Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF) – Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD) with duty station in Cape Town (South Africa), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD) operates under the Border Management Branch (BMB), Division for Operations (DO). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD), and the overall supervision of the regional Representative of the UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF) in Pretoria, South Africa. The work will be carried out in close coordination with the Border Management Branch (BMB) and UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa.

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

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the Associate Programme Officer (Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice) will perform tasks within the framework of the Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD) involving assistance to the provision of technical assistance and threat assessment to increase regional capacity to prevent, plan, train for, and respond to transnational organized crime. The incumbent will perform the following specific duties:

• Assist in designing and implementing operational assessments focused on various aspects of organized crime and drug trafficking at national and regional level.
• Liaise with Law Enforcement authorities, programme development and outreach for GPCD in Southern and East Africa and Southwest Asia.
• Coordinate and liaise closely with counterparts and stakeholders on programme implementation.
• Contribute to building partnerships and secure national counterparts’ project buy-in for effective programme implementation.
• Assist with and coordinate policy development, including reviewing and analyzing issues and opportunities to expand programming activities.
• Assess and present information gathered from diverse sources relevant to project implementation related to the BMB Global Programme(s).
• Plan and carry out consultative meetings, trainings, conferences, and workshops related to the programme implementation.
• Prepare written outputs, such as background and working papers, analytical notes, and presentations to governing and technical bodies.
• Provide substantive inputs to technical assistance projects, participate in relevant field missions, training, workshops, and seminars, and respond to demands for information on specific topics.
• Participate in dissemination and briefing activities on assigned topics.
• Assist in monitoring the evolution of the trafficking of drugs and trans-national threats in selected priority regions/countries and routinely collect and review relevant information and reports from UNODC and other UN offices, governmental institutions, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations (IGOs/NGOs), media reports and other relevant sources.
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Perform other work-related duties and assignments as may be required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, and approaches relevant to drug-related issues and has knowledge of the mandates of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Has knowledge of analytical methods, approaches, and techniques and has very good analytical skills to identify, analyse and articulate difficult issues/problems. Is able to use sound judgment. Has strong analytic skills, including the ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources using standard methodologies and analytical techniques, draw conclusions and assess the impact on social development and policy issues. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in 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 perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• 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 a 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.

• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, criminology, sociology, economics, other social sciences, research, or related fields 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.

A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in analysis and programme management at the national or international level OR the successful completion of the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P) is required.

Work experience in planning, coordinating, and implementing field-based technical assistance is desirable.

Work experience in programme planning and management, project budget preparation and project implementation is desirable.

Work experience in qualitative analysis of organized crime issues is desirable.

Work experience with governmental or intergovernmental law enforcement institutions is desirable.

Work experience within the United Nations system or other similar international organizations 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. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Cape Town is classified in the A category (family 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.