National Consultant to Conduct a rapid threat assessment on violent extremism in high-risk communities

Result of Service 1. Develop a detailed inception report and work plan for the consultancy.

2. Conduct an inception meeting to discuss key issues to be considered by the assessment.

3. Conduct a desk review and analysis of available information relating to PCVE, including review of key documents

4. Conduct interviews with key stakeholders

5. Present the draft report at stakeholder consultative and validation meeting.

6. Submit final assessment report

7. Tailored training materials on PCVE in high-risk communities

8. Establish a dialogue platform with CSOs focused on policy discussions relating to the PCVET Strategy.

9. Support CSOs to design and implement evidence-based practices/programmes to prevent violent extremism in high-risk communities.

10. Final assignment report highlighting main deliverables, materials developed, challenges, risks and recommendations.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration September - December

Duties and Responsibilities BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) provides technical assistance related to combating terrorism, organized crime, corruption, and drugs to Member States. This assistance also supports States in strengthening criminal justice and health systems and to ratify and successfully implement international conventions and protocols, in compliance with the rule of law and human rights.

In Uganda, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is implementing a project titled, “Strengthening efforts to Prevent Violent Extremism and enhance Human Rights Safeguards in Uganda” The objective of the programme is to support the Government of Uganda mount an effective response to preventing and countering violent extremism in Uganda and build resilience against radicalization to violence. In line with the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and other relevant international instruments.

UNODC’s technical assistance in Uganda is aligned with the Regional Programme on Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in Eastern Africa under UNODC-Regional Office for East Africa (ROEA), endorsed by the Government of Uganda in 2015. The Programme comprises five Sub- Programmes addressing (1) Countering Transnational Organized Crime and Trafficking, (2) Countering Corruption (3) Terrorism Prevention (4) Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and (5) Prevention of Drug Use, Treatment and Care of Drug Use Disorders and HIV and AIDS Prevention and Care. These Programmes contribute to Uganda’s United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework

(2021-2025) and are aligned with the National Development Plan III of Uganda as well as contribution to the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) 16 & 17.

Implementation of the project “Strengthening efforts to Prevent Violent Extremism and enhance Human Rights Safeguards in Uganda”. and other initiatives under the Regional Programme will greatly focus on the Strengthening Relevant National Institutions Capacity at all Levels to Prevent Incidents of Violent Extremism and to Enhance their Capability to Combat Terrorism and Organized Crime. This requires an in-depth analysis of the Country’s vulnerability to emerging and existing threats from terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime groups. This will enable the country is to enhance its security and Defence capacity, including investment in peace and security reform.

In view of the above, UNODC seeks the services of a consultant to support the Programme Office in Uganda (POUGA) to Conduct a rapid threat assessment on violent extremism in high-risk communities and develop recommendations on tailored responses to the critical push and pull factors. The consultant will develop guidance for assessing and responding to the risks and needs of persons in high risk communities and develop country specific recommendations that would be the basis to develop initiatives to respond to the identified needs and challenges. The content of the final report will serve as background information at a national workshop and subsequent dialogues and training sessions, which will take place following the study and bring together relevant stakeholders, including legislators, policymakers, prosecutors, judicial officer and civil society, among others. The objective of the workshops and capacity building sessions will be to exchange information on practices and challenges as well as to identify priorities for reform and technical assistance needs.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Office, the Consultant will conduct a rapid threat assessment on violent extremism in high-risk communities and develop recommendations on tailored responses to the critical push and pull factors that will be the basis to develop initiatives to respond to the identified needs and challenges. The objective of the assignment is to gain baseline data that will guide the planning of future UNODC technical assistance. He/She will facilitate ongoing dialogue sessions in support to the programme “Strengthening efforts to Prevent Violent Extremism and enhance Human Rights Safeguards in Uganda” and other programmes, projects and activities.

The task of the consultant will include; - Preparation and presentation of an inception report outlining the conceptualization, methodology and outputs of the assignment. - Desk Research of Reports and key documentation collected, reviewed, and analyzed in support of the study. - Conduct primary research and hold relevant visits, interviews, and other necessary/relevant engagements with key stakeholders and targeted high-risk communities. - Convene field consultations, consultative meetings and focus group discussion with all relevant key stakeholders supporting the peacebuilding process. - Draft a final report and present it to the programme team and relevant stakeholders. - Develop tailored training materials on prevention & combating Violent Extremism in high-risk communities, conduct community dialogues/engagements and training sessions with the targeted high-risk community.

SPECIFIC TASKS TO BE PERFORMED BY THE CONSULTANT:

Under the overall supervision of the UNODC Head of Office in Uganda, the consultant will be responsible for the following set of activities as required: 1. Develop a detailed inception report and work plan for the consultancy. 2. Conduct an inception meeting to discuss key issues to be considered by the assessment and to confirm and finalize the methodology and work plan. 3. Conduct a desk review of available information relating to PCVE, including review of key documents, analysis of statistics and relevant literature. 4. Conduct interviews with key stakeholders from National Technical Committee on PCVET, the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), Uganda Police Force (UPF), Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Legal Aid institutions, Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) and Ministry of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, Development Partners and Donors (including UNODC and UN agencies), and other relevant stakeholders at national and sub-national level. 5. Present the reports at stakeholder consultative and progress review meetings, including a validation meeting. 6. Final report incorporating comments made at the different consultative stakeholder and validation meetings submitted. 7. Tailored training materials on PCVE in high-risk communities developed, and dialogues and community training sessions held. 8. Dialogue platform with CSOs focused on policy discussions relating to the PCVET Strategy established. 9. Support CSOs design and implement evidence-based practices/programmes to prevent violent extremism in high-risk communities

Qualifications/special skills Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is required in addition to a minimum of two years of relevant experience in criminology, law, social sciences, business administration, or related discipline; a combination of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. A minimum of two years of relevant experience in criminology, law, social sciences, business administration, or related discipline; a combination of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. Demonstrated knowledge of the current state of peace and security in Uganda and the region. Strong research and coordination skills, analytical capacities and ability to synthesize complex inputs into coherent support Ability to develop practical and user-friendly tools/policy in the field of prison and penal reform Extensive knowledge of the strategic and policy directions of prison trends globally and experience in developing national correctional policies, programmes and reform processes in the corrections sector Understanding of international standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, in particular, the Nelson Mandela Rules, preferably complemented by exposure to delivering technical assistance on prison management–related issues at the international level, including in low- and middle-income countries

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English 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.