National Policy and Capacity Building Expert Consultant for Treatment and Support for PWUDs in Prison

Result of Service The purpose of the assignment is to provide policy and expert advice to UNODC Programme Office in the Philippines and its research team towards strategies and reforms in health and drug treatment and support in facilities housing persons deprived of liberty (PDL). In addition, to design and deliver capacity-building activities for the senior executives of the Philippines prison administrative system and the drug policy and enforcement agencies, in particular the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Parole and Probations Administration, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and their training institutions. These will focus on providing Drug Dependence Treatment Interventions for Drug Users in Prison, in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules and towards a national prison drug strategy.

The expected output are the following'

a) Participate in an inception meeting with the UNODC team and the consultants on Prison Reform and COVID-19.

b) Provide UNODC and DDB with policy and operational recommendations on the need and opportunities to develop a Philippine prison drug strategy, aiming for a national level policy. This includes technical assistance on the development of a policy (Memorandum Circular or similar document) on treatment and care for jails nationwide, and consultation meetings with BJMP, Bucor and the Dangerous Drugs Board.

c) Design and deliver orientation sessions and roundtable discussions on “Drug Dependence Treatment: Interventions for Drug Users in Prison” for high-level or senior executives of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) with the aim of helping prisons and jail management to develop or enhance the capacity of services and quality and increasing the range of treatment options available. The materials developed can also be used with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC);

d) Design and deliver training-workshops for prison and jail officers directly in charge of health services, including drug treatment and care, on “Drug Dependence Treatment and Care: Interventions for Drug Users in Prison”, with the aim of helping them develop or enhance the capacity of services and increasing the range of treatment options available. Topics will include screening and assessment; treatment and care programme options for prisons; integration of treatment and care in prison with post-release community-based rehabilitation and recovery; key management issues in implementing interventions for PWUDs in prison, and international guidelines on treatment and care that align with the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Work Location Home Based

Expected duration April to June 2022 ( 11 working days)

Duties and Responsibilities UNODC is implementing three projects on Criminal Justice Reforms. One is the INL/US-supported project on Support to COVID-19 Infection Management for People in Prison and Persons with Drug Use Disorders. Another is the Australia-supported Strengthening the management of violent extremist prisoners and the compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules in the Philippines and a third is the Japan-funded Strengthening parole and probation management in the Parole and Probation Administration. All of these have interrelated objectives of helping the Philippine government reduce prison overcrowding through non-custodial measures and to provide human rights-based and evidence-informed/based services for persons deprived of liberty, in alignment with the Nelson Mandela Rules and the Bangkok Rules. In addition, this activity comes under the UN Joint Programme on Human Rights, component on Human Rights-Based Approach to Drug Control. One of the activities the strengthening the capacity of prison and jail staff and other government officials to support PDLs through viable and evidence-based treatment and care options for PDL who have a history of drug use and drug use disorders, and connecting them to community-based health workers, where applicable, to ensure continuity of care and/or treatment. This aims to contribute to the capability of prison and jail officials to conduct operations in accordance with the Nelson Mandela Rules and other relevant international standards and norms. This includes standards and norms for health care, including incorporation of drug dependency treatment and care for PWUD who are incarcerated.

This TOR supports the mandate and efforts of UNODC to combat transnational organized crime, corruption, and terrorism, including to provide technical assistance to national prison administrations to ensure the safe, secure, and humane custody of offenders. In the context of COVID-19, UNODC continues to focus on delivering vital assistance to those in need, including to people who use drugs and with drug use disorders in the Philippines. UNODC assists the Member States to provide to people in prison quality health care that is at least equivalent to the one available in the community and should have access to necessary health care services free of charge and without discrimination on the grounds of their legal status.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: Respectful of cultural and individual differences; gender-sensitive; adherence to human rights principles and international standards on drug dependence treatment and support; extensive knowledge of UNODC mandate on health and drugs and prison reforms. Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in psychiatric medicine or health sciences specializing in Addiction Sciences is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: A minimum of 15 years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience in the field of Drug Treatment and Support in Correctional Facilities, working with or studying PWUDs of different ages, from children and adolescents to adults and those with co-occurring disorders, is required.

Extensive experience in research and/or application of state-of-the-art options for drug treatment and care in prisons, including Therapeutic Communities, with special emphasis on alignment with the Nelson Mandela Rules and international standards on drug treatment and care is required.

Experience working with prison administrative systems is required; experience in contexts similar to the Philippines is desirable.

Experience as staff or consultant of UNODC and familiarity with its mandate is desirable Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official 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.