International Consultant - Legal and Policy Work

Provide legal and policy guidance on migrant smuggling and trafficking issues.

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UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

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Application deadline 6 months ago: Thursday 27 Nov 2025 at 04:59 UTC

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Overview

Provide legal and policy guidance on migrant smuggling and trafficking issues.

You have:

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminal law, criminology and/or related social science, international relations, political science, law, public administration or a related field is required.
  • A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  • A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in fields related to organized crime and especially to trafficking in persons or the smuggling of migrants is required.
  • A sound understanding of the international framework against organized crime, particularly with regard to smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons is required;
  • Experience in donor reporting is desirable;
  • Experience in contributing to reports on trafficking in persons or the smuggling of migrants is desirable.
  • Experience in liaising and coordinating work with various stakeholders, including government officials and civil society stakeholders, is desirable.
  • Experience in servicing inter-governmental processes, organization of meetings and familiarity with the modalities of international organizations, particularly in the fields of smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, is desirable.
  • Fluency in oral and written English is required.
  • Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

a) Documents of outcome documents from first EGM on SOM legislative guidance, research and documents of inputs to first draft of regional guidance (for the MENA region) on migrant smuggling and related legal and policy research outputs. b) Inputs to internal and donor reports on the SOM guidance c) Concept note and agenda and supporting documents for 2nd EGM d) Review of draft laws in the MENA region

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

21.12.2025-28.2.2026

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Representative for the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA), and direct supervision of the Regional Programme Coordinator (Anti-Human Trafficking & Migrant Smuggling), UNODC/ROMENA, the consultant will perform the following specific tasks:  Provide knowledge relevant to the normative and policy work of UNODC against trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling within the overall framework of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, both supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC);  Provide support to the senior consultant, and to the Normative and Policy Team broadly in the development of the new global and regional legal and policy guidance on/related to the smuggling of migrants (i.e. the model law and legislative guide on migrant smuggling and its regional adaptation for the Middle East North Africa Region). This will include desk review, legal research, drafting of specific sections as allocated, supporting further consultations and expert group meetings and global and regional levels.  Provide logistical, legal, policy and reporting support to counter-migrant smuggling legislative and policy consultations and workshops in the Middle East and North Africa region, while collating relevant information for the further development of global guidance on the smuggling of migrants.  Provide support to UNODC’s participation in the UN Network on Migration at the global level including written outputs and joint activities.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminal law, criminology and/or related social science, international relations, political science, law, public administration or a related field is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in fields related to organized crime and especially to trafficking in persons or the smuggling of migrants is required. A sound understanding of the international framework against organized crime, particularly with regard to smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons is required; Experience in donor reporting is desirable; Experience in contributing to reports on trafficking in persons or the smuggling of migrants is desirable. Experience in liaising and coordinating work with various stakeholders, including government officials and civil society stakeholders, is desirable. Experience in servicing inter-governmental processes, organization of meetings and familiarity with the modalities of international organizations, particularly in the fields of smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience with legal frameworks related to human trafficking? This assesses your knowledge of relevant legal standards. Provide specific examples of your involvement with pertinent laws or guidelines.
What methods do you use to coordinate with diverse stakeholders? This evaluates your stakeholder engagement skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you approach writing formal reports for donors? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you share an example of your legal research experience in organized crime? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What insights do you have on the international framework against migrant smuggling? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe your experience organizing international meetings. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure compliance with various regulatory frameworks when drafting reports? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to support a team in developing policy guidance? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 6 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: careers.un.org