Project Officer

Details Mission and objectives

The mission of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is to contribute to global peace and security, human rights and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism by working for and with Member States to promote justice and the rule of law and build resilient societies.

Context

Within the framework of the UNODC Strategy for Eastern Africa (2024-2030) and its respective mandates, UNODC, through its Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) and in close coordination with its headquarters, aims, among others, to promote and support effective responses by Member States in Eastern Africa to transnational organized crime, terrorism, illicit trafficking and illicit drug trafficking at the legal, technical and policy level. UNODC does so primarily through its regional programme on Transnational Organized Crime, Terrorism Prevention, and Illicit Trafficking (TOC/CT Programme). Within the framework of the TOC/CT Programme, UNODC ROEA is implementing the Better Migration Management (BMM) programme, Phase IV, funded by Germany and the European Union and jointly implemented by UNODC, CIVIPOL, GIZ, and IOM. Now in its third phase to continue until 2025, the programme aims to enable national authorities and institutions to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration and to effectively address and reduce trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants within and from the Horn of Africa region using a human rights-based approach. BMM focuses on three components: migration governance, strengthening effective institutions to address trafficking and smuggling, and protection of vulnerable migrants. Programme activities include providing technical assistance, capacity building and operational guidance to law enforcement authorities, anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling units. In particular, the Programme supports Member States’ efforts to adopt, review, and enhance anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling legislation, as well as strengthening the institutional capacity of law enforcement to implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and its supplementary Protocols. Furthermore, the Programme provides specialized capacity-building to criminal justice and law enforcement practitioners to prevent, suppress, and investigate serious and organized crime. Lastly, it focuses on increasing the organizational, operational, and technical capacity of law enforcement, especially anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling units, in enforcing laws, strategies, and policies through operational support, provision of equipment, training, and technical assistance. The current phase of the Programme commenced in March 2026 and will conclude in September 2028. The fourth phase of the Programme encompasses regional and bilateral training activities. During this phase of the BMM Programme, UNODC plans to further support legislative amendments, develop frameworks for witness protection, and promote regional cooperation. Additionally, the focus extends to improving the quality of investigations and prosecutions through specialized training, inter-agency collaboration, and the establishment of specialized units. The Volunteer will support the coordination and implementation of the Programme.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of Transnational Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking and Terrorism Programmes, ROEA – UNODC, the UNV will: •Contribute to the project coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting, including ensuring timely implementation of activities with regular monitoring and reporting, and chairing meetings. •Lead planning, preparation, organization and successful implementation of programme activities, including by liaising counterparts, experts, coordinating with field-staff, proposing intervention topics, identifying beneficiaries, and providing substantive inputs and contributions during training workshops. •Liaise with and maintain contact with donors, project partners, and beneficiaries to ensure the timely delivery and provision of technical assistance. •Support implementation of cross-programmatic activities addressing links between organized crime and terrorism, contribute to the TOC/CT programme-wide synergic action though ongoing coordination with programme managers, field- and headquarters-based staff. •Coordinate and provide substantive inputs to the drafting of project monitoring and evaluation materials, implementation reports, activity evaluation reports, and impact assessment documents; •Provide substantive inputs to written outputs and working documents, presentations and other substantive materials; •Coordinate research, design of data collection tools, analysis and presentations of information, and prepare conclusions, for project outputs and programmatic development; •Provide substantive inputs for the drafting of research materials on relevant transnational organized crime areas, and regional threat and trends assessments. •Participate in fact-finding and other field missions within assigned area of responsibility; Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: •Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); •Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; •Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. •Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; •Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; •Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Relevant experience

5 years

Languages

French, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master’s degree in An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, international law, political science, program management, or a related field, is required.

Competencies and values

•Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNODC; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNODC procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; •Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNODC in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; •Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; •Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. •Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; •Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; •Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNODC mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values

Skills and experience

•A minimum of five years of progressively responsible work experience in programme or project management, technical assistance or related areas, is required. •A minimum of two years of work experience in crime prevention and criminal justice, including counter-organized crime, is required. •Experience in development of concept notes, background papers, project proposals and implementation reports is required. •Experience with organizing capacity-building activities in counter-organized crime, counter-terrorism or a directly related field is required. •Experience in development of research papers on relevant transnational organized crime areas, training needs assessments, and threat and trends assessments is required. •Demonstrated knowledge of counter-organized crime, counter-terrorism and related fields, UNODC mandate and Sub-Saharan Africa region is required. •Work experience within the United Nations system or a similar international organization is desirable. •Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; •Excellent oral and written skills in English is required; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; •Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; •Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including high level government officials and donors. •Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; •Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; •Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

Area(s) of expertise

Legal affairs