Result of Service

4. Expected tangible and measurable output(s)/deliverable(s):

1) Partnerships with relevant national authorities, organizations, as well as with civil society, academia and the private sector are effectively supported in close coordination with UNODC;

2) The regional multistakeholder events are successfully organized, including preparation, facilitation and in-person participation in the events in Bangkok in October and Male in November 2023;

3) The regional policy briefs on South and Southeast Asia, complementing the Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit, are developed (including the preparation of the first drafts before the multistakeholder events and the advanced drafts after the events) and finalized, integrating UNODC’s comments;

4) Coordination with relevant institutions/stakeholders is maintained throughout the assignment, and interested countries are successfully assisted in their strategy development efforts. Work Location

Home-based, with possibility of travel to Bangkok, Thailand and Male, Maldives.

Expected duration

18 September 2023 – 29 February 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background of the assignment:

National and regional strategies and plans of action against transnational organized crime play a key role in the fabric of the global response to organized crime and in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To maximize the efficiency of such strategies and increase their cumulative impact, it is vital to ensure that these documents are comprehensive, inclusive and evidence based.

To this end, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) developed a Strategy Toolkit to support States in the development and implementation of strategies to prevent and combat organized crime. Relying on the provisions of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), the Toolkit provides a comprehensive framework and outlines a set of principles and guidelines for the formulation of strategies that are designed to respond to the full range of threats emanating from organized crime. The Toolkit is aimed at establishing a comprehensive, system wide approach encompassing the local, national, (sub-)regional and international levels, with a view to aligning collective efforts to respond to organized crime. In furtherance of the principle of leaving no one behind, the human rights and gender dimensions of the fight against transnational organized crime are mainstreamed in the Toolkit. The Toolkit has been complemented by five regional policy briefs focused on strategic analysis and responses to the organized crime problem in Eastern and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia and Southern Caucasus. Furthermore, additional policy briefs focusing on South and Southeast Asia will be developed by the end of 2023.

The current phase of the project entails the targeted dissemination of the Toolkit and the provision of technical assistance to States to strengthen national and (sub-)regional responses to organized crime and develop comprehensive strategies against this phenomenon. Within this framework, the Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention, in the Conference Support Section (CSS) of the Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB) of UNODC in collaboration with selected UNODC Field Offices is looking for an expert consultant to support the delivery of technical assistance activities to be implemented in South and Southeast Asia, including by drafting the relevant regional policy briefs to supplement the Toolkit.

2. Purpose of the assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to support the implementation of activities in South and Southeast Asia, including the organization of the regional multistakeholder events, drafting of the regional policy briefs to supplement the Toolkit and follow up with national authorities as required, effectively supporting States in their strategy development effort.

The consultant will work in coordination with the lead consultant and the team of the Global Programme working on the organized crime strategy project. S/he will also maintain close coordination with UNODC field staff, particularly those located in South and Southeast Asia.

3. Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant:

Under the guidance of UNODC Programme Manager of the Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention and UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, the consultant will perform the following specific tasks:

1) Produce drafts of the regional policy briefs on South and Southeast Asia, complementing the Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit. The aim is to provide a comprehensive framework and outline a set of principles and guidelines for formulating strategies at the regional level, designed to respond to the full range of organized crime threats;

2) Provide substantive support to the organization, participate in, and facilitate the discussions at the regional multistakeholder events for Southeast and South Asia, focused on peer-to-peer exchanges around best practices for the development, monitoring, and evaluation of strategies against organized crime. The multistakeholder events will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in October, and Male, Maldives in November 2023, respectively;

3) Provide expert support to the interested countries in the regions in the development of strategies against organized crime, including maintaining communication and establishing coordination with national authorities, as well as conducting country visits as required;

4) Finalize the regional policy briefs on South and Southeast Asia, integrating best practices and relevant considerations shared during the multistakeholder events, and ensuring consistency with the other regional policy briefs.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in international law, criminal law, international relations or related field 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 minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in strategy development and/or implementation, preferably in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, including against organized crime, is required;
• Knowledge of organized crime is required;
• Knowledge of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is desirable;
• Experience working on organized crime related issues in South and Southeast Asia is desirable;
• Experience in drafting strategies at the national or regional level is desirable;
• Experience working for the United Nations or other international organizations is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an advantage.

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.