Programme Support Officer (Drug Control & Forensics)
Support drug control programme coordination and administration in Cairo, Egypt.
Overview
Support drug control programme coordination and administration in Cairo, Egypt.
You have:
- Minimum 2 years of experience in programme and project coordination, administration, or technical assistance.
- Experience in managing documentation, reporting, and communications in an international context.
- Excellent analytical, drafting, and reporting skills in English and Arabic languages, especially for official written communications in Arabic, is required.
- Previous experience in the UN system or other international development organizations is an asset.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to produce high-quality outputs under pressure.
- Ability to work independently and proactively with minimal supervision.
- Sound understanding of the political, social, and cultural context of the MENA region is an asset.
- Experience in ERP systems is desirable, including the creation and tracking of requisitions.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Solid computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications and virtual collaboration platforms.
Contract
This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.
This United Nations Volunteer (UNV) assignment is based within the UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA), based in Cairo, Egypt. ROMENA oversees UNODC’s technical cooperation across 18 countries in the region, promoting balanced, evidence-based, and human rights–compliant approaches to drug control, crime prevention, and criminal justice reform.
The assignment supports the Regional Programme for Drug Control and Forensics, implemented under the UNODC Regional Framework for the Arab States (2023–2028). This programme aims to strengthen the drug problem response in the region, with a human rights and people centered approach, and including research, prevention, access to treatment, rehabilitation, reduction of harm caused by drug use, supply chain of controlled and non-controlled substances, as well as supply and institutional capacities in the region, while promoting regional cooperation and operational coordination between Member States.
The UN Volunteer will work directly under the supervision of the Regional Programme Coordinator (Drug Control and Forensics) and will play a key role in coordinating programme activities, managing documentation, facilitating communication and liaison across ROMENA field offices offices. The assignment provides an opportunity to contribute to UNODC’s strategic and technical work in promoting balanced drug control policies and strengthening forensic and criminal justice systems across the MENA region.
Under the supervision of the Regional Programme Coordinator (Drug Control and Forensics) at UNODC ROMENA, the UN Volunteer will provide high-level executive, programmatic, and operational support to ensure effective coordination and delivery of the Regional Programme for Drug Control and Forensics. The incumbent will: • Provide executive and administrative support, including managing the coordinator’s agenda, correspondence, travel, and meetings. • Draft, edit, and finalize communications, reports, meeting minutes, and presentations in English and, where applicable, in Arabic (or French if applicable). • Maintain systematic records and archives of programme documents, reports, project files, and visibility materials. • Support programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, including work plans and budgets, and assist in ensuring compliance with UNODC and donor reporting requirements. • Assist in the preparation, review, and coordination of programme documentation, including project proposals, contribution agreements, reporting documents, visibility products, activity reports, planning documentation, progress reports, and any other document. • Support internal coordination across UNODC ROMENA sections and field offices, facilitating information exchange and operational consistency. • Assist in liaising with national, regional, and international partners, and contribute to the organization of technical meetings, workshops, and missions. • Support the monitoring of implementation progress and support the drafting of analytical briefs, background notes, and meeting summaries. • Support portfolio data collection, trend analysis, and visualization of programme results and indicators. • Ensure effective administrative and logistical support for events, missions, and procurement processes, in close collaboration with operations and finance teams. • Promote the principles of volunteerism through engagement with colleagues and local initiatives. • Provide logistical and operational support to the Drug Control Programme, including when required ERP requisitioning and financial workflows (shopping carts, service entry sheets, goods receipts), ensuring timely processing, documentation accuracy, and coordination with Operations, Procurement, and Finance units. • Perform other related duties as required.
o Inclusion: Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity. o Integrity: Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards. o Humility: Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others. o Humanity: Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. • UN Behaviours: o Analyse and Plan: Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action. o Deliver results with positive impact: Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves. o Adapt and Innovate: Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways. o Connect and Collaborate: Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN. o Learn and develop: Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others.
in programme and project coordination, administration, or technical assistance. • Experience in managing documentation, reporting, and communications in an international context. • Previous experience in the UN system or other international development organizations is an asset. • Proven ability to handle sensitive information with discretion, political awareness, and professionalism. • Excellent analytical, drafting, and reporting skills in English and Arabic languages, especially for official written communications in Arabic, is required. Knowledge of French is an asset. • Strong attention to detail and ability to produce high-quality outputs under pressure. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. • Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, including the capacity to manage competing priorities efficiently. • Solid computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, BI Power, SharePoint), and virtual collaboration platforms (Teams, Zoom); familiarity with database management and office technology equipment. • Ability to work independently and proactively with minimal supervision. • Sound understanding of the political, social, and cultural context of the MENA region is an asset. • Experience in ERP systems is desirable, including the creation and tracking of requisitions, service entry sheets, goods receipts, and vendor management. • Commitment to the values of volunteerism, integrity, and the United Nations system.
Cairo, Egypt is a family duty station with a wide range of services (health, education and leisure) and good living conditions. It has long been a center of the region’s political and cultural life, with high levels of tourism. Like other similar cities, Cairo offers good quality of life in terms of access to shopping centers, banks, medical services, educational facilities, cultural events, etc. The Arab Republic of Egypt has a unique geographical position in Northeast Africa, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and its connection to Sub Saharan Africa through the Nile Valley. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos
The UN Specialist Volunteer receives the following package: • Volunteer Living Allowance (USD 1,306.5/Month) • Entry Lump-Sum = USD 400 (one-time payment) • Exit Lump-Sum upon completion of contract. • Medical and life Insurance premium/Cigna (100%) and dependents policy. • Access to UNV E-Campus for training and learning including access to LinkedIn learning. Further entitlements and information available at: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a situation where you had to manage multiple competing priorities? | This assesses your multitasking abilities and organizational skills under pressure. | Provide a specific example that illustrates how you successfully prioritized tasks. |
| How do you ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information in your work? | This question evaluates your understanding of discretion and professionalism. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience working with international partners. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What methodologies do you use for data analysis and reporting? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Tell us about a time you contributed to a project that required detail-oriented work. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you handle feedback and criticism from team members? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use for effective communication in a diverse team? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Explain how you approach programme planning and evaluation. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |