Antecedentes

In South Asia, especially India about 70 per cent of the drugs are transported over land, making land borders crucial corridors, through which drugs are trafficked in and out of the country. The easy availability of drugs in the border areas makes their use easy among the local population as is evident from drug consumption trends and patterns in the border states of Manipur, Mizoram, West Bengal and in countries along its eastern borders like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar due to their proximity to the “Golden Triangle” region. Consequently, this is continuing to create huge demands to be met with drug supplies through these routes.

In India, heroin use spread rapidly in Manipur and other parts of Northeast India that borders with Myanmar. More recently, methamphetamine use has emerged and escalated in the north-eastern states bordering Myanmar. Nepal and Bhutan’s open borders with India facilitates considerable traffic across borders including drug traffickers and drug users. There is also trafficking of pharmaceutical drugs across the border of India and Bangladesh.  Although systems have been put in place to combat drug transition and associated crimes in the bordering areas but the drug scenario- including the types of drugs and how they are packaged for transition is fast changing. The capacities of the security personnel engaged in the effort is not matching the fast changing scenario.

 The international conventions on drugs and subsequent documents have clearly mentioned the need for a ‘balanced approach’ that includes- production, supply, demand and harm reduction.  UNODC advocates a human rights approach for addressing issues of drug use prevention across borders.  Drug treatment services for drug users can be completely different across borders.  Access to scientifically based drug treatment services [1]may often not be available for a significant proportion of people who use drugs in the border areas, especially in light of the new and emerging substances[2].

Paradoxically, although the illicit drug use issue has long been recognized as a global concern, policy and programme responses have to a large extent been conceived and implemented within the framework of national borders. However, action within national borders has its limitations and requires action beyond the national level. Cross border studies are therefore important to understand the issues involved and to formulate appropriate intervention strategies at the regional level.

[1] http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/guidelines_opioid_dependence_2009/en/

[2] http://www.unodc.org/wdr2013/en/nps.html

Deberes y responsabilidades

The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia as a part of its overall response to drug control in South Asia, is implementing a new project on “Strengthening Cross Border and Community Responses to Illicit Drugs in South Asia”. The project will be implemented in close coordination with the government counterparts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Myanmar.

The project aims to foster and facilitate symbiotic engagement of the security agencies with the community of people who use drugs in the key Indian states in the east and northeast part of the country and in countries along its borders and will strive to create systems for strengthening and sustaining such engagements. The project will also build requisite capacities of both the law enforcement agencies engaged at these bordering areas as well as the community networks (of people who use drugs) in these areas. The mutually beneficial engagement of the community and the law enforcement agencies will also help in better understanding of problems faced by them and improved social engagement, reducing stigma and criminalization.

Under this new initiative, UNODC will work  closely with border control/law enforcement officers of  five countries  to address drug use and illicit trafficking at key border crossing points between India and four countries: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh  and Myanmar. UNODC country office will be implementing the activities on side of Myanmar. This will be achieved through various interventions which will bring together law enforcement/ border security agencies and marginalized communities of people who use drugs.  In doing so, UNODC will generate necessary evidence base for informing cross border responses in four key border points. In addition, UNODC, will strengthen engagements between community networks and enforcement agencies to mainstream health and human rights as part of comprehensive drug control approach.

Project locations

UNODC will be implementing a capacity building needs assessment of the Law enforcement officers in the four cross border locations outlined above . This needs assessment is fundamental to designing and developing a relevant course curriculum  for Law enforcement officers( including police, border security force, customs)across the four countries. To this end, UNODC seeks to engage a consultant to undertake the development of a comprehensive curriculum for law enforcement officials based on a training needs assessment of the law enforcement officials.

Scope of the Work

Note: It is anticipated that this single curriculum would be suitable for officers for 5 countries. However, this may change depending on country needs and may need further adaptation and may exceed one version.

Field Travel:

The assignment may require field travel (twice per country) to the relevant training institutes of border law enforcement officers. 

Competencias

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team and a multi-cultural environment.
• Sound knowledge and skills with regard to use computers and technology.
• Knowledge regarding UN/UNODC mandates, international conventions and treaties.

Languages:

• Good communication skills  in English and the ability to write clear analytical reports

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Educational Qualification:

• Advanced university degree preferably Masters in law, Political Science, Human Rights, International Relations, Criminology and related field. Bachelors with experience of 8 years in lieu of Masters will be considered.

Experience:

• At least 7-8 years of professional work experience at senior level in the rule of law and/or the international drug control machinery, drug law enforcement and/or financial crimes and related areas preferably at national and/or international level
• Robust understanding of the South Asian development context and experience of working with the government and development partners in the region.
• Experience in undertaking operational research and developing research tools and standard operating tools on drug trafficking.
• Work experience on policy analysis and development of advocacy strategies.

Payment Terms:

Documents to be submitted: 

• Updated CV/ P-11 form  with contact details of 3 references;
• Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor Assignment
•  Financial offer including  per day consultancy rates and the estimated cost for the field travel  

Reporting and communication:

 The consultant  will work under the overall supervision of Representative/ Deputy Representative UNODC ROSA and under direct supervision of Project  Manager and Technical Officer.

Guidelines for uploading the file:

Technical and financial proposals documents should be clubbed in one file for uploading as the system has provision for uploading one file only.

Above documents can be found in ‘Forms and Documentation for Individual Contractor’ column in career section. Please find link below:

http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/operations/careers/

Award of the contract :

 Thw award of the contract shall be made to the individual whose offer has been evaluated and deterrmined as :

• Responsive to the criterion outlined below
• Having received the highest score of a predetermined set of technical and financial criterion specific to the solicitation  and based on cumulative criterion

Technical Criteria weight - 70 marks

• Educational Qualification - 10 points;
• Experience in the the rule of law and/or drug law enforcement field- 25 points;
• Experience in  writing curriculums- 15 points;
• Experience of South Asian development context and working with the government and development partners in the region- 20 points;

Financial Criteria weight - 30 marks

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Note:

• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
• Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
• Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
• The consultant should include an estimated cost for travel(inclusive of  air fare, daily subsistence expenses, local transportation cost and accommodation) to the cross border locations in the financial proposal. UNODC will not be responsible for making travel arrangements.
• All the requested documents should be clubbed in one file for uploading as the system has provision for uploading one file only.

Contact information for queries related to Request for Proposals

For any clarification, please contact: 

jyotiee.mehraa@unodc.org

seema.arya@unodc.org

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