Consultant, Public procurement expert for the COVID-19 anti-corruption response and recovery project

Result of Service Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser (Anti-Corruption), and working in close collaboration with other substantive officers assigned to these activities, the consultant will:

• Prepare and deliver a workshop on public procurement transparency and the use of technology to foster greater competition and accountability as part of ensuring effective anti-corruption responses during times of crisis for authorities in Argentina;

• Prepare and deliver a workshop on public procurement transparency and the use of technology to foster greater competition and accountability as part of ensuring effective anti-corruption responses during times of crisis for authorities in Chile;

• Prepare and deliver a workshop on public procurement transparency and the use of technology to foster greater competition and accountability as part of ensuring effective anti-corruption responses during times of crisis for authorities in Paraguay;

• Support the facilitation of one virtual regional workshop with authorities from Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Paraguay on public policy and regulatory recommendations concerning public procurement during times of crisis;

• Provide expertise and technical assistance to further the implementation of the COVID-19 anti-corruption response and recovery project, including by providing mentorship on public procurement in at least two of the following four countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Paraguay.

  Work Location Home based with possible travel to Argentina (expected 25 – 27 July 2022); Chile (expected July 2022); Paraguay (expected 9-10 August 2022)

  Expected duration 56 working days over the period June to August 2022

  Duties and Responsibilities 1. Background of the assignment:

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the global leader in the fight against drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism with widely recognized expertise and specialization on issues pertaining to international cooperation in criminal matters. Established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, UNODC operates in all regions of the world through an extensive network of field offices. The work of UNODC is guided by a broad range of international legally binding instruments and a set of United Nations standards and norms on crime prevention and criminal justice. UNODC, as guardian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and secretariat to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, has the mandate to provide support and technical assistance to States parties to effectively implement the Convention. The backbone for UNODC anti-corruption work is the normative framework provided by UNCAC. In the context of COVID-19, UNODC is currently implementing the COVID-19 Anti-Corruption Response and Recovery project which aims to support Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Africa and Timor-Leste to better respond to and address the ongoing pandemic and future emerging crises. The project has launched anti-corruption procurement platforms in each country to establish and/or strengthen national networks of public procurement oversight bodies, supreme audit institutions and anti-corruption authorities focused on strengthening public procurement transparency and whistle-blower protection. Efforts to ensure transparency and accountability for the vast amount of resources allocated to respond to and recover from the crisis include ensuring appropriate safeguards against corruption are in place in public procurement systems, including in the public health sector and in the context of emergency procurement. UNODC is providing a broad range of support to anti-corruption authorities and other stakeholders involved in the fight against corruption based on identified anti-corruption priorities and requests received for technical assistance to recover better – not just for this crisis but for the future. In order to support anti-corruption agencies and other oversight institutions to take strategic steps to strengthen public procurement transparency and accountability, in-country capacity building and legal advice at both the national and regional levels are necessary.

2. Purpose of the assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide in-country capacity building through the delivery of three national-level workshops on public procurement transparency and the use of technology to foster greater competition and accountability; the delivery of one virtual regional workshop on public policy and regulatory recommendations concerning public procurement during times of crisis; and the provision of expertise and technical assistance to at least two out of four countries under the framework of the COVID-19 Anti-Corruption Response and Recovery project, with a focus on strengthening their public procurement systems.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law 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 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or several of the following areas is required: Working within or providing advisory services to anti-corruption bodies; investigating and/or prosecuting corruption cases in an anti-corruption agency, a public procurement oversight body, law enforcement, prosecution services or the judiciary; and/or anti-corruption related work in international organizations, academia, research bodies or non-governmental organizations;

• Experience working in the area of anti-corruption and public procurement is required.

• Experience using digital and electronic tools and/or systems to enhance anti-corruption infrastructure and open contracting is desirable.

Language:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language 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.