Result of Service

Communication tools to increase visibility, accountability, programmatic success, and internal coherence developed. Internal and external communication on prison and penal reform improved, as evidenced by the information flows within headquarters and field offices as well as partners and beneficiaries. Social media presence and outreach in print and audio-visual media enhanced. Programme-related promotional videos and other visibility materials (press releases, human interest stories, posters, etc.) developed and widely disseminated

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

01.04 to 14.06.2024

Duties and Responsibilities

Within the United Nations system, UNODC acts as the custodian of the United Nations standards and norms related to prison and offender management, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). Building on its mandate to assist Member States, upon request, to apply these standards and norms in practice, UNODC has built extensive experience in providing technical guidance assistance to Member States in the field of prison and penal reform. In line with the above, UNODC’s new Global Programme on People-Centred Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Reform (GLOJS8) includes a separate Outcome 5 entitled as follows: ‘Comprehensive and gender-responsive penal and prison reforms implemented to reduce the overuse of imprisonment, prison overcrowding and other prison challenges, including radicalization and violent extremism in prisons’ Taking into account the multiple factors that contribute to global prison challenges, the new Global Programme bolsters the work of UNODC in the field of criminal justice reform by ensuring a coordinated approach to its technical assistance whilst focusing on three strategic areas: Namely, to assist Member States in (i) reducing the scope of imprisonment; (ii) strengthening prison management and improving prison conditions; and (iii) supporting the social reintegration of offenders. Effective communication globally and regionally is a key strategic driver to positive change and progressive reforms. In line with the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025, the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section (CPCJS) is committed to increasing creative and innovative communication in its day-to-day work and using it to improve visibility, accountability, programmatic success, and internal coherence. To this effect, there is a need to enhance the communications capacities of the prison and penal reform (PPR) teams in CCPCJS and at field level. One of the challenges has been to convey the key messages and showcase the results of UNODC’s technical assistance in the field of prison and penal reform creatively and strategically. To implement and operationalize effective communication, the PPR team in CPCJS needs to review and adjust its internal structures, systems and processes to use the full potential of staff in the headquarters and the field to meet the rapidly evolving needs of Member States. This is even more then case as more than 40 Member States on all continents are currently benefiting from UNODC projects and services dedicated to penal and prison reform, out of which eight beneficiary that receive direct technical assistance through GLOJS8. The Consultant will work with the PPR team in CPCJS under the overall guidance of the Chief of the CPCJS and the direct supervision of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (prison and penal reform).

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, law, social sciences or related discipline 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. additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • At least five years of professional work experience in communication is required; • Understanding of international standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, in particular, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) is required; • Strong communication and coordination skills, analytical capacities, and ability to provide coherent support is required; • Ability to develop practical and user-friendly communication tools to maximize audience reach and impact by communicating with various target audiences, utilizing the most appropriate tools is desirable;

Languages

• Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and excellent writing skills in English is required. Knowledge of any other UN official language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.