Programme Coordinator (Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants)

Org. Setting and ReportingThe post is located in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Dakar, Senegal. The Programme Coordinator (Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants) will report to the UNODC Regional Representative for West and Central Africa. For more information on UNODC, please visit the website www.unodc.org. ResponsibilitiesThe primary focus of this position is to lead and coordinate UNODC’s work on trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SoM) across West and Central Africa. This includes the oversight of key regional initiatives such as project XAWX22 – Strengthening Capacities to Counter TIP and SOM in West and Central Africa, and project XAWW36 – Human Rights-Based Response to SOM (PROMIS Project), a joint UNODC-OHCHR project aimed at supporting West African states in developing a human rights-based response to migrant smuggling and addressing related human rights violations. In addition, the role involves strategic guidance and support to other UNODC projects in the region that focus on combating TIP and SOM, ensuring coherence, impact, and alignment with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and international human rights standards. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties: • Provide strategic leadership and overall coordination for the TIP/SOM portfolio in West and Central Africa, ensuring a results-based management approach in line with UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030. • Guide, supervise and coordinate the TIP/SOM Unit in ROSEN, composed of international and national experts, consultants and administrative staff in the Regional Office and country offices. • Coordinate the development, implementation and monitoring of annual and multi-year workplans, results frameworks and resources to demonstrate efficiency, effectiveness and impact in line with UN rules and regulations. • Coordinate implementation of regional projects including the PROMIS Project and ZAW22, as well as other TIP/SOM initiatives in West and Central Africa. • Prepare UNODC’s intergovernmental engagement under the Niamey Declaration, facilitating regional cooperation mechanisms, monitoring implementation of commitments and supporting Member States to translate them into concrete policy and operation results. The incumbent will also work to expand the Niamey Declaration to additional Member States, strengthening its reach and impact across West and Central Africa. • Promote UNODC’s work within the framework of the UNTOC and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, positioning UNODC as the lead technical agency supporting Member States in the region. • Plan UNODC’s resource mobilization efforts to expand and sustain TiP/SoM initiatives; engage donors, prepare funding proposals, and identify cost-sharing and local financing opportunities, ensuring high-quality delivery and innovative approaches that strengthen donor confidence and long-term partnerships. • Promote evidence-based programming through coordination of research, data collection and analysis with the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS) and the Research and Trend Analysis Branch (RAB); • Prepare, lead and participate in complex needs assessment and technical assistance missions, including coordination of staff and consultants during multi-country research missions; organize and participate in awareness-raising events on TiP/SoM. • Liaise with national, regional and international counterparts at strategic level to facilitate delivery of UNODC technical assistance, avoid duplication, and ensure coordination; maintain regular contact with implementing partners and donors to support smooth project implementation. • Convey UNODC’s position and mandates in technical and inter-agency meetings, conferences and fora, including the UN Regional Network on Migration and coordinate joint programming on TiP/SoM within the UN Country Teams (UNCTs). • Develop and promote innovative partnerships with the private sector and academic institutions to advance crime prevention, foster research and innovation, and support evidence-based policymaking. • Participate in the recruitment of personnel for ROSEN and its Programme Offices, ensuring appropriate staffing to support programme implementation. • Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Perform other work-related duties as required. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Has knowledge of policies and best practices related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants at national, regional and international level. Has good knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to strategy development, project and staff management, inter-agency cooperation and fundraising. Has solid knowledge and understanding of the mandates of UNODC and UN mandates with a focus on transnational organised crime, human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Has good analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues; has sound judgment skills. Is able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Has knowledge of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to drug control, crime prevention and human development issues, particularly in the West and Central Africa context. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 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. Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; ensures that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches tasks to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on UNODC; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political and social sciences law, economics 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. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programme management related to trafficking in persons/smuggling of migrants or related field is required. Work experience in programme design, development and management of technical assistance programmes is required. International experience in multi-country or regional contexts is desirable. Work experience with the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable. Work experience in a United Nations field office is desirable. Work experience with developing and negotiating complex programmatic areas with national counterparts, including government, civil society and private sector is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).