Result of Service

The overall goal is to successfully assist Member States in developing their knowledge on the use of UAS for data, imagery, and full motion analysis and exploitation, for the identification and/or detection of CBRN materials, and for the identification and/or detection of explosive materials, improvised explosive devices IEDs, and conventional explosive weapons

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE:

The AROS Programme supports the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288) and its reviews, including the 8th review wherein Member States have expressed concern over the potential misuse of new and emerging technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems and the weaponization of commercial drones, and called upon all Member States to consider additional measures to counter the use of such technologies for terrorist purposes. The programme represents one of UNOCT’s contributions to the implementation of the Strategy by offering, as mandated, innovative capacity-building assistance to Member States in efforts to prevent and counter terrorism, upon request. The programme also directly contributes to key UN Security Council Resolutions 2309 (2016), 2341 (2017), 2370 (2017), 2396 (2017), to the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) 2019’s Berlin Memorandum on Good Practices for Countering Terrorist Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems and its 2023 operationalization initiative; and furthers Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 16.

The AROS Programme aims to 1) Raise awareness on and promote the exchange of good practices and guidance related to autonomous and/or remotely operated systems (AROS); 2) Enhance the capacity of Member States to counter terrorist threats related to AROS; and 3) Enhance the capacity of Member States to use autonomous and/or remotely operated systems including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), for non-lethal/non-kinetic human rights-compliant purposes; and to enhance the preparedness of Member States to mitigate AROS-related threats, including UAS. Through AROS programme objectives, the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism supports Member States in developing priority frameworks, such as the protection and promotion of human rights, international humanitarian law, and gender mainstreaming, but will work closely with all partners to ensure that the implementation of counter-terrorism measures does not prevent the legitimate use of AROS or hinder economic and industry developments related to emerging technologies.
UAS;
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Special Projects Section, Special Projects and Innovation Branch (SPIB), and the direct supervision of the AROS Programme Management Officer, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

• Provide substantive advice to the AROS Programme Management Team on the design of a training course on the use of UAS for data, imagery, and full motion analysis and exploitation.
• Provide substantive advice to the AROS Programme Management Team on the design of a training course on the use of UAS for the identification and/or detection of CBRN materials.
• Develop a training course on the use of UAS for the identification and/or detection of CBRN materials.
• Provide draft training course material on the use of UAS for the identification and/or detection of CBRN materials.
• Provide substantive advice to SPIB on the design of a training course on the UAS for the identification and/or detection of explosive materials, IEDs, and conventional explosive weapons.
• Develop a training course on the use of UAS for the identification and/or detection of explosive materials, IEDs, and conventional explosive weapons.
• Provide draft training course material on the use of UAS for the identification and/or detection of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials.
• Provide advice on the operationalization of the AROS programme’s existing and upcoming training courses and materials.
• Work with potential vendors and/or Member States on support to the delivery of an e-learning system to support this activity;
• Provide substantive advice to SPIB on current and potential priorities, needs and challenges at the international and regional levels with regards to the use of with a focus on autonomous and remotely operated systems (incl. UAS) data and full motion imagery analysis and exploitation for counter-terrorism purposes and countering UAS-related threats;
• Provide substantive advice to SPIB during assessment missions to identify priorities, needs and challenges of selected Member States and/or intergovernmental organizations with regards to the use of UAS data and full motion imagery analysis and exploitation for counter-terrorism purposes and countering UAS-related threats;
• Provide substantive advice to SPIB on procurement and procurement requirements related to UAS, counter-UAS, and sensors or equipment, including for the purpose of supporting imagery-, full motion-, data-, CBRN-, and IED-related operations.
• Support outreach activities to new beneficiary countries to engage key Government interlocutors, academia and industry specifically, as well as other stakeholders on the scope, methodology and expected outcome of programmatic activities such as training courses;
• Draft, review, and contribute to reports, researching relevant background documentation on counter-terrorism and UAS data and full motion imagery analysis and exploitation;
• Participate in briefings to a variety of stakeholders;
• Provide advice on the preparation of project documents, reports and other related written outputs;
• Participate in the preparation for and delivery of training courses; and
• Participate in relevant technical events and other related activities;
• Other relevant tasks identified by the Programme Management Officer.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced University Degree (Masters or equivalent) in Engineering, Geographic Information Systems, Chemistry, Explosives, National Security/Defence/Military, Aerospace or similar. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive practical experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
a minimum of 10 years’ experience in relevant field is required.
Previous experience working with the development of data and full motion imagery analysis training and other learning modules, preferably related to the use of autonomous and remotely operated systems (incl. UAS) and countering autonomous and/or remotely operated systems-related threats (incl. UAS).

Previous experience supporting the integration of autonomous and remotely operated systems (incl. UAS) and c-UAS capabilities in national security strategies and efforts.
Previous experience working on CBRN, IED, and associated efforts in law enforcement, defence, counter-terrorism, or peace operations contexts.

Previous experience in designing and/or delivering training to law enforcement, defence, national security and other government officials.

Languages

Proficiency in English is required; Proficiency in French is an advantage. Working knowledge of an additional UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

Supervisor: Leila Ezzarqui, Chief of External Partnerships Section
Contract Duration: 1 October 2023 to 31 January 2024
Work Arrangement: Homebased
Travel is not applicable

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.