Associate Programme Officer (Sahel)

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 and in Vienna, Austria. UNODC is s a world leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. It operates through 54 regional offices, covering more than 150 countries. Its regional office for Western and Central Africa (ROSEN) is located in Dakar, Senegal and has been active in the region for more than 20 years. Currently ROSEN covers 22 countries and has established 13 field offices.

Context

This UNV assignment is located in the Sahel Programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Western and Central Africa (ROSEN) in Dakar, Senegal. The Programme Specialist (Sahel) will work under the guidance of the UNODC Sahel Programme Coordinator. The UNODC Sahel Programme supports the development of accessible, efficient and accountable criminal justice systems to combat illicit trafficking drug trafficking, organized crime, terrorism and corruption in the region by: • Promoting the implementation of international conventions with governments and foster regional cooperation on counterterrorism with authorities and prosecutors; • Preventing illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, human beings and smuggling of migrants by enhanced detection and interdiction at airports and land borders; • Improving justice systems by promoting integrity safeguard mechanisms and Police - Justice cooperation through anti-corruption and anti-money laundering training; • Enhancing scientific evidence and investigation by providing authorities with appropriate laboratories and firearms control measures; • Supporting access and treatment of people in contact with the judicial system through strengthening the frameworks of human rights, legal aid, victim and witness protection and prison reform. The Sahel Programme has been developed in support of the UN Regional Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), which the UN Secretary-General launched in June 2013. The Strategy revolves around three broad area of support: Governance, Resilience and Security, formulated as strategic goals and organized according to key themes. The implementation of UNODC activities through the Sahel Programme is coordinated with other United Nations entities participating in the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Region, including the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women and the offices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General and the Head of Mission of MINUSMA, as well as with other technical and financial partners present in the region (European Union including the EUCAP Sahel missions, INTERPOL, UNPOL, Civipol, Expertise France, etc.).

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the UNODC Sahel Programme Regional Coordinator, the UN Volunteer Associate Programme Officer (Sahel) will help plan the activities, monitor the progress achieved in line with the Programme's logical framework, and contribute to the internal and external communications related to results achieved as a consequence of the Programme's implementation. The UN Volunteer will contribute in coordinating UNODC sections and field offices implementing the Sahel Programme, located in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The UN Volunteer will perform the following specific tasks: • Assist in coordinating and monitoring the activities undertaken by the Programme's projects (coordinating inputs with different Unit for project proposals, donor reports, and to monitor the implementation status of the agreed workplan). • Provide support to project coordinators and experts in project planning and activity implementation where needed; • Propose and carry out necessary amendments to activity calendar and budget in order to achieve the project’s objective, in coordination with the national and regional project stakeholders and other team members of the Sahel Programme; • Contribute to the drafting and submission of timely and high-quality project proposals and donor reports for the Sahel Programme; • Support the Communication Specialist in the creation of communication material for the Sahel Programme and its projects to improve the visibility of the Programme. • Undertake on-site missions to Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal to provide to ensure timely implementation of project activities and liaise with local authorities; • Prepare/draft various written contribution of UNODC work in the Sahel, e.g. background papers, briefing notes, presentations, regular and ad hoc reports, etc. • Participate in meetings, seminars, etc. on behalf of the Office, as and when required; • Perform other work-related duties as required.