UNDP Jobs

The UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UNIAP) was established to facilitate a stronger and more co-ordinated response to human trafficking in the Mekong Sub-Region (Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). It initially brought together six Governments, thirteen UN agencies, three inter-governmental organisations and seven international NGOs at a regional level. This has now evolved into an extensive network of Government, local and international NGOs, UN organisations and donors throughout the six countries. The project has also become the Secretariat to the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) process, a government process based on a signed MOU among the six Mekong governments to collaborate and cooperate in building a sustainable system of sub-regional cooperation against trafficking.

The purpose of the present phase of UNIAP (Phase III – December 2007 to December 2013) has been to build on and further strengthen the regional response to human trafficking among governments, UN and development partners working in the anti-trafficking sector based on (a) improved cooperation within and between partners, (b) effective targeting of resources and expertise and (c) application/dissemination of the latest in lessons learned in and outside of the GMS based on solid empirical data collection and analysis carried out by UNIAP and its partners.

The project comprises interlinking services: coordination, technical assistance, including capacity building, issue analysis and advocacy; to the following constituencies:

1. Governments;
2. UN Partners;
3. Other development partners and the broader anti-trafficking sector.

And also engages in:

1. Data collection, analysis and dissemination;
2. Responses to address new and emerging issues; and
3. Project Management.

The Counter-Trafficking Technical Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Project Manager (RPM) and will serve as the Counter Trafficking Technical Advisor for UNIAP. S/he will provide programmatic and technical support to the Regional Project Manager, and will directly oversee all technical and legal staff, consultants, and tasks in the Project Management Office (PMO). S/he will also have a close working relationship with the National Project Coordinators (NPC) and Information Analysts (IA) in each country, in line with the importance of working with NPCs on programme implementation and with IAs on information and research. When designated by the UNDP Project Officer relevant APRC Regional Practice Team Leader, the Counter Trafficking Technical Specialist may be asked to be the Officer-in-Charge of the UNIAP Project Management Office and takes action as may be necessary and appropriate within the scope of authority delegated to him/her.

Summary of key functions:

1. Plan, develop, oversee and monitor project initiatives, including interagency operational coordination and information/research;
2. Design and provide technical assistance to UNIAP activities, including those of UN, government, and non-government partners in the counter-trafficking sector in the framework of the UNIAP project;
3. Undertake resource mobilization for the UNIAP project in line with the overall UNIAP resource mobilization strategy;
4. Document, store and share knowledge and lessons-learnt from the project implementation with the broad range of the development partners.

Plan, develop, oversee and monitor project initiatives, including interagency operational coordination and information/research:

• Oversee on-going project implementation and activity tracking at the regional and country level, ensuring the successful completion of UNIAP initiatives and coordinating the inputs of appropriate UNIAP regional and country staff;
• Manage the interagency operational coordination process, which harmonizes the UN response to human trafficking throughout the Great Mekong Sub-region (GMS) on a programmatic level;
• Develop and monitor the annual regional and country workplans for UNIAP, within the overall goals and objectives set out in the project document, with budgets, measurable targets, and realistic timelines;
• Manage the planning, development and implementation of technical programmatic initiatives at cross-border and regional levels, including COMMIT, SIREN, and Support to Underserved Victim Populations;
• Manage review of proposals for new initiatives and other activities, ensuring that opportunities to submit proposals and gain funding for initiatives are conducted in an open, transparent manner. Ensure that such initiatives incorporate measures to ensure compliance with, if applicable, the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the UN convention against transnational organized crime;
• Working closely with Information Analysts, oversee the development, quality control, and publishing of all UNIAP national and regional information products, publications, research, and other print and electronic materials;
• Support the RPM with the Project Monitoring & Evaluation and draft the narrative portions of annual reports, donor reports, and reports to COMMIT.

Design and provide technical assistance to UNIAP activities, including those of UN, government, and non-government partners in the counter-trafficking sector:

• Ensure the provision of quality technical assistance to COMMIT and other activities agreed in the annual workplan , whether by UNIAP technical staff or appropriate inter-agency partners or consultants. Technical assistance will be provided through mission travel and from the PMO and includes support for strategic and operational planning, training, research, workshops, evaluation, and the drafting and review of programmatic Terms of References and research instruments;
• Deliver the Regional Training Programme, as well as more targeted operational and technical trainings in coordination with NPCs and inter-agency partners to increase counter-trafficking capacity and responsiveness as the regional, country, local, and border levels;
• Lead the design, monitoring, and coordination of the annual COMMIT regional inter-agency workplans, overseeing the COMMIT UN inter-agency coordination process at the programmatic and technical levels, at the regional and country levels;
• Design and facilitate strategic discussions on regional counter-trafficking priorities involving UN inter-agency partners, NGOs, and government agencies, identifying and facilitating opportunities for large-scale and small-scale collaboration whenever possible;
• Manage grants and technical support to SIREN and Support to Underserved Victim Populations partners;
• In coordination with UNIAP country project offices, design and conduct gap-filling research, or manage gap-filling research programs, leading UNIAP team missions, inter-agency missions, and training missions as necessary.

Undertake resource mobilization for the UNIAP project in line with the overall UNIAP resource mobilization strategy:

• Work with the RPM on fundraising proposals for resource mobilization;
• Maintain strong relationships and coordination with the key agencies engaged in anti-trafficking in the region;
• Assist in the technical training, guidance, and coordination of the Technical staff, Information Analysts, Project Officers, NPCs, and other UNIAP staff as necessary;
• Contribute to or represent UNIAP in workshops, meetings, and conferences relevant to the work of UNIAP, as requested by the Regional Project Manager;
• Draft strategy memos and briefing papers as required;
• Undertake any other managerial, programmatic and technical support duties as may be required from time to time by the Regional Project Manager.

Document, store and share knowledge and lessons-learnt from the project implementation with the broad range of the development partners:

• Collect, document, store and share lessons-learnt from the project with the relevant stakeholder and broad range of the development partners;
• Use knowledge gathered during the project implementation for systematic learning of the project staff and relevant stakeholders, as required;
• Identify opportunities and relevant communication channels to advocate for the project results.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission;
• Demonstrates understanding of UNDPs programmatic and operational procedures, and project reporting processes;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  

Functional Competencies:

Technical skills

• Excellent understanding of human rights, gender and governance, preferably in the area of human trafficking;
• Knowledge Management and Learning;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas;
• Promotes a learning environment in the office;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired knowledge.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Be able to work under time pressure and meet deadlines;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Possesses high standards of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline and impartiality;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior.

Education:

• Master degree degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Law or other relevant social science disciplines.

Work Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in a government, NGO, UN, or academic setting dealing with counter-trafficking project management, design, and/or research, preferably in the GMS;
• Expert knowledge and understanding of issues related to human trafficking in the GMS and the technical aspects of counter-trafficking project design and implementation;
• Excellent understanding of human rights, gender and governance, preferably in the area of human trafficking;
• Expertise in counter-trafficking training and capacity building, to English and non-English speakers, and gender mainstreaming;
• Expertise designing and conducting human trafficking and/or migration field research; experience interviewing trafficking victims and/or providing direct assistance or legal aid to victims is an asset;
• Familiarity with Windows-based computer applications;
• Familiarity in UN Operational Rules and Regulations is an asset;
• Experience working with donors and fundraising is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English; knowledge of one or more GMS languages is an asset;
• Excellent drafting and report writing skills.

Remark:

• This is Project Development Funded position;
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.