Result of Service

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Draw on official sources and official data; interviews with law enforcement, military, local authorities, journalists and civil society; and analysis of open-source data such as court records and trade data, and focus on issues potentially including but not limited to:

o changes in the structure and activity of Ukrainian organized criminal groups;
o illicit drug markets and supply routes;
o trafficking in persons (internally in Ukraine and/or in other locations with Ukrainian refugees);
o informal exchange and trafficking of light arms, small weapons, and ammunition;
o illicit trade in agricultural commodities (e.g. grain) and related goods (e.g. smuggled fuel);
o takeovers of farming land, especially close to the frontline;
o new areas of risk related to the conflict economy, as well as associated fraud and money laundering.

• Based on this review, work with UNODC to prepare an outline of the planned report for finalization with UNODC. Prepare the first draft of the rapid assessment report (approximately 10,000 words), which should include background, data and analysis as well as recommendations for effective, tailored evidence-based operational activities on criminal justice responses, including border management and regional cooperation, and include charts, maps and tables as feasible.
• Address multiple rounds of comments (up to 4) from UNODC internal review and external peer-review and finalize the draft with UNODC.
• Undertake regular consultations with UNODC at key points of report development (research framework, outline, analysis of information, drafting), including developing questionnaires/ information sheets in Ukrainian.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

Nov 2023 – March 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

The conflict has profoundly transformed the political economy of Ukraine, affecting licit and illicit trade routes, disrupting criminal organizations, and spawning new forms of informal and illicit exchange at the front-line and in the rear. The objective of this consultancy is to carry research to assess the impact of the conflict on organized crime and illicit markets in Ukraine, through select case studies.

The consultant will work on research that will survey the transformation of organized crime and illicit trade in commodities (both licit and illicit) in Ukraine following February 2022, and explores potential areas of risk for the emergence of new forms of crime.

The purpose of the assignment is to inform policymakers as well as the UN system and support the development of effective policy and operational responses, including border management and criminal justice responses, to effectively address illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime and contribute to efforts to promote peace and security. It will also shed light on potential regional and global impacts of the organized crime threats in Ukraine and provide evidence to support regional cooperation and responses to challenges.

This consultancy involves home-based work. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Senior Coordination Officer and in close cooperation with colleagues from the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Division of Policy Analysis (DPA) and the UNODC Programme Office in Ukraine.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) social sciences, criminology, policy analysis, environmental sciences, geography or a 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.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in the field of social sciences, criminology, policy analysis, environmental sciences, geography, or a related field is required.
• Experience in managing field research is required.
• Experience of research into the intersection of criminal activities, including illicit drugs and illicit firearms trafficking, in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, and the impact of criminal activities on peace, security and development is required.
• Experience in managing field research is required.Good record of analytical work based on qualitative and quantitative data sets are required.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills are required.
• Demonstrated analytical, research, writing and communication skills are required.
• Experience in conducting research on drug and crime topics in areas affected by conflict or security challenges is desirable.
• Experience in producing analytical publications according to UN standards is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

• Knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian is desirable.

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.