National Consultant to Support the Independent Evaluation of the OSCE’s work on SALW/SCA 2014 -2025 (SSA)

Background:

The extra-budgetary project “Improvement of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Conventional Ammunition (CA) Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic” (ExB SALW MoD) is being implemented from January 2023 to December 2027. The project aims to strengthen the Ministry of Defence’s capacity for the safe, secure and effective life-cycle management of SALW and CA through institutional support, technical assistance, infrastructure improvements and capacity-building activities.

The ExB project “Reducing the risk of illicit trafficking of SALW, CA and explosives across border of the Kyrgyz Republic” (ExB SALW SBS) is being implemented from January 2023 to June 2028. The project aims to reduce the risk of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW), conventional ammunition (CA) and explosive proliferation across the Kyrgyz Republic border.

In line with applicable OSCE evaluation requirements, an independent evaluation is required to assess the project’s performance and the extent to which it has achieved its intended results and contributed to its overall objective. As OIO is conducting an Independent Evaluation of the OSCE’s work on SALW/SCA 2014 – 2025 which includes Kyrgyzstan as country case study, it has been decided not to commission separate decentralized evaluations for these projects, but to hire an expert that will supports the country case study work of OIO with a focus on the two projects in line with relevant OSCE Evaluation Policy guidance on this.

The local consultant is required to support the evaluation team leader in conducting the Kyrgyzstan case study, including facilitating access to relevant local stakeholders during the visit of the team leader, gathering relevant information and providing contextual knowledge of the national environment. In addition, the local consultant will also collect additional data, including relevant site visits, and analysis in support of the country case study report. The evaluation will build on project monitoring, reporting and implementation records. As no formal evaluations have previously been conducted, the country case study will assess achievements of PoiB’s work on SALW/SCA, challenges, and sustainability, identify lessons learned and good practices, and formulate recommendations to inform future OSCE assistance in the area of SALW and CA in Kyrgyzstan. The inception report developed for OIO’s Independent Evaluation will guide the data-collection and analysis for the case study. 

Objective of Assignment: 

Under Activity #6 (PMA 6-Evaluation), to provide local support on the ground to the evaluation team leader in conducting the country case study on the OSCE’s work on SALW/SCA in Kyrgyzstan, with a focus on the active two extra-budgetary projects on SALW and SCA from November 2026 to March 2027, including stakeholder engagement, data collection, contextual analysis and site visits. The evaluation team leader for the OIO Independent Evaluation.

Duration of Assignment:
25 days

Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the National Project Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Assist in collecting and reviewing relevant projects documentation, results monitoring data and other information required for the evaluation.

2. Provide contextual information on the national environment of the Kyrgyz Republic on SALW and SCA relevant to the evaluation.

3. Support the organization of stakeholder interviews and meetings, as required.

4. Assist the evaluation team leader with data verification and other evaluation-related tasks, as required.

5. Site inspection and facility verification. Travel to project sites (Osh and Jalal-Abad regions) to physically inspect, verify and document completed constructions works, infrastructure upgrades and physical security measures.

6. Compile and submit an evidence matrix to the evaluation team leader (including evidence collected from site visits, interviews, document review, etc.) to inform the Kyrgyzstan case study report, and provide inputs to sections of the country case study report as requested, including review of the draft, suggestions for recommendations etc. 

Deliverables:

1. In line with the Inception Report for the OIO Independent Evaluation, and guidance form the Evaluation Team leader, relevant information is collected and made available to the evaluation team. Project related documentation, monitoring data, policy records for both ExB projects collected, structured and provided to the Evaluation Team Leader.

2. Contextual information, including a context note on the legal and institutional landscape, provided to inform the evaluation analysis and the case study report.

3. Meetings and interviews with relevant national stakeholders facilitated and supported, including minimum 3 (per each ExB project) engagement/interviews with local authorities, beneficiary communities, and other local voices (e.g., women's voices).

4. Inputs to the evaluation report and recommendations provided to the evaluation team leader, as requested.

5. On-site technical verification completed across all targeted project locations, including photographic documentation in line with the guidance in the OIO Independent Evaluation Inception report, relevant template and guidance from the Evaluation Team leader. 

6. Evidence matrix submitted, inputs for country case study submitted to team leader, feedback on draft report provided. Project Managers liaise with OIO for the approval of deliverables.

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

Necessary Qualifications:

• A university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in social sciences, political science, international development, public policy, military or security studies, or another relevant field. A Master’s degree would be an advantage. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a university degree;

• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in research, monitoring, or evaluation within the security or law enforcement sector, with demonstrated knowledge of Kyrgyzstan’s political, institutional, and security-sector context and familiarity with the wider Central Asian region required;

• Familiarity with SALW and conventional ammunition (CA) life-cycle management, stockpile management, or related security-sector assistance delivered by international organizations is highly desirable;

• Experience in evaluating projects in Kyrgyzstan or Central Asia, or in other comparable country or regional contexts, is an advantage;

• No prior involvement in the design or implementation of PoiB’s work on SALW/SCA in Kyrgyzstan or intention to enter into a working relationship with PoiB for at least a one-year time period following submission of the final evaluation report (in line with OSCE Evaluation Policy requirements).

• Experience working with MS office suite and Windows applications;

•       Professional fluency in written and spoken Russian; working knowledge of English is desirable.

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.