Consultant on Virtual Assets Research

The consultant will provide comprehensive consultative support to UNODC for developing the APEC Good Practices Compilation on Addressing Crypto Money Laundering in Corruption Cases in *.docx format and guideline for anti-corruption authorities with law enforcement powers on addressing challenges associated with virtual assets in *.docx format.

Home-based with travel to China

1 May – 6 November 2026

One of the main purposes of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is to promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and the fight against corruption, including in asset recovery. The Conference of the States Parties to the Convention has repeatedly called for enhanced measures to further promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption, and has requested UNODC to provide, in its programmes of technical assistance, measures to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation, including in relation to offences covered by the Convention, before seeking mutual legal assistance. UNODC serves as the Secretariat of the Conference of the States parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), including its Implementation Review Mechanism. The Anti-Corruption Global Programme is a technical assistance programme being offered by UNODC to provide capacity-building assistance to Member States to effectively implement the UNCAC. Within the framework of the Global Programme, UNODC has set up a Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities, the GlobE Network (“the Network”) to facilitate informal cooperation among anti-corruption entities. The incumbent will provide substantive support to the Network. The Network, officially launched in mid-2021, aims to connect, anti-corruption law enforcement authorities by establishing and enhancing direct contact between them, to enable them to collaborate on transitional corruption cases, and empower a wider range of countries to engage in informal international cooperation, while complementing the other existing platforms for such cooperation. One of the workstreams of the GlobE Network is a denial of safe haven to corruption. Moving illicit corruption proceeds in the form of virtual assets has become a challenge that anti-corruption authorities are currently trying to address. To support its members the GlobE Network’s Secretariat together with the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Working Group (ACTWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will conduct a research on this topic with the aim of providing analytical information/technical knowledge product to its Members in order to increase their technical knowledge and capacity to counter challenges associated with virtual assets. Under the overall supervision of Law Enforcement Officer, CEB/LSNS, Vienna, the consultant will: (a) prepare the draft outline of the APEC Good Practices Compilation on Addressing Crypto Money Laundering in Corruption Cases; (b) prepare the draft APEC Good Practices Compilation on Addressing Crypto Money Laundering in Corruption Cases; (c) present the draft of the Compilation at an ACTWG meeting in China in August 2026; (d) finalize the Compilation based on the feedback received at the August ACTWG meeting; (e) draft a comprehensive guideline for anti-corruption authorities with law enforcement powers on addressing challenges associated with virtual assets.

A university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in accounting, law, forensics 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 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in law enforcement with emphasis on corruption crimes and complex financial and cyber investigations is required. Experience in legal writing is required Work experience in crypto assets, including understanding of blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), market analysis, and the regulatory landscape and relevant risk management is required. Experience with the work and priorities of the United Nations is desirable. Good grasp of the UN drafting style is desirable. Excellent communication skills are required.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an advantage.

Not available.

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.