Programme Coordinator (Head of Pillar) - Temporary

This position is located in the Regional Office for for West and Central Africa (ROSEN), Division for Operations (DO) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Dakar, Senegal. The Programme Coordinator will report directly to the Deputy Regional Representative and the Regional Representative for West and Central Africa and will liaise and cooperate closely with relevant substantive sections at ROSEN and at UNODC headquarters, especially the Division for Operations (DO), in Vienna. For more information on UNODC, please visit the website www.unodc.org.

The focus of this position is to support the Representative to oversee Project Managers with managing and implementing UNODC programme in the region, namely leading the implementation of the XAMU50 programme entitled “Assistance to West African Assistance to Member States in West and Central Africa for the Development and Implementation of Criminal Justice Responses in the Fight against Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism”. The position will also support the coordination of the newly established Regional Office structure by assisting with the coordination functions of the Thematic Pillar addressing Law Enforcement and Border Management. The Programme Coordinator will provide substantive, technical, programmatic, and administrative advice to the Representative as well as act as a coordination point of entry for all programmes in the substantive pillar of work. Within delegated authority, the Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the following specific tasks: • Act as Head of Pillar for Law Enforcement and Border Management by coordinating substantive initiatives, projects, and programmes, and serve as the primary substantive point of contact for the Regional Representative. • Lead, coordinate and provide operational and strategic oversight for the implementation of the “Assistance to West African Assistance to Member States in West and Central Africa for the Development and Implementation of Criminal Justice Responses in the Fight against Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism” project. • In close collaboration with ROSEN project teams and programme managers addressing the broad thematic of law enforcement and border management, coordinate UNODC ROSEN’s programme of work, identify emerging needs, gaps, opportunities and synergies within the Pillar’s mandate. • Provide leadership and coordination for development partners engagement, the development of joint concept notes, joint project proposals, to ensure a coordinated and sustainable resource mobilization engagement by ROSEN. • Liaise with ROSEN programme offices and global, regional, and national project teams to ensure a coordinated, streamlined, and non-duplicative approach to technical assistance delivery across the region as it relates to law enforcement as well as land, maritime, and air border management, including cross-border cooperation and inter-agency mechanisms. • Identify synergies and document cross-border threats and trends (including those beyond the ROSEN geographical scope) to strengthen collaboration with UNODC offices worldwide. • Serve as the primary technical focal point for law enforcement, border management, illicit trafficking, and transnational organized crime within ROSEN. • Provide expert advice, capacity-building guidance, and policy support to ROSEN project offices, programmes, and national stakeholders in West and Central Africa, including on the adoption and responsible use of advanced technologies for law enforcement and border management (including AI-enabled solutions), specialized techniques and equipment, legislative reforms, and the development or updating of national strategies, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime. • Prepare inputs for national and UN strategic documents, assessments, briefing notes, and other form of reports as required. • Liaise with UNCTs, where needed and appropriate, for the development of Country Common Assessment, UN development assistance frameworks and other guiding or strategic document of the UN addressing law enforcement. • Provide sustained guidance and management support to project teams, including the Integrated Border Stability Management (IBSM) technical Board meeting and any other sub-initiative under the XAMU50 programme. • Ensure the development, preparation, coordination of the office work-plan, programme work-plans, biennium budgets, ensuring integrated programming, and effective use of resources by setting priorities and establishing deadlines, standards and targets; contribute to decision-making over human and financial resources. • Collect and analyse data to identify trends and patterns, and translate findings into actionable insights through graphs, charts, tables, and reports using effective data visualization techniques. Support data-driven planning, decision-making, and reporting, while promoting and contributing to strategic, operational, and standard research initiatives across teams in collaboration with the ROSEN Research team, including associated resource mobilization. • Lead and participate in complex needs assessment and other technical missions including to border control checkpoints to evaluate and elaborate technical assistance project proposals, in consultation with thematic sections as relevant as well as provide expertise and implement project activities, as it may be required. • Monitor the programme/project cycles under their supervision, evaluate the progress of ongoing project and programme activities in order to ensure timely, effective results-based programme/project delivery; ensure submission of quality project documents and revisions; ensure timely and quality project-, programme-, financial-, administrative-, and institutional reporting in consultation with relevant team members. • Provide guidance on best financial management practices: budgeting standards, resource projections, variance analysis, cost recovery and performance reporting; further, ensure financial management compliance with the UN financial rules and regulations, budget policies and Results-Based Management (RBM); monitor and control budgetary allocations through regular reviews and revisions; provide effective monitoring reports and data; identify deviations from plans and propose corrective measures; establish and maintain a set of sound policies, procedures, standards and tools which are consistent with UN policy and practice in order to ensure proper accounting, financial management and control. • Initiate and coordinate actions covering the entire span of human resource activities for XAMU50 ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures; provide expert advice with respect to conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and privileges and entitlements in accordance with the Staff Rules and Regulations. • Support XAMU50 procurement with the submission of advance planning and oversee procurement activities for XAMU50 in close cooperation with the ROSEN procurement team in full compliance with UN rules. • Participate in meetings, seminars, missions, external relation activities, etc. as delegated by the Representative. • Support the ROSEN Security Focal Point and act as an alternate focal point when required. • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Professionalism: 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. 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.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business, public administration, finance, social affairs, 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.

Not available.

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programme management related to crime prevention, drug control or related field is required. Work experience using risk-based working methodology (profiling) is required. Work experience in programme/project management and technical cooperation is required. Work experience in the area of United Nations or similar international organization technical assistance, strategic programme/project development, design, management and/or administration is desirable. Relevant work experience in a field environment is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English

and

French are required. 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).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

French

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

This temporary position is currently available for a period of six months. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may 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. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Dakar is classified in the A category (family duty station). Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.