The OSCE JPO programme - A springboard for professional development

by Armenuhi Hovakimyan

 

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The end of the academic year is approaching with an incredible speed and all the students ask themselves the exact same question Whats next? In an increasingly competitive job market, especially at the international level, employers are very demanding towards potential employees in terms of their professional qualifications, particularly with regard to extensive experience in the desired area of work. For a fresh graduate it is very difficult and challenging to meet these requirements per definition. Next to the world of internships, which are always a good starting point for getting to know a certain organization, gaining invaluable experience and paving the way for potential employment, an increasing number of international institutions provide a more appealing method of career development  Junior Professional or associate posts. These constitute an acknowledgment that despite the lack of substantial professional expertise, young graduates possess not only a good understanding of the complexity of todays global trends, but are also motivated, enthusiastic, open-minded and not plagued with the constraints of an already existing bureaucracy, which makes them capable of thinking unconventionally and out of the box.

Having been a Junior Professional Officer with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) myself, I hope that the following short overview of the programme assists navigation of the various opportunities for current Diplomatic Academy students.

First of all, the duration, scope, structure and later perspectives of these programmes differ significantly between international organizations. Therefore, before applying for a certain JPO position (no matter how obvious it sounds), read about the organizations work and ask yourself, if you are interested. With regard to the OSCE, one has to bear in mind that it is the largest regional security organization, a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation which builds its work on the comprehensive approach to security (politico-military, economic and environmental, human) and operates through 16 field missions and 3 institutions covering a very wide geographical area. Once the answer to these questions is affirmative and you meet the minimum requirements (citizen of an OSCE participating state, under 30 with a completed degree and a valid driving license), you can go on with the application process, which is far less complicated than it sounds.

As of 2010 there are two cycles of JPOs at the OSCE; that is why, it is crucial to identify, where one fits best. Both cycles last 9 months with a 3-month assignment at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna and a 6-month adventure in one of the field operations or institutions. Another similarity between the two cycles lies in the fact that they are seconded positions, which means that a nomination of the respective authority of ones country of origin is necessary (the procedures in different countries show considerable variations; therefore, close communication with ones delegation to the OSCE or relevant authority in the country is a necessity). The significant difference between the two comes down to funding, which is conducted either by the OSCE (October-June) or by the seconding state (April-December).

Whereas the assignment as a JPO does not guarantee employment after the end of the programme, the statistics so far are very encouraging with more and more JPOs being integrated into the organization. This is a result of the double-edged nature of the programme. On the one hand, the JPO gets a comprehensive insight into OSCEs work, gathers real professional experience under the thorough guidance of the supervisor, acquaints him/herself with a specific geographic area and develops personally (knowledge, language skills, responsibility, independence, flexibility, social skills, strong character), while on the other hand the OSCE/seconding state having invested so much effort, time and resources into training a valuable candidate, sees the benefit of maintaining the mutual relationship further.

Personally, I found the JPO programme instructive, challenging and at the same time exciting and adventurous. I not only learnt what community policing or crime scene management are during my assignment at the Strategic Police Matters Unit at the Secretariat, but I also understood the importance of citizen participation mechanisms developed through Community Engagement initiatives at the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vienna charmed with its beauty and grandeur, while Sarajevo with its multiculturalism, contrasts, friendliness and incredible magnetism.

Of course, there is no ideal recipe for employment, same as there are hardly any two identical career paths. There are other opportunities except for being a JPO, but if you can have both Junior and Professional in your job title before becoming a mere advisor or officer, use that chance and broaden your horizons!

 

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