Consultant on the Management and Disposal of Seized and Confiscated Assets (fund for SDG financing)

Result of Service UNODC is looking for a qualified International Consultant should explore the feasibility of establishing a fund from seized and confiscated proceeds of crime and recovered assets to be utilized for the purpose of SDG financing in the country and provide the national stakeholders with assistance and advocacy for creation of a mechanism for social re-use of seized assets. The assignment foresees both distance and field work (if COVID-19 related travel restrictions are lifted). The Consultant will work with the National Consultant under the overall guidance of the UNODC National Programme Officer and is expected to closely coordinate his/her assignment with the relevant technical experts of the UNODC, participating UN agencies and national counterparts engaged in the project, especially the General Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, Supreme Court, Anti-corruption Agency and other stakeholders.

In order to achieve the objective, the Consultant shall: - Conduct a feasibility study to explore the possibility of establishing a fund from seized and confiscated and recovered assets to be utilized for the purpose of SDG financing in the country. - Provide guidance and mentorship to the National Consultant who will be engaged to collect documents and materials required for the feasibility study. - Draft a comprehensive report based on the results of the feasibility study and present the report to the national partners. - Provide advocacy for the establishment of SDG fund from seized and confiscated proceeds of crime and recovered assets through holding at least three (3) meetings with senior representatives of the Ministry of Finance, General Prosecutor’s Office, Supreme Court, Central Bank and other national stakeholders upon the request and/or consent of GPO Academy.

Work Location Home-based with travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Expected duration 45 working days from December 2021 to February 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities UNODC in partnership with UNDP, UNICEF and WHO is engaged in the implementation of a Joint UN Programme on Establishment of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for Sustainable Development in Uzbekistan. The programme aims at accelerating attainment of the SDGs in Uzbekistan through more efficient, transparent and results-oriented use of public finance resources as well as better coordinated and integrated use of public and private resources in social sectors, taking into account the specific needs of women (e.g. in healthcare and social protection). The Joint Programme supports the Government to: (i) establish an INFF with its sector specific Financing Frameworks in healthcare and social assistance; (ii) optimize existing public finance flows for maximum impact and outreach (public finance management and national asset recovery system) and; (iii) build an effective architecture for mobilising public and private resources (health financing solutions, green bonds/sukuk for environment-friendly projects, crowdfunding, etc). Once the Joint Programme is completed, the Government will have in place a long-term integrated planning/financing framework, key elements of mandatory health insurance , a financing strategy for social assistance, climate change and environment protection; policy guidelines to mobilise selected alternative financing solutions, such as green bonds/sukuk, crowdfunding/crowd-investing etc.; and an improved national mechanism for the management and disposal of seized and confiscated assets, which will, inter alia, facilitate the use of these assets for the achievement of the SDGs. UNODC’s value added lies in its global experience in assisting national authorities in combatting illicit financial flows and building knowledge and providing technical assistance on the management and disposal of seized and confiscated proceeds of crime, which is an essential element in the process of asset recovery. This expertise will substantially support Uzbekistan’s efforts to mobilise resources for fiscal expansion, financial stability and improved growth to support implementation of the national sustainable development goals framework in a transparent and accountable manner. Within the framework of the Joint Programme, UNODC is responsible for the component on effective management and disposal of seized, frozen and confiscated proceeds of crime for financing of the nationalized SDG framework, which includes the following key activities: - Conduct an analytical review of the regulatory and policy framework, as well as the current situation, responses and existing capacity of key national partners to manage and dispose frozen, seized and confiscated assets. - Develop standard processes and enhance organizational structures to allow Uzbek authorities to effectively deliver their functions on asset management and disposal. - Promote inter-agency coordination and cooperation, establish a coordination mechanism on the management of assets and disposal of frozen, seized and confiscated proceeds. - Explore feasibility of establishing a fund from seized and confiscated proceeds of crime and recovered assets to be utilised for the purpose of SDG financing in the country. - Develop a manual on asset management procedures and standard practices and enhance capacity of practitioners through a series of training workshops. At the moment the first stage of the Project is completed and the analytical review and respective Report have been finalized. Previously assigned consultants conducted an assessment of the current situation, responses, and existing capacity of the key national institutions engaged in the management of frozen, seized, and confiscated assets in Uzbekistan, and key recommendations to improve the institutional and practical tools of assets management were articulated, namely: 1. Creation of an Uzbekistan Asset Management Unit (UAMU) It is recommended that Uzbekistan establishes an asset management unit to harmonize inter-agency asset management efforts in Uzbekistan. Its primary mandate should be to manage frozen and seized assets deriving from criminal activities. Its overriding objective should be to preserve and optimize the value of seized assets within the UAMU’s control, pending final judgment. The UAMU should be in a position to meet Uzbekistan’s international obligations by coordinating with asset recovery and management agencies in other jurisdictions. It should establish and maintain a central database that records the value, location, and status of all seized assets within Uzbekistan. To ensure it is kept accurate and current, the unit should coordinate with investigative and enforcement agencies. 2. Use of interim asset-management measures In view of its mandate to preserve and optimize the value of seized assets, the UAMU should regulate freezing or seizure of assets, pre-confiscation sale or disposal of seized assets, and the interim use of seized assets by appropriate parties. To balance the rights of property owners against the overriding objective to maximize the value of seized assets, transparent and robust protocols should be developed. 3. Social re-use of seized assets The country should develop and deploy a transparent strategic framework that ensures the consistent allocation of seized assets for the benefit of communities. The allocation procedure should be as straightforward and transparent as possible. It should include robust safeguards to preclude corruption and misuse of assets. Resources should be directed towards developing sufficient capacity to monitor the use of allocated assets and to provide technical assistance to those using or managing them, to ensure that assets allocated for social reuse continue to be productive and economically viable. The UAMU should establish and maintain a central database containing information in relation to allocated assets.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Law, Criminal Justice, Management, or any other relevant field is required. A Bachelor’s degree in these or similar fields in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: - At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in an area related to crime prevention and criminal justice, preferably with a focus on organized crime, corruption, seizure, confiscation, asset recovery and management and disposal of assets and/or closely related issues are required. - Experience of working in an international setting or with international partners is desirable. - Professional experience in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia region on similar assignments is desirable. - Proven experience in conducting assessment of national systems of the management and disposal of seized and confiscated assets is desirable. Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written Russian with proven drafting skills 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.