Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) with duty station in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Programme Officer (Trafficking in Persons) will report to the UNODC regional Adviser (Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants) as first reporting officer, the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer – Team Leader, Technical Cooperation of HTMSS as additional reporting officer and receive overall guidance from the Regional Representative, ROCA.

For more information on UNODC, please visit the website: www.unodc.org

Responsibilities

The position will provide direct technical cooperation assistance against trafficking in persons to countries in Central Asia in coordination with UNODC presence in the region and with the aim of also fostering closer regional cooperation. This position may require significant travel (up to 25%). Within assigned authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Provide support to the implementation of the work plan agreed with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, under the Global Programme against Trafficking in Persons under the guidance and day-to-day direction of the regional Adviser (Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants) and in close coordination with the Team Leader – Technical Cooperation HTMSS, including providing substantive guidance and backstopping on the criminal justice response to other anti-trafficking project staff in the region.
• Participate in the delivery of counter trafficking legal advisory services, reviews and assessments, capacity building and technical cooperation activities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan including activities to foster closer regional cooperation among all Central Asian countries.
• Organize and provide training to criminal investigation and prosecution authorities at the national and regional level within countries covered by the project towards building the capacity of national law enforcement, prosecutorial agencies, and other relevant counterparts to successfully investigate and prosecute trafficking in persons.
• Initiate, coordinate and participate substantially in the preparation of specialized technical assistance delivery tools, concept notes, agendas background papers, briefings, presentations and technical proposals to implementactivities undertaken by the Global Programme within the region, including identification of experts and participants;
• Promote and ensure regular and effective communication with project donors, national counterparts and national staff assigned to the project and colleagues at HQs and ensure that timely reporting obligations towards HQ’s reporting to the donor are fulfilled promptly.
• Initiate, coordinate and participate in the preparation and drafting of a variety of written programmatic/administrative progress reports, evaluation reports and mission reports.
• Undertake frequent mission travel in the project countries and as required, in the region.
• Prepare inputs for performance parameters and indicators, programme performance reports as well as inputs for results-based budgeting and results-based management as part of the monitoring, evaluation and learning plan; collect and compile relevant background data and information; undertake desk research and assessment missions.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Perform other duties to support project implementation, as required.
• Perform other work-related duties, as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of the relevant aspects of the criminal justice response to trafficking in person, including the international legal framework and regional standards created by domestic courts and judicial bodies. Has a good knowledge of procedures for criminal investigations of transnational organized crime, including criminal profiling, network analysis, and international cooperation mechanisms. Has knowledge of investigation for sexual and gender-based violence crimes, financial crimes and crimes against children. Has the ability to foster regional and international contacts and cooperation relevant to an effective criminal justice response to trafficking in persons involving different countries and jurisdictions. Demonstrates ability to liaise with national authorities at the multisectoral coordination mechanisms, law enforcement units dealing with human trafficking cases and specialized prosecutors. Demonstrates ability to prepare and present technical documents required to support the activities of criminal justice practitioners in the course of investigations and prosecutions. Has knowledge of and ability to provide training and mentoring of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, border control agents, and authorities represented at national coordination mechanism in matters relating to the identification, referral investigation and prosecution of trafficking in persons. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of relevant international instruments, especially the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol against Trafficking in Persons. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender and human rights perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, or related disciplines is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of relevant, progressively responsible professional work experience in crime prevention and criminal justice is required.

Experience in guiding national authorities on relevant legislation, investigations, law enforcement, and/or prosecution of Trafficking in Persons is required.

Experience in the development and delivery of training and technical assistance focused on countering trafficking in persons is required.

Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Russian is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is expected to be temporarily available for a period of 364 days or until 31 December 2024, which ever comes first. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

Tashkent is classified a “B” duty station.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.