Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Dakar, Senegal. The Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling) will work under the overall guidance of the UNODC Representative, ROSEN and the direct supervision of the Senior Law Enforcement Officer, heading the Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking and Terrorism Sub-Programme at ROSEN, and in coordination with the Programme Coordinator (Sahel Region), and. The position may require significant travel (25%).

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

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the incumbent will perform the following specific duties:

• Promote the work of UNODC against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in West and Central Africa within the overall framework of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, both supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

• Support the implementation of UNODC’s Regional Strategy against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in West and Central Africa, and make substantive efforts to mobilize resources based on the strategy and collaboration with relevant partners.

• Provide substantive support in coordinating the team working on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants at the Regional Office. In particular, support the planning, implementation and monitoring of technical assistance projects and activities provided to the Governments in the region on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, especially in Senegal, Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire. Support and guide National Project Coordinators, Consultants and administrative staff working in the team, especially in the above-mentioned countries.

• Participate in the coordination, cooperation and liaising with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions active in areas related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants at the regional or country level.

• Identify technical assistance needs, undertake needs assessments and technical assistance missions in the region.

• Provide substantive support to the design, facilitation and delivery of technical expertise for the implementation of technical assistance activities at regional and national level, including on legislative and policy frameworks; national training and other capacity-building assistance for criminal justice actors (including law enforcement); national training curricula of the relevant training schools and standardized training materials; as well as the review, revision, dissemination and use of UNODC training and capacity-building tools.

• Compile information on best practices in the response to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants and facilitate regional information sharing.

• Coordinate and closely follow-up on the Liaison Magistrate Initiative; promote international and regional cooperation on criminal matters; assist in the negotiations of bilateral or multilateral treaties on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants; assist Government officials on cooperation matters upon request.

• Provide substantive input and assistance to drafting and preparing several written documents (speaking points, media releases, publicity information, website postings, Newsletter stories) as well as organize and participate in awareness-raising events on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

• 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.

• Participate in events, workshops, conferences and networks as required.

• Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has in-depth knowledge and specialization in the field of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Has knowledge of policies and practices in crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as of the mandate of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Has good analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues; has sound judgment skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates people management competencies; 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 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.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, social science, international relations, political science, public administration or related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar field 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 professional experience in crime prevention and criminal justice at national or international levels is required.

Work experience in dealing with trafficking in persons and/or smuggling of migrants at gradually increasing levels of responsibility is required.

Work experience with counterparts in the field is desirable.

Work experience in international criminal justice matters as well as experience with project formulation, implementation and monitoring is desirable.

Work experience in international development cooperation is desirable.

Work experience within the United Nations system or 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 and French 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 position is temporarily available until April 2024. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may 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.

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.

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.

Dakar 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.