Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The UNDP Iraq Country Office, with funding from INL, is implementing the project ‘Strengthening Justice Sector Capacities to Uphold the Rule of Law in Iraq’. The focus of the project is twofold: (1) to strengthen capacities of the judges to conduct and lead complex organized and financial crime investigations, including on money laundering, corruption and illicit financing, and (2) to improve policies and procedures for the investigation and prosecution of complex organized and financial crime cases.

Organized crime, including money laundering and illicit financing, are prevalent criminal activities in Iraq which led to a prevalent atmosphere of corruption and impunity, and constitute a major impediment to Iraq's economic recovery, stability, and development. Improving related policies and procedures and capacities of judges to investigate such major crimes to hold perpetrators accountable constitutes a crucial part for being able to restore effective institutions in Iraq. As such skilled and knowledgeable investigating judges play a crucial role in investigating financial crimes, and likewise be familiar with and have trust in the capacity of the police and specialised financial crime investigators who assist them in their investigations. In order to achieve and sustain skilled personnel in this specialised area of work, it is also critical to ensure that necessary policies and procedures are also in place. 

During the period of December 2020 until March 2021, UNDP conducted a scoping assessment to:

  • Help set the baseline for the project to measure/ appraise it outcomes.
  • Allow UNDP to use the assessment to develop a much-needed policy document identifying the policies and procedures that require improvement for the investigation of complex organised and financial crime cases. It will be used for advocacy with the senior officials of the Higher Judicial Council (HJC) and other key interlocutors in the justice sector.
  • Identify and sequence of proposed training activities, level of trainings and topical priorities for the training modules / curriculum. 
Following the assessment findings and recommendations therein, UNDP has commenced to hold specialised workshops, envisaged to reach more than 1200 investigating judges, prosecutors, investigators, auditors and money laundering analysts to further strengthen their capacities in investigating and prosecuting complex organised and financial crime cases. The training workshops include selected participants from investigating agencies such as the police, the Commission of Integrity (CoI), the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Office of the Central Bank (AML-CFT Office) and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit (FBoSA). In parallel of the training, a Handbook for investigating judges and investigators on the conduct of complex and financial crime investigations is in the process of being developed in high-level workshops with judges and investigators to draft the guidelines.

UNDP, therefore, has identified the requirement to hire an Trainer on Financial Crimes Investigations to work with three other qualified individual experts (the Team Leader and two other financial crimes investigation specialists)   under the supervision of the UNDP SSR/RoL senior technical Specialist on Criminal Justice in the implementation of the above training activities and handbook production in close collaboration with the project’s key implementing partner, the Supreme Judicial Council, and other investigating agencies as beneficiaries. Due to the unique characteristics of this assignment, it is vital that the trainer must have previous national and international experience in investigations of complex organised and financial crimes,  and a track record on conducting training activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The work will be home-based with monthly travel to Baghdad or Erbil for the conduct of training and related activities.  The Trainer will be required to engage closely with the UNDP Criminal Justice Specialist and rest of the UNDP SSR/RoL team. The assignment will be conducted under the auspices of UNDP’s 'Support to Security and Justice Sector Governance' programme of work.

The Trainer is expected to deliver the following under the overall advice and guidance of the Team Leader of the experts team:

  • Deliver monthly Taskforce Workshops on Complex and Financial Crime Investigations, on average two such workshops each month (except for the month of Ramadan). The taskforce workshops are held for investigating judges, and investigators from the Commission of Integrity, police, other law enforcement agencies and supporting institutions and each shall cover four working days.  While the majority will be judges responsible for investigating and prosecuting complex criminal activity and financial crime cases, other participants will be investigators from the Commission of Integrity (CoI), the Organised Crime Directorate of the Ministry of Interior and other investigating agencies.
  • Design, prepare, and finalise the development of other training and mentoring events, and participate in delivering further judicial, follow-up and auditing workshops to develop judges’, investigators’ and auditors’ capacities in conducting investigations into complex organised financial crimes.
  • Act as team member and one of the lead advisors in the process of design, drafting and adoption of a Handbook on the conduct of financial investigations. 
  • Any other related task as advised by the Team Leader and UNDP Criminal Justice Specialist and SSR/RoL Programme Manager.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the supervision of the Security Sector Reform/Rule of Law Programme Manager, the Trainer is expected to achieve the aforementioned deliverables during the contract period.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.

Business Direction & Strategy

Effective decision making

Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

Business Management

Communication

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Business Management

Result-based Management

Ability to manage a project with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management

Working with Data and Evidence

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Business Management

Change Management

Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational goals.

Evaluation

Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks – Ability to anticipate clients’ upcoming needs and concerns.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent degree) in law or financial crimes investigator or financial auditor or money-laundering analyst. OR Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 9 years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of Master’s.  OR 13 years of relevant work experience in lieu of Bachelor’s.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

  • At least 7 years with master’s degree,  9 years with bachelor’s degree or 13 years of relevant work experience in lieu of Bachelor’s, of professional experience in subjects related to criminal investigations, financial investigations, asset recovery, anti-corruption, policing, international sanctions regimes and related investigations, criminology, justice and security, or other related and relevant subject areas at national and/or international level and / or legislative drafting and policy experience in relevant fields;
  • A bar exam is required for lawyers. Lawyers from countries where bar exams are not required for practising law or representing prosecution departments, a minimum of three years practical experience in criminal justice administration is required.

Required skills and competencies

Recent professional work experience in organised crime or financial crime investigations and related fields is essential.

Professional work experience on investigation-related subject matters is essential.

Proven capacity to engage with senior criminal justice interlocutors in relevant institutions and ministries.

Track record of conducting training and chairing workshops/ seminars for senior justice officials.

Sound knowledge of criminal and criminal procedure law, international fair trial standards, and prosecution systems.

Proven up-to-date professional training in relevant fields in at least one legal system (anti-corruption, money laundering, compliance etc.)

Desired additional skills and competencies

Professional experience over several years focused on financial crimes investigations, money laundering, corruption, and/or asset recovery.

Previous international mission experience in analysis and conducting assessments.

Previous international mission experience in related fields (e.g. justice and security) in the MENA region, and particularly in Iraq is considered a strong asset.

Experience in different legal systems, globally and in Iraq/the Arab world is considered a strong asset.

Required Language(s)

Excellent written and spoken English language skills are essential. 

Arabic and/or Kurdish language skills are considered a strong asset.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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