Result of Service

The consultant is responsible for developing Best-Practice Guide on International Cooperation in Online Child Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (OCSEA) Investigations, with measures for strengthened response. The best practice guide must use the concepts of Accuracy, Brevity, Clarity, and objective Distance. The best practice guide should be of a high standard and demonstrate expertise in regulations on cryptocurrencies, deep knowledge of the region and the ability to prepare clear, concise, easy-to-understand analyses for non-expert policymakers. The customer of the best practice guide will be, primarily, non-expert senior policymakers – therefore jargon must be kept to a minimum and, where used, clearly and concisely explained. The best practice guide must be apolitical and neutral. The consultant is expected to provide all deliverables no later than 20 December 2025. All official travel expenses and arrangements will be covered by UNODC. One-time payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of all four deliverables identified below. Del A: Design Inception note with detailed methodology, outline, detailed workplan for the development of best practice guide (3 working days/ 10 November 2025) Del B: Desk review and mapping of the existing international mechanism and literature review addressing and evidencing all of the specific tasks identified in paragraph 3 of the Terms of Reference above (3 working days/ 14 Nov 2025) Del C: First draft of practical step-by-step best practice guide for key actions addressing and evidencing all of the specific tasks identified in paragraph 3 of the Terms of Reference above (12 working days/ 5 Dec 2025) Del D: Submission and presentation of the second draft of best practice guide, addressing and evidencing all of the specific tasks identified in paragraph 3 of the Terms of Reference above incorporating UNODC’s feedback in Deliverable C. (3 working days/ 12 Dec 2025) Del E: Submission and presentation of the final best practice guide and policy brief summarizing key recommendations incorporating UNODC’s feedback in Deliverable C and D. (4 working days/ 20 Dec 2025)

Work Location

Home based with travel if required

Expected duration

1 November - 20 December 2025 (25 working days)

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Programme on Cybercrime (GLOX76) supports countries in strengthening capacities to prevent and combat cybercrime and has a particular focus on capacities in the areas of cybercrime and abuse prevention, cybercrime investigations and electronic evidence, and international cooperation in criminal matters involving electronic evidence crime and recover the proceeds of crime. Southeast Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) has seen dramatic increases in the use of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) internally, as well as a trend of foreign users requesting live-streaming online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) from victims in SEAP. Reports show hundreds of thousands of children being targeted through live streams with Law Enforcement in SEAP increasingly reporting live-streaming-related OCSE reports to UNODC. To enhance global and regional responses, UNODC seeks to develop a Best-Practice Guide on International Cooperation in OCSEA Investigations, offering practical tools, operational procedures, and gender-responsive guidance to strengthen investigative collaboration and victim protection measures. Under the supervision of the Regional Cybercrime Coordinator, the consultant will work closely with the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Digital Forensics Expert) for the design of a best practice guide on International Cooperation in Online Child Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (OCSEA) Investigations, with measures for strengthened response based on the agreed timeline. Under the supervision of the Regional Cybercrime Coordinator and the Cybercrime Programme Officer (Digital Forensics Expert), based in Bangkok working in close consultation with UNODC staff, in particular cybercrime, law enforcement and prosecutorial experts, the consultant will perform the selected activities according to the above-mentioned background of assignment with the following tasks: It is expected that, for the development of the best practice guide content, the consultant must: Mapping and Assessment: 1. Conduct a comprehensive mapping and assessment of existing international cooperation mechanisms relevant to OCSEA investigations. 2. Identify challenges, bottlenecks, and good practices in cross-border OCSEA investigations. Thematic Chapters: 3. Prepare thematic chapters (in English), structured around, which, among others, should include but not be limited to the following (subject to discussion between the Consultant and Supervisor)  Executive Summary and Key Recommendations  Introduction and Context  Overview of international cooperation frameworks and Legal pathways  Child and gender sensitive principles in OCSEA cross-border investigations  Step-by-step Standard Operating Procedures for key actions (example: rapid evidence preservation, expedited disclosure requests, service provider cooperation and data requests, victim identification and tracing, cross-border referral, joint and parallel investigations)  Case studies (regional and global examples)  Cooperation with Technology Companies and Private Sector Entities  Key findings and conclusion  Bibliography  Annexes 4. Develop an Inception Report with detailed methodology, structure of the guide, workplan and proposed timeline. 5. Agree on outline and structure with UNODC prior to drafting. 6. Review academic and institutional publications, typology reports, and existing international guidance relevant to the thematic. 7. Analyze data and materials provided by UNODC. 8. Develop a practical, step-by-step evidence-based guide and SOPs (approximately 25–30 pages, excluding annexes) for cross-border OCSEA investigations. 9. Design a practical, evidence-based best practice guide to strengthen international cooperation in OCSEA investigations. 10. Design the guide with concrete measures to improve victim identification, referral and protection. 11. Include and develop maps, diagrams, and charters, when possible. 12. Prepare a 2 – 3 pages policy brief summarizing key findings, challenges and actionable recommendations 13. Ensure the use of footnotes and references according to the APA guidelines, or any other being systematic. 14. All expertise provided must be supported with related documentation (publications and other relevant materials, including typologies reports, and online and printed resources), as well as a clear indication of sources/source materials. Note: the consultant must clearly highlight any information which the originator has not allowed to be placed in the public domain. Note: the best practice guide must be of approximately 25 - 30 pages long, excluding annexes.

Qualifications/special skills

 Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in law, criminology, criminal justice, child protection, computer science, digital forensics, or related field is required.  A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in OCSEA investigations and/or international cooperation in criminal matters for OCSEA is required.  Demonstrated experience in developing operational guidance or SOPs for investigators/prosecutors and working with international organizations is required.  Strong understanding of child-sensitive, gender-responsive approaches — experience working on girls’ protection is desirable.  Track record of multi-stakeholder coordination including law enforcement, child protection agencies and technology companies is desirable.  Prior work in technical assistance, cybercrime, or child protection capacity-building is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required for this position. Knowledge of another United Nations official 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.