Background

The Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is tasked with assisting Governments in its region with building capacity in the areas of drug control, crime prevention and criminal justice. Activities are implemented through regional and thematic programmatic frameworks.

This position is located in Dakar, Senegal. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer heading the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Unit, located at the UNODC Regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar, Senegal, and the overall guidance of the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor (Head, Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking and Terrorism Section, ROSEN).

Duties and Responsibilities

Results expected

  • Provides well-researched and sound analysis and advice on crime prevention and criminal justice related developments, in the specific area of smuggling of migrants, with special focus on law enforcement and prosecution/criminal justice; 
  • Delivers outputs in a timely manner; 
  • Effectively implements and supports programme activities implemented in The Gambia; 
  • Effectively disseminates best practices and methodologies;
  • Organizes and participates in field missions. 
  • Delivers effective substantive and technical assistance in the organization and delivery of legislative assistance and training for crime prevention and criminal justice administrators;
  • Liaises effectively and in a timely manner and interacts with colleagues and concerned parties internally and externally.

Within assigned authority, the National Project Officer will assist in the implementation of the project “Strengthening the capacities of West African states to develop a human rights-based response to smuggling of migrants and to effectively respond to human rights violations related to irregular migration” – PROMIS project. 

In particular the incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

  • Promotes 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;
  • Supports 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;
  • Functions as the main focal point for all actions implemented in Senegal under the PROMIS project on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of the PROMIS project at large, and of the activities in Senegal specifically; monitor and analyse project development; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions. Liaises with relevant parties, including national counterparts, civil society and other international/regional organizations; identifies and tracks follow-up actions on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
  • Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the national counterparts, by planning and facilitating workshops, and assists in developing the action plan together with the relevant national counterpart.
  • Provides technical expertise and logistical support to design and implement the project activities in Senegal in consultation with national counterparts, including the collection and compilation of relevant background data and information and logistical organization of activities foreseen as part of the project.
  • Researches, analyses and presents information gathered from diverse sources on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Senegal (desk research and assessment missions).
  • Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Senegal, preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies, etc.
  • Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, webstories, etc.
  • Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc. in Senegal, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. 
  • Designs, prepares and/or facilitates standardized training materials, as an ongoing task; contribute to updating, by reviewing and revising, relevant UNODC training and capacity-building tools; promote their use and application by respective target groups; compile information on best practices in the response to smuggling of migrants.
  • Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. 
  • Participates in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
  • Contributes to activities related to project management (submission of progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepare related documents (workplan, activity budgets, etc.).
  • Represents UNODC in meetings of the United Nations Migration Network and other processes as required.
  • Assists with other UNODC led activities in Senegal and support the expansion of UNODC ROSEN portfolio in the Senegal, for example, by arranging assistance delivery and procurement in line with UN rules and regulations.
  • Performs other duties as required

Work implies frequent interactions with the following: 
Counterparts, officers and technical staff in relevant Secretariat units and UN funds, programmes and other UN specialized agencies; senior level officers in national governments, international organizations, consultants.

Competencies

Core

Innovation:

    Analyzes complex technical materials (including data) and makes concise, relevant recommendations

Leadership

    Proactively identifies new opportunities and challenges

People Management

     Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making

Communication

    Expresses information and views with adaptive reasoning and appreciation for complexity and variation 

Delivery
    Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations and delivering core value

Technical/Functional
Professionalism
  Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Teamwork
   Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Planning and organizing 
  Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Communication
  Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Client orientation
  Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

 

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education 

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminal law, criminology, social science, international relations, political science, law, or public administration. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in crime prevention, criminal justice and/or migration issues at national and/or international level is required. Direct experience on smuggling of migrants/ migration or trafficking in persons is desirable. Familiarity with project formulation, implementation and monitoring, and exposure to international development cooperation is highly desirable. 

Language Requirements:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French, i.e. oral and written proficiency, is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.