Consultant – Asset Recovery Research Methodology

Result of Service The consultant will accomplish the following tasks to achieve the above-mentioned objectives:

(1) Develop a methodology for the research on the state of play of the asset recovery systems in the Western Balkan jurisdictions

The methodology is to be based on the European and international standards for asset recovery and will seek to map out, at the national level for each of the respective Western Balkan jurisdictions, the elements of the the asset recovery process and the how proceeds and instrumentalities of crime are seized/confiscated and managed. Where applicable, type of confiscation (e.g., value-based confiscation, extended confiscation and non-conviction-based confiscation) will also be taken into consideration in the research methodology.

The methodology should include at least the following: - The short background section on the asset recovery system in each Western Balkan jurisdiction that may determine the character of the methodology and research in each jurisdiction (with potential risks and challenges in data collection that should be considered); - Utilize the existing reports as a baseline (e.g., the RAI report “Asset Recovery in the Western Balkans: A Comparative Analysis of Legislation and Practice.”, European Union reports, GRECO reports, UNCAC implementation review reports, etc) and propose how the baseline should be established in the context of the research. - Data to be collected; - Data sources; - Techniques for data collection (desktop research, interviews, analysis of available datasets and statistics, available and relevant analysis, reports, publications and similar); - The proposals for data systematization, analysis and presentation.

(2) Provide inputs for a draft research report

Once the research is conducted and the draft report produced, the consultant will review the draft report and provide inputs and suggestions for improvement. Inputs will address the methodology section of the report.

(3) Participate in a round table with the relevant stakeholders of the respective Western Balkan jurisdictions

The findings, conclusions and recommendations of the draft research document will be s presented to the relevant stakeholders from the Western Balkan jurisdictions. The consultant will to participate in the round table and present the methodology and discuss results and challenges in applying the methodology for asset recovery research.

(4) Provide inputs for the finalization of the research report

The consultant will to provide inputs to finalize the research report after feedback is obtained through the round table with relevant stakeholders.

(5) Participate in the presentation of the final research report

The consultant will participate in the final conference that will be organized for the purpose of presenting the final research publication to relevant stakeholders of the Western Balkan jurisdictions and international partners engaged in the area of asset recovery. The consultant is expected to participate in the round table and present the applied methodology and discuss results and challenges in applying methodology for asset recovery research.

Work Location Home-based, no travel involved

Expected duration 30 Working days from 01 September 2022 to 31 March 2023

Duties and Responsibilities UNODC’s work in the region of South Eastern Europe is covered by the respective UNODC Regional Programme (RP SEE). The objective of the RP SEE is to meet specific national needs articulated in an inclusive, participatory process while at the same time ensuring that activities and outputs at national level form part of a coordinated, harmonized regional and inter-regional approach in line with the principles that underlie UNODC’s activities globally, and more broadly in line with the 2030 Agenda. UNODC strives to bring its global expertise and scope to South Eastern Europe to strengthen both national and regional approaches, embedding the Regional Programme for South Eastern European national, regional, inter-regional and global contexts and creating coherence across them.

Under the Regional Programme, UNODC, as the global leader in addressing the problem of illicit drugs, transnational organized crime and terrorism, provides support to the region in the implementation of relevant treaties and instruments, including by means of supporting the development of national drug and crime policies and strategies and their implementation plans, as well as the EU requirements under chapters 23, 24 and 28 of the EU acquis Communautaire. This supports the governments in fulfilling their obligations within the United Nations as well as meeting the EU accession requirements.

UNODC, together with its government partners, international and regional organizations and civil society stakeholders, structures its work within the four Sub-Programmes of the RPSEE, all grounded in a gender-responsive, human rights-based approach: Sub-Programme 1: Law enforcement and enhanced border security and related topics Sub-Programme 2: Organized crime and countering illicit financial flows Sub-Programme 3: Prevention of drug use and treatment and care of drug use disorders Sub-Programme 4/ Cross-Cutting Pillar: Strengthening research capacity, policy and monitoring

The consultant will support the implementation of the project “From Illicit Financial Flows to Asset Recovery” under the UNODC Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe in the six Western Balkans jurisdictions. The consultant will primarily be responsible for developing a methodology for the research on the state of play of the asset recovery systems in the Western Balkan jurisdictions. The consultant will also participate in the activities that will follow the research, in order to finalize the research publication with the findings, conclusions and recommendations in relation to the asset recovery efforts at the national level in the Western Balkan jurisdictions.

Purpose of the assignment:

This assignment is designed to develop a comprehensive, clear, realistic and applicable methodology for research on the state of play of asset recovery efforts in the six Western Balkan jurisdictions (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under the UNSC 1244), in seizing proceeds and instrumentalities of crime with a view to confiscating them.

Based on the methodology, comprehensive research will be conducted, in order to review the enhanced capacities provided by the project at the end of the project period. The research results will furthermore serve as a baseline for future projects in the field of preventing and fighting serious and organised crime and implementing the asset recovery process. It is expected that the research report will be able to better fine-tune requirements for further action in the field of asset recovery in the Western Balkan region.

Besides developing a methodology, the consultant will closely work with the consultant for conducting research, by receiving and considering inputs for the methodology, and by providing inputs for the draft research report, once the research is being conducted. The consultant will participate in a round table with the relevant stakeholders of the respective Western Balkan jurisdictions to present the methodology and research results and to collect inputs for the finalization of the report. Finally, the consultant will be engaged in preparing the final research report and in the presentation of the final publication to relevant stakeholders of the Western Balkan jurisdictions and international partners engaged in the area of asset recovery at the closing conference.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, applied statistics, law, criminology or another 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 Experience: A minimum of 5 years of experience in the area of developing methodologies and conducting complex research is required. Experience in asset recovery and/or anti-corruption is desirable. Language: 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 Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian or Albanian is an advantage.

No Fee 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.