Duties and Responsibilities
Background of the assignment: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the Office of the UN Secretariat mandated to assist Member States in countering and preventing illicit drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism. Organized criminal groups are becoming increasingly poly-criminal, being involved in various crimes and trafficking different illicit goods and commodities. It is therefore crucial for States to develop regional and national whole-of-society strategies against organized crime that are comprehensive, coherent and evidence-based, tackling the structural drivers, root causes and enablers of organized crime, to complement crime-specific responses. The mandate of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in supporting States in this undertaking was reiterated by resolutions 10/4 and 11/2 adopted by Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (“UNTOC”, the “Organized Crime Convention” or the “Convention”). Translating the Convention into practice is the core principle of the UNODC Global Programme for Implementing the Organized Crime Convention. Under this Global Programme, UNODC has been supporting countries worldwide in developing comprehensive strategies against organized crime to implement UNTOC more effectively. In this regard, UNODC developed an Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit to support States in the development and implementation of strategies to prevent and combat organized crime. Relying on the provisions of UNTOC, the Toolkit provides a comprehensive framework and outlines a set of principles and guidelines for the formulation of strategies that are designed to respond to the full range of threats emanating from organized crime. Toolkit is aimed at establishing a comprehensive, system-wide approach encompassing the local, national, (sub-)regional and international levels, with a view to aligning collective efforts to respond to organized crime. In furtherance of the principle of leaving no one behind, the human rights and gender dimensions of the fight against transnational organized crime are mainstreamed in the Toolkit. The Toolkit is being completed by a number of regional policy briefs focused on strategic analysis and responses to the organized crime problem in several regions. While Uganda has taken important steps to address aspects of organized crime, it currently does not have a single, unified national strategy against organized crime. Instead, the response is articulated through a range of sector-specific national strategies, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and specialized task forces addressing discrete crime areas. These include the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Strategy, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, the National Action Plan for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, and conflict-related early warning and response frameworks. Although these instruments contribute to addressing organized criminal activity, they operate largely in parallel and are not consolidated within a comprehensive, overarching framework aligned to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. This fragmented landscape demonstrates the need for a coherent national strategy to align existing efforts, address cross-cutting organized crime threats, and strengthen whole-of-government and whole-of-society responses. In February 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda requested UNODC’s support to develop a national strategy against organized crime. In this context, UNODC is looking for a consultant to support the development of a national strategy against organized crime in Uganda. Purpose of the assignment The purpose of the assignment is to support the development of a national strategy against organized crime for Uganda, based on the UNODC Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit, in coordination with UNODC and with the guidance and supervision of field- and headquarters-based programme staff Expected tangible and measurable output(s)/deliverable(s) To ensure the strategic analysis of organized crime in Uganda is successfully conducted and completed in a timely manner (including methodology, desk research, stakeholder consultations). To ensure National workshops are successfully facilitated with all relevant national counterparts. To draft national strategy is produced with objectives, sub-objectives and activities following the approach of UNODC Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit and based on national priorities. The consultant will undertake tasks as detailed under Sections 3 and 4 of these Terms of Reference. The consultant will work from their own facilities and using their own ITC equipment. As required for the performance of tasks and as far as possible, UNODC will provide the consultant with access to the relevant substantive materials, as well as with access to UNODC facilities and offices, as necessary. The consultant may undertake travel, as requested and authorized by UNODC. Travel costs and related daily subsistence allowance (DSA) are to be provided for each trip and in accordance with the UN travel rules and regulations. Where extraneous circumstances render required travel and subsequent delivery of an output(s) impossible during specified dates, such changes will be made to the individual workplan, in consultation with the direct supervisor and programme staff, as to reschedule the delivery of an output(s) retaining the number of workdays within the period of assignment. The consultant shall ensure that all materials developed, including the Strategy, as well as concept notes and agendas, substantive presentations, and other assignment-related written outputs as relevant and appropriate, integrate gender and human rights dimensions of organized crime and impacts of proposed interventions on women, men, youth, and children. The consultant shall ensure that all written outputs are developed in line with the UNODC Toolkit on Mainstreaming Gender and Human Rights in the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Every effort should be made by the consultant, in coordination with the programme staff, to proactively ensure diversity of the end beneficiaries and equal participation of all genders in the proposed activities.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminology, law, social sciences, business administration, or related discipline 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. • At least 7 years of relevant demonstrated experience related to research and analysis, including specific experience in conducting research into organized crime and related crimes is required • Proven ability to produce high quality reports of publishable standard, including the use of visual presentation of data/ analysis is required • Strong understanding of organized transnational crime, including its drivers, markets, vulnerabilities, solutions, key stakeholders’ roles, as well as emerging issues, policies, and strategies related to organized crime is desirable • Ability to interact with government agencies and other relevant stakeholders to operate effectively; establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations is desirable . • Proven experience in conducting assessments/gap analysis on organized crime within Uganda or in Eastern Africa is required
