National Research Expert

UNODC CMR organization mission TBD

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both societies at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.
In most cultures, volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.
In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.
The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 and in Vienna, Austria. UNODC is s a world leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. It operates through 54 regional offices, covering more than 150 countries. Its regional office for Western and Central Africa (ROSEN) is located in Dakar, Senegal and has been active in the region for more than 20 years. Currently ROSEN covers 22 countries and has established 13 field offices.

The Research and Awareness Unit produces evidence-based analysis on drugs and crime in West and Central Africa to inform policy making. The Unit works with member states to develop their capacity to produce, collect, share and analyze drugs and crime related data.

As part of the Research and Awareness Unit, the National Research Expert will develop, organize, implement and evaluate activities under a project on trafficking in medical products in Central Africa. The National Research Expert will be based at the UNODC Country Office in Cameroun in Yaoundé.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Research Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV National Research Expert will:
Organization and support training activities:
- Coordinate and deliver the organization of national and regional workshops aimed at strengthening the capacity of the project stakeholders on the production of data relating to drugs and crime, in particular the trafficking of medical products.

Data collection and analysis:
- Conduct fact-finding missions on medical product trafficking in target countries (Cameroon and neighboring countries, to be determined);
- Conduct research interviews and transcribe these interviews;
- Collect data and official documents (regulations, court decisions, investigation reports, etc.) from law enforcement, judicial and health authorities, and centralize them in data collection tools and other research databases.

Establishment, structuring and evaluation of focal point capacities:
- Participate in needs assessments for capacities of national and regional and regional structures involved in combatting drugs and crime, in particular trafficking in medical products. The consultant will play a key role in establishing, structuring and monitoring the network of focal points and/or coordination committees at national level, while ensuring that they are set up and function properly to strengthen data production.

Coordination and liaison with stakeholders:
- Liaise with law enforcement agency focal points, health authorities, pharmaceutical regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders at national level, facilitating the coordination of data collection and sharing efforts. The consultant will ensure smooth communication with the regional office research team and between national and regional stakeholders, and the proper coordination of training and research activities.

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active team member of the UNODC Regional Office for West and Central Africa, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNODC and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
o Stakeholder consultation: Key stakeholders are consulted as part of the mapping and capacity assessment, facilitating a thorough understanding of the local context and dynamics on drugs and crime, particularly the trafficking of medical product trafficking.
o Contribution to the production of an inception report on trafficking in medical products: An initial report is produced, identifying the national and regional structures and focal points needed to combat trafficking in medical products.
o Identification and establishment of focal points: Focal points or coordinating committees are identified and/or established to ensure a collaborative and structured approach to data collection and production.
o Production and collection of data and official documents: in close collaboration with national authorities, data on drugs and crime, particularly trafficking in medical products, is produced and collected using the tools developed under the project. The number of national data submissions increases, and a significant percentage of these submissions will be deemed sufficient according to UNODC quality standards, thus reinforcing the integrity of the information collected. Key documents that could be useful for the study, such as regulations, court rulings and investigation reports, are collected and shared on a regular basis.
o Organization of field missions and interviews: Research missions arecarried out to collect data, verify information and document evidence, including on the trafficking of medical products. Interviews will be conducted with stakeholders and transcribed in detail.
o Organization and facilitation of training workshops: 1/ A capacity-building workshop is organized in Cameroun and at least one other neighboring country, adapted to the national context of CEMAC member states. This workshop will cover : a/ Knowledge of international, regional and national legal frameworks relating to the trafficking of medical products; b/ Joint identification, classification and detection skills; d/ Data production and collection skills. 2/ A regional workshop is organized, focusing on experience sharing and data analysis between CEMAC member states' focal points on trafficking in medical products, in order to produce and collect data, adopt a common methodology, and collectively produce knowledge.
o Production of activity reports: The consultant contributes to the drafting of activity reports to synthesize the progress and results of the project, thus ensuring adequate documentation and effective monitoring of the activities carried out.
o Collaboration and coordination: Regular liaison and coordination is established with focal points and coordinating committees, fostering a collaborative framework for data collection and production, in particular to facilitate joint identification of seized medical products. Close collaboration is maintained with other researchers and the UNODC national offices present in the target countries to ensure harmonization of activities. Constant communication with the regional office research team and other UNODC experts is maintained..
o A gender perspective is integrated into the project across all its components, including participation in project activities and the production, collection and analysis of gender and sex-disaggregated data.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed