Individual Contractor

Result of Service Performance indicators are the quality and appropriateness of specialized expertise timely and effectively provided; quality of the analysis, reports and recommendations produced; and the timely completion of tasks assigned.

• An outline of a desk review report produced;
• A first report with a desk review/analysis and recommendations on West Africa produced;
• A final report with recommendations and analysis on five West African countries produced;

• Support for the consultations with potential beneficiaries is provided.

  Work Location Home-based

  Expected duration This individual contractor assignment is for 40 working days over 4 months.

  Duties and Responsibilities BACKGROUND

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017 (A/RES/71/291). The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (e) ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

The Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets (thereafter “Vulnerable Targets Programme”) responds to a call by Member States, including through the General Assembly (GCTS and 7th review resolution A/RES/75/291) and the Security Council (resolutions 2341 (2017) and 2396 (2017); and the Security Council Madrid Guiding Principles on Foreign Terrorist Fighters and their 2018 Addendum), to enhance UN support to Member States to address gaps and challenges in protecting vulnerable targets, which include critical infrastructure and ‘soft’ targets. For example, the 2018 Addendum to the Madrid Guiding Principles (S/2018/1177) contains two specific recommendations (No. 50 and 51) to providing guidance to protect critical infrastructures and soft/vulnerable targets and underlines the need to deliver effective and targeted capacity development, training and other necessary resources, and technical assistance. The Vulnerable Targets Programme seeks to strengthen Member States’ capacity to prevent, protect, mitigate, investigate, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks against vulnerable targets, including urban centres and major touristic venues, religious sites, and the use of unmanned aircraft systems against vulnerable targets. The Programme is being implemented by UNOCT in partnership with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC) and the United Nations Interregional Criminal Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), as well as in consultation with INTERPOL.

In 2021, UNOCT developed a project with a focus on “Using behavioral insights to strengthen law enforcement capabilities to protect vulnerable targets against terrorist attacks” in the framework of the aforementioned Vulnerable Targets Programme. To multiply the impact, the project will leverage the functions and areas of specialization of the three UNOCT Programme Offices. The UNOCT Programme Office in Madrid specializes on the protection of critical infrastructure and “soft” targets against terrorist threats, in addition to preventing violent extremism through sports and safeguarding sport events, and the support for victims of terrorism. The International Hub on Behavioral Insights to Counter Terrorism in Doha seeks to apply behavioral approach and develop empirically validated interventions to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism. The UNOCT Programme Office in Rabat is a law enforcement training center to advance UNOCT’s counter-terrorism capacity-building efforts in Africa, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel. The three UNOCT Programme Offices will leverage each other’s functions and areas of specialization to multiply the impact of its assistance.

RATIONALE

The Individual contractor will be assigned to the UNOCT / SPIB / Special Projects Section / Vulnerable Targets Unit.

The purpose of this assignment is to provide specialized expertise to support the delivery of the inception phase of the UNOCT Doha-Madrid-Rabat Joint Project on “Using behavioral insights to strengthen law enforcement capabilities to protect vulnerable targets against terrorist attacks”. In close consultation with CTED, the individual contractor will conduct a gap analysis of the law enforcement capacity on the use of behavioral insights for the protection of vulnerable targets in West Africa and prepare recommendations for the selection of potential beneficiary countries.

The Join Doha-Madrid-Rabat Project seeks to: - build the capacities of law enforcement and security officials of requesting Member States to make use of the innovative approaches offered by behavioural science to strengthen prevention and crisis management in “soft targets” contexts, such as public venues and events; - have beneficiaries recognize behavioural insights as an important tool in analysing, designing and implementing solutions for the protection of vulnerable targets; and - contribute to the development of cooperative approaches involving both international cooperation and public-private partnerships to strengthen Member States’ efforts on vulnerable targets protection.

Behavioural insights can provide an important tool to relevant public and private actors responsible for the protection of vulnerable targets to be more effective in their work. As it has been identified after some terrorist attacks, a number of preventive measures could have been taken prior to terrorist attacks if certain suspicious behaviours of the perpetrators would have been flagged and addressed in a timely manner by relevant security actors. Besides preventative physical security measures, many “missed opportunities” identified in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on public places and venues are linked to human security shortcomings and include insufficient training, complacency, poor supervision, lack of capacity to identify suspicious behaviour, poor critical-thinking and decision-making skills in a specific emergency situation, lack of engagement of relevant private and civil society actors, etc. From a preventive approach, law enforcement officials in charge of the protection of vulnerable targets, and especially major public events, should be the primary beneficiaries of the insights that applied behavioural science brings.

WORK ASSIGNMENT

The Individual Contractor will work under the direct supervision of the SPS / Vulnerable Targets Programme Management Officer, and under the overall supervision of the Coordinator of the UN Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In close consultation with CTED, the Individual Contractor will be responsible for the delivery of the following outputs/products with a focus on West Africa: - Draft an outline of an analysis (i.e. a desk review report) of the law enforcement capacity on the use of the behavioural approach for vulnerable targets protection in West Africa (2-3 pages);

• Conduct an analysis (i.e. a desk review) of the law enforcement capacity on the use of the behavioural approach to safeguard vulnerable targets in West Africa and draft a report on potential beneficiary countries (15-20 pages).

The purpose of this desk review and report is to explore gaps and opportunities in West Africa and identify countries with the same level of competence on the application of behavioural insights which might benefit from and be interested in building or strengthening the capacity of its police and other relevant personnel on the application of behavioural insights for the protection of vulnerable targets against terrorist attacks.

• Conduct an in-depth analysis / desk review of the law enforcement capacity on the application of behavioural approaches and tools to improve the protection of vulnerable targets against terrorist attacks in five (5) countries and prepare a final report and recommendations (15-20 pages)

The purpose of this desk review and report is to deepen the understanding about gaps, challenges and opportunities in five (5) potential beneficiaries. The report should contain information on existing capacities, operational frameworks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), other procedures, mechanisms, relevant stakeholders, as well as gaps, challenges and opportunities for each potential beneficiary country.

• Support UNOCT in consultations with potential beneficiaries and relevant stakeholders during the contract duration, as required.

  Qualifications/special skills Competency: COMPETENCIES (include 3 competencies)

• Professionalism: Demonstrated professional competence and expertise in the fields of counter-terrorism, public security or related issues. Good understanding of the United Nations’ role in the field of counter-terrorism and knowledge of relevant counter-terrorism conventions, instruments and documents, in particular the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and documents. Has proven advanced drafting and analytical report writing skills. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to assist with data collection using various methods and conduct independent research and analysis. Is able to prepare external-facing communication products, including presentations and other materials. Ability to identify key issues, analyze, and participate in the resolution of key issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in social science such as international relations, security studies, political science, law, business administration, international relations or other related fields is required. Specialization or additional qualifications in security (e.g. counter-terrorism, national security, public security) will be an advantage. In the absence of an advanced university degree, the expert must have a Bachelor’s degree and an additional 2 years of demonstrated professional experience. Experience: Experience: A minimum of seven years of experience in counter-terrorism, law enforcement or public security. Knowledge of the use of behavioral insights by law enforcement and other security officials in the protection of critical infrastructure and soft targets are required. Demonstrated analytical skills, ability to conduct desk research and gaps analysis, and subsequent drafting of reports/technical documents is required. Proven experience in and knowledge about West Africa is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations and/or other international and regional organizations is an asset Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.

  Additional Information The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Candidates should list all work experience and diplomas in the relevant part of the application. Work experience and diplomas only mentioned in the cover letter will not be considered for screening purposes. Statements must include concrete start and end dates, detailed description of tasks and achievements and whether the experience was obtained in full-time or part-time. Candidates should note that eligibility and fees will be decided based on their submitted application only. There is no option to revise an application after submission.

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.