International Consultant

Result of Service• A comprehensive situational analysis on the governance achievements and challenges in Botswana’s mining sector • A detailed value chain report for Botswana and another country • A SADC-wide dialogue organized with involvement of key stakeholders and partners Work LocationGaborone, Botswana Expected duration17.03.2025 - 31.12.2025 Duties and ResponsibilitiesIn recent years, the Southern Africa region has become a hub for the strategic interests of major world powers due to its vast reserves of critical minerals and precious metals. Minerals are necessary for the global green energy transition and are indispensable for key technologies such as electronic vehicles and semiconductors. The increased demand for minerals and precious metals has enabled countries to foster economic growth through the opportunities provided by the mining industry. However, as the demand for minerals grow, the risks associated with a weak and unsustainable mineral supply chain increase as well. Countries in the Southern Africa region face challenges related to sustainable resource extraction and governance and are prone to illicit activities, at small/artisanal level but also at the level of transnational organized crime. The latter is characterized by a significant degree of corruption, money laundering, and the infiltration of organized criminal groups. In areas with weak government control, organized criminal actors may find the space to enter the sector via corruption and use of violence, engage crimes in the minerals sector, often controlling the extraction process by pre-financing mining operations, extorting mining and trading companies, or by supplying the chemicals and tools for extraction. This impacts both national and regional security and stability, the rule of law, socio-economic development, human health, and the environment. Furthermore, such activities are frequently accompanied by serious human rights abuses. In this context, UNODC will support regional and national institutions in fostering transparent and sustainable mineral supply chains in the Southern African region for the green energy transition by addressing risks and vulnerabilities in the value chain and promoting the rule of law. Special emphasis will be put on critical raw materials (CRMs) due to their central role in technologies that are vital for the energy transition and Botswana as a pilot country given its expertise in the mining sector. The assignment will be carried out under the overall guidance of the Africa Coordinator of the UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment (GPCAE), based in Nairobi, in cooperation with the UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF) and relevant UNODC experts and programmes. More specifically, the Consultant will perform the following tasks: a. Map key stakeholders of the mineral sector in Botswana and promote partnership and engagement to develop and implement tools developed under the project b. Lead the engagement with SADC institutions, civil society and private sector leaders in the mineral sector to foster collaboration and involvement in the project c. Lead the development of a situation analysis on the governance issues of the mining sector in Botswana through data collection, interviews and reliable desk literature d. Provide substantive input to the UNODC Diagnostic Tool on Crimes in the Minerals Sector. e. Support the organization of meetings, workshops and technical roundtables to assess strengths and vulnerabilities in the mineral value chain in Botswana f. Lead the advocacy and awareness raising efforts among relevant partners in line with project objectives g. Represent the project in dialogues with partners and donors to provide updates on achievements, challenges and opportunities h. Monitor and report on the implementation of key activities to ensure project alignment and effectiveness Qualifications/special skills• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political sciences, international relations, security studies, economics, law or 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 minimum of 7 years of experience in programme/project coordination, development, execution, implementation, monitoring/evaluation, needs assessment and facilitation of group discussions in Africa is required. • A minimum of 3 years of experience of implementing programmes, which includes the ability to develop policy and guideline documents and frameworks is required. • A track record of experience in the mineral sector with special emphasis on vulnerabilities and challenges is required. • Previous field experience working with national partners, national universities, and civil society organizations based in Africa is required. • Experience with international organization in a related area is required. • Publications related to the extraction industry, illegal mining and sector governance is desirable. • Publications related to the extraction industry, illegal mining and sector governance is desirable. Languages• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.