Programme Officer (legal Support - GMCP, Indian Ocean) at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) within the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) with duty station Nairobi, Kenya. The Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) is organizationally located in the Justice Section (JS), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will work under the broad authority of the UNODC Representative, ROEA and the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer heading GMCP and will work in close cooperation with the Division for Operations (DO), particularly the Justice Section (JS), and the Division for Treaty Affaires (DTA) at UNODC headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Within assigned authority, the incumbent will provide support to the implementation of the Global Maritime Crime Programme activities in the Indian Ocean region with specific focus on legal reform coordination and provision of related expert advice as well as undertake extensive travel in the region. The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific tasks:
• Contribute to the planning, organization, implementation and monitoring of the UNODC GMCP support activities to legal drafters, policy advisers, prosecutors, judges, and where relevant law enforcement, in the Indian Ocean dealing with maritime crime matters; including assessments, legislative drafting, workshops and training and logistical matters associated with project implementation.
• Conduct assessment and review of existing national legislation of each recipient country related to port security and maritime safety management system oversight, with particular emphasis on national implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code in legislation and regulations, identification of current limitations and recommendations for improvements, ensuring full engagement with the Maritime Security Programme in the Eastern and Southern Africa, i.e. Indian Ocean.
• Engage with and build networks of regional and extra-regional experts, advisers, processes, and mechanisms which are concerned with maritime crime in the Indian Ocean region.
• Organize, coordinate and attend workshops, including Maritime Crime and Jurisdiction Awareness workshops and Law Reform Coordination and Information Sharing Working Groups.
• Prepare and draft a variety of written outputs on piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime offences, such as background/working papers, action plans, mission reports, briefings/presentations, policy proposals and documents, summary reports etc..
• Prepare budget revisions and regular reports on programme implementation for UNODC and donors.
• Prepare and disseminate work plans, terms of reference and programme related documents.
• Participate in conferences and meetings as required, including preparing and delivering presentations.
• Coordinate and liaise closely with counterparts and stakeholders on general maritime crime matters.
• Act as a liaison for various missions of the UNODC MCP team to the Indian Ocean.
• Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to crime prevention and criminal justice issues, in particular to countering maritime crime. Has knowledge of and specialization in substantive and functional legal areas with very good research, analytical and drafting skills. Is able to identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues. Has knowledge of various research methodologies and sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. 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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, including specialist education in international law, 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in national and/or international project management, administration or related area in the fields of law reform, policy formulation and regulation or related fields is required.
• Several years of progressively responsible experience in law is required.
• Experience in inter regional coordination on legal issues, preferably in an African context, on security/maritime issues is required.
• Experience in legal research and analysis is required.
• Working experience with the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable.
• Working experience as a facilitator with government officials on international issues is desirable.
• Working experience with regional organisations is also desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. 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 position is available for 364 days. 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 in the B category (family duty station).

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.