Associate Programme Officer at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer heading the Transnational Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking and Terrorism Programmes in ROEA, the substantive supervision of the Programme Coordinator of AIRCOP, based in Dakar, Senegal, and the overall supervision of the UNODC ROEA Representative.

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the Associate Programme Officer will be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP) activities in Eastern and Southern Africa. The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Support the development of AIRCOP in Eastern and Southern Africa, including the development of concept notes and funding proposals and background research on evolving security threats related to drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism in the region.
• Assist in engaging with prospective (new and existing) donors to support the implementation of AIRCOP and in strengthening working relations with (new and existing) partner organizations to ensure mutually supportive and complementary programming.
• Engage with national authorities and regional players for the establishment of new Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces and the strengthening of existing ones.
• Support the implementation and technical backstopping of AIRCOP capacity-building activities in the region; contribute to the organization of and participate in AIRCOP trainings, mentoring, global meetings, etc. including identification of participants and preparation of documents and presentations; identify problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions.
• Provide substantive support to other meetings, conferences, etc. related to AIRCOP implementation, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparing documents and presentations, etc.; undertake outreach activities; make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Participate in field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting of mission summaries, etc..
• Coordinate activities related to substantive and financial reporting and prepare related documents/reports (progress reports, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Monitor the substantive progress and results of AIRCOP activities, liaise with relevant stakeholders to collect, analyze and disseminate data related to AIRCOP results; and produce analytical reports based on monitoring data.
• Assist in drafting periodic reports, updates and advocacy materials related to AIRCOP implementation for donors and external audiences.
• Prepare various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.; prepare briefing notes and summary reports on the region for senior management and for country and regional consultations with donors, as well as for other major UNODC events; draft routine day-to-day correspondence to UNODC Field Offices and other United Nations entities, as well as, in appropriate cases, to Government authorities.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concept and approaches relevant to technical cooperation and programme/project implementation. Has knowledge of major international drug and crime control and prevention issues, as well as of the UNODC mandates and policies. Is able to deal with multiple tasks under tight deadlines and work pressure. Has sound judgment and good analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues. Has excellent drafting skills and a demonstrable capacity to produce high quality concept notes, reports and briefings, under time pressure. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Work Experience

• A minimum of two years of professional experience at the international level, related to drug control and crime prevention, technical cooperation, programme management or public administration is required.
• Practical work experience in programme/project formulation, development, execution, implementation and monitoring, particularly in drugs and crime related areas is required.
• Practical field experience within the United Nations system or a similar international organization is highly desirable.
• Experience and familiarity with the African continent are desirable. No experience is required for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Languages

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

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency based interview.

Special Notice

This temporary project position is expected to be available for 6 months. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

Nairobi is classified an B duty station.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.