National Consultant on Trekking Routes in Kyrgyzstan (SSA)

Background:
Within the framework of the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions in 2023 - 2027, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) will co-operate with Kyrgyzstan’s Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing (Federation) and State Agency for Tourism Development under the Cabinet of Ministers (Agency) in developing an atlas of the best alpinist and trekking routes in Kyrgyzstan. The POiB will provide expert support to the Federation and the Agency in collection and processing of data for elaboration of 100 best trekking routes. 
It is expected that 100 routes will include both difficult and less difficult and easy tracks. The proportion of the tracks will be agreed with the POiB, the Federation and the Agency. The tracks will be assessed as per their attractiveness, safety, difficulty level, accessibility, logistical convenience, seasonality and experiential value and cleared by the POiB prior to starting descriptive part. 
The support in this activity is aimed at undertaking practical steps towards sustainable development of mountainous regions in the landlocked yet potential-rich area. The collected material will be published as an atlas of the best trekking routes as well as be published on the Nomad.kg tourism portal.
To implement this, the POiB will contract two local experts for four months to deliver the services. Collected material drafted as an atlas will be submitted for approval to the Federation, the Agency and the POiB/EED management. 
 

Objective of Assignment: 
Under the "Enhancing environmental security and disaster risk management (ESDRR)" project activity # 2.4 to develop an atlas of the best trekking routes in Kyrgyzstan.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Draft a work plan with specific activities and deadlines, approved by the Federation’s President; work plan shall include the list of specific tourist tracks for difficult and easy tracks.

2. Submit contents of an atlas for review and approval.

3. Develop Monthly Progress Report (MPR) in line with the deliverables as provided in Attachment 1.

4. Prepare materials on routes:
   -    identifying a list of popular tracking tourist destinations in various regions of Kyrgyzstan (Naryn (including Minkush), Talas, Chuy, Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad (including route Mailuu-Suu - Arslanbob) regions);
   -    drafting descriptions of regions/ destination points/routes;

5. Draft materials with the following sections:
   -    description of the area;
   -    brief historical background of the area;
   -    logistics,
   -    highlights that tourists would be interested to explore in detail;
   -    description of tourist routes;
   -    features (geology, weather conditions, key areas);
   -    map of location with short description (1-2 lines) of the route distance, estimated time needed to complete.

6. Collect photo materials (colour photos of the summits, a drawn line of the routes, photos from key points for routes with high popularity) for every single highlight on the route. The photos will be used for atlas with the approval from the photographer as the copyright owner.

7. Submit first draft content of the atlas for review;

8. Finalize draft design and layout of the atlas;

9. Submit a final report on the activities carried out.
    

Deliverables:
 

1. Work plan agreed with the POiB and approved by the Federation’s President during the first month of work.

2. Contents of an atlas approved by the Federation’s President and POiB/EED management.

3. Monthly Progress Report (MPR).

4. Draft information and other related materials; MPR with respective information included.

5. Photo materials / respective information included in the MPR.

6. Copies of the first draft atlas.

7. Final report accepted/approved by the Federation’s President.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, please see: OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in Environmental Studies, Journalism, Industrial Engineering, Tourism or other related fields;

• At least 5 years of working experience in the field of climate change, journalism, sustainable development, environmental protection and/or tourism; 

• Experience in developing national standards, training programs, brochures for mountain guides, climbing guides, off-piste skiing guides, and trekking guides in Kyrgyzstan;

• Working experience with international development partners or projects is an asset;

• Excellent writing skills;

• Professional fluency in Russian and Kyrgyz with excellent communication skills (both oral and written);

• Professional fluency in English would be an asset; 

• Strong computer literacy, including practical experience with Microsoft Office applications;

• 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.

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.