analyses related to water resources, irrigation systems, and land reclamation.
•    Prepare cost-benefit assessments, financial modeling, and feasibility studies for water infrastructure and management initiatives.
•    Provide evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making and policy formulation.

2.   Policy, regulatory, and legal framework support
•    Contribute to the development and refinement of policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks in the water sector.
•    Advise on mechanisms to enhance financial sustainability, cost recovery, and economic efficiency in water resource management.
•    Ensure alignment of proposed frameworks with international best practices and standards in water economics.

3.   Reporting and documentation
•    Prepare concise technical reports, policy briefs, and presentations summarizing findings, analyses, and recommendations.
•    Maintain records of work undertaken and methodologies used to support transparency and knowledge sharing.

4.   Capacity building and knowledge sharing
•    Support workshops, training sessions, and consultations with relevant national stakeholders.
•    Provide guidance and mentoring to local institutions on economic and financial aspects of water and irrigation management.

5.   Collaboration and coordination
•    Work collaboratively with OSCE teams, government counterparts, and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of assignments.
•    Respond to requests for expertise on short notice, as roster members may be engaged on an as-needed basis.

6.   Additional tasks
•    Support any other tasks related to the development and refinement of policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks in water sector, particularly where economic and financial expertise is required.
 

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, please see: https://dushanbe.osce.org/   

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Finance, Water Resources Management, Environmental Economics, or a closely related field;
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in economic analysis, financial modeling, or consultancy related to water resources, irrigation, land reclamation, or infrastructure finance;
• Proven experience in providing economic and financial advice for policy, regulatory, or institutional development, including preparation of technical reports and policy recommendations for governmental or international organizations;
• Proven experience in training delivery;
• Strong understanding of financial sustainability, cost recovery mechanisms, and economic efficiency in water and irrigation management;
• Good knowledge of policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks for water resource management, as well as familiarity with international best practices in water economics and infrastructure finance;
• Fluency in Tajik and/or Russian is mandatory; knowledge of English is an advantage;
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and report-writing skills;
• Ability to communicate complex economic and financial concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders;
• Strong teamwork, coordination, and interpersonal skills;
• Flexibility to respond to assignments on short notice as part of the roster;
• 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.

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.