Firearms Trafficking Expert (Consultant)

Legal

Overview

Develop a study on firearms trafficking and links to terrorism in Central Asia.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in relevant fields is required.
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in criminal justice, research, or teaching is required.
• Experience in scientific research (quantitative and qualitative), including literature review, is required.
• Experience on countering transnational organized crime and firearms trafficking is required.
• Research skills and fluency in standard social science research protocols, methods, and tools are required.
• Knowledge of relevant international and regional instruments and policies on firearms and ammunition is desirable.
• Experience in drafting analytical outputs on firearms trafficking and terrorism in Central Asia is desirable.
• Experience with data visualization is desirable.
• Fluency in oral and written English and Russian is required.
• Knowledge of at least one of the local languages (Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, and/or Uzbek) is desirable.

Result of Service A. Description of the methodological approach for the collection of the required data set, analysis and drafting of the study. B. Commented structure of the study based on a review of available data and literature. C. Detailed mission plan (2 field missions for a maximum of 3 days/mission) based on the commented structure and information gaps identified. D. First draft of the study, including integration of comments by UNODC. E. Sharing and presentation of the draft report to Central Asia national authorities for comments. F. Final draft of the study, taking into account comments received from UNODC.

All expertise provided must be supported with related documentation, as well as a clear indication of sources/source materials, and conducted in close consultation with the UNODC staff.

Work Location home-based

Expected duration 1.11.2022-31.05.2023

Duties and Responsibilities 1. Background of the assignment

The international community has increasingly acknowledged and expressed its concern at the nexus between terrorism and multiple forms of organized crime, including trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), as a serious threat to peace, security and an obstacle to sustainable development. Terrorists utilize or benefit from organized crime to procure their material and other means to finance or support their activities. Illicitly trafficked and acquired SALW, their parts and components and ammunition, play a critical role as an enabler of armed violence, as funding source and as threat multiplier of terrorist groups acting alone or in concert, on a national, regional and global scale.

Recent developments in Afghanistan prompted by the retreat of foreign troops, the fall of the government and the seizure of power by the Taliban, have created a potential for unaccounted stockpiles of weapons to become the subject of trafficking inside Afghan territories and throughout neighbouring countries as transit points or final destinations. There is also an increased risk that part of these arms could find their way into the hands of terrorists.

The joint UNOCT and UNODC project “Addressing the terrorism-arms-crime nexus: Preventing and combatting the illicit trafficking of small-arms and light weapons and their illicit supply to terrorists - Supporting the implementation of SCR.2370/2017 and the Madrid Guiding Principles”, launched in January 2020 aims to enhance national legislative, strategic and operational capacities of target countries in Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to prevent, detect and counter the illicit trafficking and acquisition of firearms and the associated activities of terrorism and organized crime groups.

In 2011, UNODC launched the Global Firearms Programme (GFP) to assist Member States in preventing and countering transnational illicit trafficking in firearms through the ratification and implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition (UN Firearms Protocol), supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The GFP became UNODC Firearms Trafficking Section (FTS) in April 2022. FTS works on different complementary clusters, which include advocacy and awareness raising; legislative and policy development; technical assistance and capacity building; technical support in firearms control; international cooperation; research and analysis. Within the last cluster, the FTS monitors illicit firearms flows in support of reporting on SGD indicator 16.4.2 - Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments.

One of the underlying principles of UNODC’s initiative to monitor illicit firearms flows is that of bringing the data collected and analysed at global level back to its Member States, with a view to fostering the use of the data for strategic and operational purposes in the fight against illicit trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. In light of the above, as part of this project and in line with UNODC’s mandate, UNODC seeks to develop a sub-regional study on firearms trafficking and terrorism-SALW-organized crime nexus in, through and around Central Asia with a focus on weapons trafficking from Afghanistan into its neighbouring countries.

2. Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to develop a sub-regional study on firearms trafficking and terrorism-SALW-organized crime nexus in Central Asia and, where possible, Pakistan.

The report aims to support an increase of capacity for regional and international cooperation to counter trafficking of firearms and addressing preventing terrorist from acquiring those arms by identifying and, where possible, addressing possible gaps in data collection capabilities of various institutions in the target countries The report conclusions will include operational recommendations to relevant national authorities in the region and should lead to the development of targeted capacity building activities to overcome existing challenges in data collection, analysis and use as well as to better address the problem of illicit arms circulation, trafficking, and criminal use.

The study will focus on the transnational nature and routes used in firearms trafficking – as defined in Article 3 (e) of the UN Firearms Protocol – including scale, flows, actors, modus operandi, criminal context, underlying reasons for the illicit circulation in both the countries of origin and destination, and its links to terrorism and organized crime. The study will discuss the impact, challenges, and policy implications of the terrorism-arms-crime nexus in Central Asia. The study will also consider and reflect on the gender dimensions of the illicit circulation and trafficking in firearms in the region and their links to terrorism, by supporting the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.

The development of study will follow a mixed research methodology including qualitative research and quantitative research. This may include all or a combination of the following: (a) desk research and literature reviews; (b) semi-structured interviews; (c) use of standardized questionnaires; (d) analysis of relevant and exemplifying court cases; (e) engagement of communities of practitioners and/or relevant expert reference groups; (f) bilateral research meetings with key stakeholders; and (g) participation in, and contributions to, relevant external meetings or events on this or related thematic areas of research. The analysis will use UNODC firearms trafficking data collected via the Illicit Arms Flows Questionnaire (IAFQ), UN (UNOCT, UNODC, CTED and UNODA) data on organized crime and terrorism, complementary crime statistics including on other crimes committed with firearms, any other relevant data on legal and illicit arms, and related offences, data and information from previous research exercises, data and information exchanged during UN-organised meetings, as well as cases and information identified through online research and interviews. The study will also take into account relevant court cases to exemplify and further analyse data. Where possible, the issue paper will make reference or include summarized case studies. Relevant cases collected during the research could also be updated into SHERLOC as appropriate.

By relating global data and information, including those provided from countries outside the Central Asian region, and complementary data, the regional study will allow to analyze the current trafficking situation into, from and through the region. This analysis will include data on firearms detected in particular from Afghanistan which have links to the target sub-region.

3. Specific tasks to be performed by the Consultant

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Firearms Trafficking Section and in cooperation with the designated UNODC staff, the Consultant will:

i. Develop a methodology to collect the required data, conduct the analysis and draft the study. The methodology will:

a) Specify concise research questions that the study will aim to answer; b) Outline thematic areas the study can potentially focus on; c) Contain indicators that would substantiate an analysis of the outlined thematic areas; d) List the types of quantitative and qualitative data that will be taken into account, as well as the corresponding data sources (IAFQ, databases, interviews, etc.); e) For qualitative information to be obtained through interviews, explain the corresponding data collection methodology to ensure accuracy. f) Include the submission to UNODC of collected data and information for validation with Member States. g) Include a peer review process with renowned entities in the field and integration of possible relevant comments into the draft.

ii. Develop a commented structure for the study, which can be used as guideline when drafting the study.

The commented structure will:

a) Be based on a thorough analysis of the dataset listed under point 2; b) Take into account the identified research questions; c) Indicate the different chapters to be covered by the study; d) Contain potential hypothesis to be elaborated in the study; e) Indicate examples that can be highlighted as case studies/ text boxes; f) Indicate main findings and potential conclusions of the study.

iii. Keep track of and submit to UNODC all relevant data, information and material collected, including a written note of the interviews conducted, for its validation and integration in the global firearms database.

iv. After approval of the commented structure by UNODC, the consultant will draft the sub-regional study on firearms trafficking and terrorism-SALW-organized crime nexus in Central Asia and, where possible, Pakistan. The study will:

a) include an Executive Summary, Findings and recommendations; b) integrate comments provided by UNODC, and by experts consulted through a peer review process; c) contain relevant graphs, maps and, where appropriate, pictures for which the consultant or UNODC must have the copyright. d) be drafted in an accessible, neutral and professional style requiring minimal editing; e) contain footnotes and endnotes indicating data sources and respecting quotation rules and a complete bibliography. UNODC reserves the right to make any modifications and edits to the draft study deemed necessary for purposes of clarity, adapting to UN style, among others.

v. Present the draft report during a regional meeting for comments and to foster the exchange of firearms trafficking data among Central Asia countries’ authorities.

Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in international relations, international law, criminal law, criminal justice, criminal investigation or similar subject is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with (2) two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in criminal justice, research or teaching is required. Experience in scientific research (quantitative and qualitative research), including review of literature, is required. Experience on countering transnational organized crime, firearms trafficking, terrorism prevention or in international cooperation in criminal matters and closely related fields is required. Experience in areas related to the collection and analysis of data and in managing and analyzing complex, high-volume data from varying sources is required. Research skills and fluency in standard social science research protocols, methods and tools and ability to conduct independent research and analysis are required. Knowledge of relevant international and regional instruments and policies on firearms and ammunition in the context of Transnational Organized Crime is desirable. Experience in drafting analytical outputs on firearms trafficking and terrorism, particularly on Central Asia, is desirable. Experience with data visualization is desirable. Experience working with national authorities and conducting semi-structured interviews with national interlocutors is desirable. Experience producing analytical publications according to UN standards is desirable. Experience working in the Central Asia region is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English and Russian is required. Knowledge of at least one of the local languages (Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen and/or Uzbek) is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations Secretariat 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.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org