Background
The Project Specialist ensures implementation of activities within the UNDP SEESAC portfolio under the direct supervision of the SEESAC Senior Programme Coordinator and the overall guidance of Programme Specialist, Citizen Security and SGBV/ SEESAC Coordinator at the Istanbul Regional Hub.
The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) is a joint initiative of the UNDP and the Regional Cooperation Council. As such, it is an integral part of UNDP’s work in the Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS) region and has, since 2002, worked primarily to strengthen the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse
of small arms and light weapons, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe. SEESAC also has a distinguished record working closely with national Ministries to mainstream gender equality and this aspect will remain central to the programme.
Going forward, SEESAC will maintain its long-standing work in South-Eastern Europe the small arms and light weapons and gender equality in security sector reform fields, under the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), reporting regularly to the Regional Steering Committee. The programme will continue and, where possible, scale up the innovative work it has pioneered in fostering confidence between rule of law providers within southeast Europe, as well as in the fields of
innovation, security and technology. In addition, SEESAC will increasingly focus on sharing the capacity it has developed over the years through line ministries and UNDP offices in order to address community and other security needs - arms control, mine action, border management, community policing and export control – beyond the sub-region, and provide guidance on introducing gender equality into the security sector.
On 9 December 2013 the Council of the European Union passed the Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe. This way the 28 EU member states secured over EUR 5 million for the implementation key SALW Control Activities by SEESAC. The new phase of activities builds directly upon the SALW Control work SEESAC successfully completed during the 2010-2012 period under the Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP, and is part of the overall SEESAC Arms Control portfolio.
In addition to this, SEESAC, since 2012 is implementing the Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project working to support the institutionalization of gender focal points in Ministries of Defence and the armed forces; reform of human resources policies to improve recruitment and retention of women in the military; and increase gender awareness in the
armed forces thus creating a more enabling environment for gender equality in defense.
Both initiatives significantly enhance SEESAC’s capacity to continue to strengthen safety and security through regional cooperation in South East Europe.
Details about the scope of work, responsibilities and requirements and how to apply are available here.
