Junior Regional Programme Officer Water  

Responsibilities / Objectives of the position

This present position is particularly for young professionals in the WASH sector with little or no experience abroad, who meet the below mentioned requirements for this position and are interested in joining the SHA. He or she will have the opportunity to acquire international experience in the field of humanitarian aid and development cooperation during a first deployment under the supervision of an experienced SHA member in SDC's regional water hub in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Junior Regional Programme Officer Water (JRPO Water) on the topic of water, energy and climate change supports the regional water hub in Tashkent. Until the end of September, the JRPO Water reports directly to the Head of IC Tashkent, and from the beginning of October to the Regional Water Advisor. The Swiss cooperation programme in Central Asia 2026–2029 focuses on the priority areas of water and energy and sustainable economic development, with the IC portfolio in the area of water and energy focusing on the following topics: transboundary waters, integrated water resource management, water diplomacy (Blue Peace Central Asia), water-energy nexus, etc.

He/she will take on the following tasks:

• Supporting the preparation and follow-up of Switzerland's regional policy dialogue (water, energy and climate change). He/she will work as part of the regional water hub, affiliated with the representation in Tashkent.
• Collaboration in the planning and implementation of regional initiatives, projects and programmes in the water and energy sector, in support of the regional water hub and in cooperation with the representations in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, in particular in regular exchange with the regional DRR advisor (affiliated in Dushanbe).
• Collaboration in thematic consulting and knowledge management (water, energy, climate change); in cooperation with the Swiss representations in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan responsible for implementing the national components, as well as the regional DRR & RR Advisor in Dushanbe and the relevant offices in Berne (SDC: Caucasus, Central and East Asia Section, Water Section, Climate, DRR and Environment Section; SECO). Ensuring exchange with regional institutions and the local network.
• Developing experience and knowledge of bilateral and multilateral development cooperation and humanitarian aid instruments, in particular Project Cycle Management (PCM), RDM, CSPM, PEA, and promoting conceptual and analytical skills.

Requirements

• University degree or comparable education with a master's degree in environmental sciences, civil engineering, hydrogeology or similar fields and approx. 5 years of relevant professional experience, particularly in project cycle management.
• Experience in analysing political, social, economic and cultural conditions in developing or transition countries and their use in development programmes or humanitarian aid.
• Good knowledge of two official languages and English, as well as any other language skills relevant to the country of assignment or a willingness to learn these languages.

Professional skills, in particular

• Several years of experience in the field of water (integrated water resource management, water management, urban water management), preferably combined with experience in related areas (climate, DRR, NRM).
• Intercultural management.

Personal skills, in particular

• Personal responsibility and independence, decision-making and implementation skills.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Goal and results orientation.

Social skills, in particular

• Communication and interpersonal skills, networking skills, ability to handle criticism and conflict.

Duty station: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

BoM and duration: Asap for 6 months (extendable)

Salary grade Federal Government: 22

Swiss citizenship or a "C" residence permit for Switzerland is mandatory.

For reasons of duty of care (increased risks due to other privileges and immunities) and to avoid conflicts of interest and potential bias, employees and their accompanying persons who hold dual or multiple citizenships shall, as a matter of principle, not be assigned to countries of which they are nationals.

For further information please contact: Mia Kirsch, Programme Manager Central Asia, mia.kirsch@eda.admin.ch

Deadline for application: 17.2.2026

Please send your application to: Odette Mauron, Field Resources, Odette.mauron@eda.admin.ch