Consultant (International Cooperation in Criminal Matters)

Result of Service Under the overall supervision of the UNODC ROSEAP, the contractor will undertake the following substantive duties and responsibilities:

• Develop plans for Crim-AP follow-up seminar to be co-organized with UNAFEI
• Develop plans and organize a side event at the ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting for Justice Ministers
• Develop plans and organize workshops for capacity development programmes of prosecutors’ assistants in Thailand and other countries

• Develop draft reports in relation to the UNODC Strategic Dialogues with justice authorities in Southeast Asia

  Work Location Bangkok

  Expected duration 1 August - 31 December 2023

  Duties and Responsibilities The UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP) is seeking a suitable and qualified consultant to provide technical expertise in the area of mutual legal assistance and extradition for ensuring timely follow-ups to the Criminal Justice Forum for Asia and the Pacific (Crim-AP) including a) a follow-up seminar to be co-organized with United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), b) a side-event at the occasion of ASEAN Japan Special Meeting for Justice Ministers to take place on 6 - 7 July 2023, c) the development of capacity building initiative for prosecutors’ assistants, while ensuring synergy and complementarity with the Southeast Asia Justice Network (SEAJust), an operational network of central authorities coordinated by UNODC, and other UNODC projects dealing with mutual legal assistance and extradition.

UNODC co-organizes Crim-AP meetings with the Ministry of Justice of Japan. Crim-AP is an inter-regional platform which brings together criminal justice practitioners to strengthen regional cohesion and commitments to promote international cooperation, and to regularly meet and exchange information on various criminal justice issues, ranging from mutual legal assistance (MLA) to offender treatment and reintegration. UNODC, in collaboration with UNAFEI, plans to organize follow-up workshops/ seminars for the participating countries of Crim-AP (especially for ASEAN countries), focusing on mutual legal assistance and extradition, based on their needs identified during the meetings and provided that SEAJust is not planning to provide such assistance.

As follow-ups to the Crim-AP meeting, the UNODC will also organize a side-event at the occasion of ASEAN Japan Special Meeting for Justice Ministers which is to take place 6 - 7 July 2023 and develop capacity building programme for prosecutors’ assistants in Southeast Asia (inter alia Thailand).

The purpose of the assignment is to prepare and coordinate follow up activities of the Crim-AP. The Consultant will assist in coordinating activities with UNAFEI in developing follow-up seminar for Crim-AP, assists in coordinating activities with the Crim-AP co-organizers, especially for a side event at the ASEAN Japan Special Meeting for Justice Ministers, assists in planning and developing capacity building programme of prosecutors’ assistants in Thailand and other countries, and provide technical expertise and research support to the Crim-AP WG-MLA.

Under overall guidance and supervision of Mr. Naoki Sugano, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, UNODC ROSEAP, the Consultant will: i) Assist in coordinating activities with UNAFEI in developing the follow-up seminar for Crim-AP; ii) Assist in coordinating activities with the Crim-AP co-organizers, especially for the preparation of a side event at the ASEAN-Japan Special Ministerial Meeting; iii) Upon coordination with SEAJust secretariat, assist in the capacity building of prosecutor’s assistants in Thailand and other countries; iv) Upon coordination with SEAJust secretariat, provide technical expertise and research support to the Crim-AP follow-ups on Working Group on MLA; v) Support the conducting of research on ASEAN countries criminal justice systems, organize consultations with criminal justice practitioners, and draft reports in relation to the UNODC Strategic Dialogues with justice authorities in Southeast Asia; vi) Prepare various written outputs for above mentioned assignments (draft meeting minutes, draft workshop agenda, etc.).

Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminal justice, criminology, law, political science, management or other related fields 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 5 years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including practical experience in the area of mutual legal assistance and extradition, is required. Strong professional experience and analytical capacities of criminal cases (e.g. investigation, prosecution, etc.) is required. Understanding of UN Crime Prevention Criminal Justice Network Institution priorities (especially of UNAFEI) is desirable.

Languages - English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language, is an advantage. - Knowledge of Japanese (language used in the venue of the Crim-AP meeting) is desirable.

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.