Project Associate (SC7)

This position is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The incumbent will work, for administrative issues, under the overall guidance of the UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer based in Vienna, Austria and under the direct supervision of the UNODC National Programme Officer based in Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA), and in cooperation with the designated UNODC staff. The incumbent will serve as the Project Associate supporting the implementation of the Global Firearms Programme (GLOX34) in Central Asia.

In 2011, UNODC launched the Global Firearms Programme (GFP) to assist Member States in preventing and countering transnational illicit trafficking in firearms through the ratification and implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition (FP), supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The Programme develops around different complementary clusters, which include advocacy and awareness raising; legislative and policy development; technical assistance and capacity building; technical support in firearms control; international cooperation; research and analysis.

The international community has increasingly acknowledged and expressed its concern at the nexus between terrorism and multiple forms of organized crime, including trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), as a serious threat to peace, security and an obstacle to sustainable development. Terrorists utilize or benefit from organized crime to procure their material and other means to finance or support their activities. Illicitly trafficked and acquired SALW, their parts and components and ammunition, play a critical role as an enabler of armed violence, as funding source and as threat multiplier of terrorist groups acting alone or in concert, on a national, regional and global scale. In practice, however, the multiple threats posed by terrorism, organized crime and the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in SALW tend to be addressed in isolation from each other both at policy and operational levels.

Central Asian countries have affirmed their political engagement to fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the UN Security Council resolutions against terrorism, including the UNSCR 2370 (2017) on preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons. To this end, they developed and adopted, in November 2011, at a high level meeting held in
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, a Joint Plan of Action for the Implementation of the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, which reflects the broad and comprehensive Global Strategy and explicitly recognizes the existence of interlinkages between terrorism and organized crime, money laundering, drug and human trafficking, which need to be addressed.
As a response to these transnational threats, a project on “Addressing the terrorism-arms-crime nexus: Preventing and combatting the illicit trafficking of small-arms and light weapons and their illicit supply to terrorists – Supporting the implementation of SCR.2370/2017 and the Madrid Guiding Principles, Phase II”, was developed jointly by the United Nations Counter Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its Global Firearms Programme.
The overall objective of the project is to address the terrorism-arms-crime nexus, by enhancing criminal justice responses to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of SALW and to disrupt the illicit supply of such arms to terrorist and organized crime groups. The specific objective of the project is to support the criminal justice system to counter illicit firearms trafficking and related offences in the CA countries.
 

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

Project management:

•    Assist the National Programme Officer in day-to-day support of planning, monitoring and implementation of UNODC’s project “Addressing the terrorism-arms-crime nexus: Preventing and combatting the illicit trafficking of small-arms and light weapons and their illicit supply to terrorists – Supporting the implementation of SCR.2370/2017 and the Madrid Guiding Principles, Phase II”;
•    Review, analyze and assist in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals related to the activities under the Global Firearms Programme;
•    Research and compile information/data on specific programme activities and support writing periodic reports.

Budget management:

•    Support the National Programme Officer in the elaboration of programme/project budgets and support the utilization of the procedures and systems for the appropriate financial control on programme implementation;
•    Monitor project expenditures against approved work plans in Umoja and keep track of project expenditure per activity and donor/pledge ID, status of implementation and ensure compliance with United Nations financial rules and regulations; initiate project and/or budget revisions as required; ensure necessary approval and entry in Umoja; initiate financial authorizations for expenditures;
•    Assist in the preparation and analysis of budget proposals for the programmes/projects and individual regional/country level budget segments; provide assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines; verify availability of funds;
•    Provide assistance on reporting requirements, guidelines, rules and procedures and ensure completeness and accuracy of data submitted;
•    Liaise and work collaboratively with the Programme Assistant and the Finance Assistant of the Global Firearms Programme based in Vienna.

 Event Management:

•    Provide budget estimates and support for the organization of international, regional and national conferences, meetings, seminars and workshops by liaising with national authorities of the countries concerned as well as administrative and financial departments, regarding hotel reservations, DSA payments and preparing documents such as agendas, lists of attendees and certificates;
•    Organize all personnel travel arrangements in Umoja, creation of Umoja authorization of pay disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services, and support follow-up actions to close the events’ commitments administratively and financially; etc.
•    Prepare contributions for implementing GFP’s Communication and Visibility Plan;
•    Handle arrangement for printing and translation as necessary; coordinate shipment arrangements, courier services, etc.

Administrative support:

•    Provide administrative support to the Global Firearms Programme staff based in Central Asia related to the administration of the project activities, more specifically in regard to the: human resources activities, including travel and training, monitoring of contract expiry dates, recruitment, performance appraisal, separation of staff members etc., which are closely in line with the United Nations regulations/rules, and relevant Administrative Instructions and procedures;
•    Draft correspondence and communication for specific aspects of the project;
•    Organize both incoming and outgoing correspondence, including the establishment of a log/ registry system and filing;
•    Support organization of the field missions and coordination of the official meetings;
•    Provide guidance and training to new/junior staff;
•    Perform other related duties, as required;
•    Perform other tasks and assignments as necessary.
 

Competencies

Core Values:

Integrity: Demonstrate the values of the United Nations in daily activities and behaviours. Stands by decisions that are in the Organization’s interest, even if they are unpopular.

Professionalism: Substantive experience in technical and administrative functions (e.g., administrative and budget programme), familiarity with the relationship between business objectives and operations;

Respect to Diversity: Work effectively with people from all backgrounds. Do not discriminate against any individual or group.

Core Competencies:

Communication: Ability to write in clearly and concisely. Possession of effective verbal and written communication skills.

Client Orientation: Establish and sustain effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and 
external clients and respond to client needs promptly. Organize and prioritize work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

Planning and Organizing: Sound organizational skills and time management skills, ability to prioritize own work programme and to work independently or with minimum supervision, ability to deliver assignments in a timely manner.

Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

•        Reliable administrative and financial support as per the above description of duties and responsibilities to the National Programme Officer and Global Firearms Program’s delegated staff in UNODC HQ Vienna for the implementation of project activities provided throughout the assignment;
•    Assistance to the National Programme Officer in maintaining and managing project budget and any other financial/administrative reports provided;
•        Programme/project budget maintained and managed and any other financial/administrative reports provided as per request or agreed workplan;
•    Administrative and financial reports provided in a timely and satisfactorily manner;
•    Contacts with project partners and regional/national counterparts maintained;
•    Meetings and other activities relating to the project implementation coordinated;
•    All duties and responsibilities performed in a satisfactorily manner according to the project workplan.

Required Skills and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and/or Social Sciences or related field is desirable.
 

Experience:

At least 3 years of relevant experience in administration and/or programme support service or other related field is required;
Knowledge of Umoja SAP/IBM Lotus Notes and proven hands on experience with Umoja (SAP) is desirable;
Knowledge of UNODC/UN administrative rules and procedures is an asset
Excellent IT knowledge, including word processing, database applications, presentation software, and internet is required.
 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Russian with excellent routine correspondence drafting skills is required. Knowledge of Uzbek is desirable.

Computer skills

• Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint is required.

Others:

Good communication, organizational capacities and problem-solving skills are desirable. Knowledge of various administrative procedures of the United Nations system and in particular, UNODC, would be desirable.