JOB DESCRIPTION .

Job Title: Regional Conflict and Security Adviser, Central

Location: (Bishkek or Osh) or (Dushanbe)

Reporting to: Head of Asia region

Type of position: Regional position

Salary: A competitive INGO salary and benefits will be offered

Contract terms and hours: Open contract (dependent on funding); standard working week is 37.5 hours

Background:

Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and conduct wider research and analysis. We use this evidence and learning to improve local, national and international policies and practices that can help build lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe in a world where everyone can lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from fear and insecurity. We are a not-for-profit organisation operational in 12 countries across , Asia and the .

Saferworld has been working in since 2010 and has offices in Bishkek and Osh (Kyrgyzstan) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan). Our work largely focuses on supporting security sector/police reform/governance, including through community policing and community security, empowering youth and women, and challenging harmful gender norms in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Together with our civil society partners, we help to strengthen the capacity of local authorities, police, civil society, and communities to jointly identify, prioritise, and address issues that affect people’s security. We facilitate conflict and gender sensitive processes that particularly empower women, young people, and other marginalised groups to meaningfully participate in local, sub-national, national, and regional level initiatives. We also advocate to government officials and external actors for improved strategies, policies and practices/services for conflict-affected communities and for more effective conflict prevention. In particular, at a time when much of the regional security focus is on mainstream ‘countering/preventing violent extremism’, ‘counter- radicalisation’, and ‘counter-messaging’, we advocate for and implement alternative approaches that put the real needs of people first.

Job purpose: The key function of the Regional Conflict and Security Adviser for Central Asia is to support the Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan country programmes, teams and partners, particularly on strategic analysis and research, policy development and advocacy, and internal and external communications. The post-holder provides hands-on advisory support to country programme teams and our partners, helps to identify and design new strategic areas for programming, advises on the conflict and gender-sensitive implementation of projects and interventions, facilitates cross-regional information-sharing and lesson learning, builds synergies between the in-country programmes/teams and colleagues in and represent the teams and national, regional and international events.

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Roles and responsibilities:

1. Strategic planning and programme implementation  Support, initiate or lead aspects of ongoing context analysis and relevant thematic studies to inform development and implementation of Saferworld’s Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan country strategies  Identify and develop relationships and, in close cooperation with the programme teams and partners, ensure regular engagement with key strategic partners in government, security services, civil society, media and the international community in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan  Identify and build synergies between the Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan programmes/teams, and between the Central Asia programme/teams and other Asia regional programmes/teams and the wider organisation to contribute to the advancement of cross-organisational policy, advocacy and communications work and achievements in Saferworld’s strategic objectives and priority areas.  Contribute to organisation-wide monitoring and evaluation of Saferworld’s policy, advocacy and communications work and feed relevant lessons into ongoing Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan strategy development and programme design and implementation

2. Policy research, advocacy, and communications  Contribute to the development and implementation of Saferworld’s advocacy and communications strategies targeting decision-makers and opinion-shapers in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and the Central Asia region, and amongst the wider international community  In close cooperation with programme team and partners, write good quality briefings, discussion papers, policy documents and training materials aimed at donor governments, international institutions, and national authorities  Deliver presentations and facilitate workshops and trainings on prioritised issues, as required  Participate in country programme biannual outcome harvesting workshops and lead on the identification and reporting of policy-, advocacy-, and communications-related outcomes relevant to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan  Support internal and external strategic communications

3. Fundraising and programme development  Contribute to the identification of project/intervention ideas to respond to funding opportunities, based on conflict analysis, research, policy development and programming  Contribute to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan country and regional (both Central Asia and wider Asia) programme development through bilateral meetings, group discussions, and planning workshops  Assist in the drafting and/or reviewing of funding applications

Key working relationships

 Regional country managers and programme teams – supporting on strategic analysis, research, policy development, advocacy and communications, and programme development and implementation

 Regional conflict and security advisers – sharing learning and supporting, as required, other country teams particularly in the Asia region

 Colleagues in the policy, advocacy and communications teams – facilitating learning and information exchange, including leading opportunities for policy development and international advocacy stemming from Saferworld’s work in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Scope and accountability

Decision making and limits of The post-holder is expected to show considerable leadership within the authority organisation and will be asked to make a significant contribution to the achievement of our strategic objectives and cross-cutting priorities. Advisers are also expected to contribute to priority thematic areas, including: strengthening people’s access to security and justice, challenging gender norms that cause and perpetuate violent conflict, and promoting inclusive peace processes and political transitions that address the drivers of violent conflict.

Financial resources N/A

2 Other resources Responsible for cross-regional and organisational information-sharing and lesson learning resources

People management N/A

Legal, regulatory and N/A compliance responsibility

Person specification

Knowledge, qualifications and experience

 A Master’s degree in international relations, peace and conflict studies or a relevant political or social science discipline (or equivalent professional experience)  Significant relevant experience in analysis, research, policy, advocacy, and/or communications, and working with governments and/or non-governmental organisations, in particular in conflict-affected and fragile contexts  Excellent understanding of and experience working in Central Asia contexts, particularly on issues relating to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, community policing/security, access to justice, human rights, gender, and/or youth

Skills and abilities

 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a non-partisan manner, respecting cultural, ethnic, religious, and gender diversity  Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, including ability to facilitate dialogue and provide advice and guidance to managers  Ability to analyse situations and data, identify trends and patterns and produce reports  Accurate use and understanding of English and Russian languages; good working knowledge of Kyrgyz, Tajik and/or Uzbek is an asset Personal qualities

 Ability to work on her/his own, as well as with team members and other colleagues based in different countries and time zones  Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles  Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity, and understanding of how this applies to own area of work  Commitment to own continuing personal and professional development  Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Saferworld

Other requirements

 Ability to travel regularly, mostly in the region

Application process

To apply: Download and complete an application form at http://www.saferworld.org.uk/jobs/jobs and send to Marie Aziz at [email protected] (Ref: RCSA)

Deadline for applications: 1 September 2019

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