Programme Specialist

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. Established in 1997, UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.
Throughout West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, transnational trafficking has permeated stable governance and the rule of law, leading to high levels of violence, intimidation and homicides. Regional countries have become key points of transit, and even of destination, for drug trafficking routes with organized crime groups capitalizing on weak governance and prevalent corruption.
The global and evolving nature of transnational organised crime groups presents a major challenge to law enforcement and judicial agencies worldwide. Their capacity to circumvent law enforcement and infiltrate state institutions renders their dismantlement and the prevention of their activities immensely complex, impeding police operations and criminal investigations as well as subverting criminal justice systems.
To address these threats, UNODC, in collaboration with INTERPOL is implementing the Global Programme CRIMJUST “Strengthening criminal investigation and criminal justice cooperation along drug trafficking routes”, funded by the European Union and the United States. CRIMJUST seeks to combat the flow of illicit drugs by enhancing law enforcement and judicial counter-narcotic strategies beyond interdiction activities and by fostering transnational responses targeting each stage of the drug supply chain.

The United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) was established as a consequence to the General Assembly Resolution 45/179 of 21 December, 1990 with the responsibility of coordinating all drug control activities within the United Nations system. In 1997, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established through a merger between the UNDCP and the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention, and is "mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations". The mission of UNODC is to contribute to the achievement of security and justice for all by making the world safer from crime, drugs and terrorism. The activities of UNODC are based on three pillars: (i) research and analysis (evidence–based policies); (ii) establishment of international norms and standards (UN Conventions); and (iii) capacity-building through technical assistance. The mandate of UNODC derives from several UN conventions and General Assembly resolutions and the conclusions and recommendations of its governing bodies: The Commission on Narcotic Drugs: the central policymaking body within the United Nations system dealing with drug-related matters. The Commission monitors the world drug situation, develops strategies on international drug control and recommends measures to combat the world drug problem, including through reducing demand for drugs, promoting alternative development initiatives and adopting supply reduction measures. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ): the central body within the United Nations system dealing with crime prevention and criminal justice policy. It monitors the use and application of relevant United Nations standards and norms. the Commission offers Member States a forum to exchange expertise, experiences and information, to develop national and international strategies and to identify priorities for combating crime.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Programme: Global Maritime Crime Programme, and day-to-day supervision of the GMCP Regional Programme Coordinator the International UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Monitoring & Evaluation
• Serve as UNODC programme focal point for the GMCP Atlantic Ocean Section on monitoring, reporting, and evaluation;
• Design, implement, and manage the M&E framework across all project components, including strategies, tools, procedures, and templates, in line with UNODC corporate standards, UN evaluation norms, and donor requirements;
• Review and strengthen existing M&E systems, tools, and indicators;
• Monitor effectiveness and quality of programme outcomes, outputs, and activities on an ongoing basis, using qualitative and quantitative methods;
• Conduct substantive surveys and assessments on the performance of criminal justice systems of identified Member States in relation to the investigation and prosecution of maritime crime cases;
• Support field staff to collect, use, and analyze data to track project progress and inform programme decision-making;
• Ensure data quality assurance (validity, reliability, consistency, timeliness) and maintain systematic data collection and knowledge management systems (databases, dashboards, repositories);
• Communicate monitoring and evaluation findings to programme staff, management, and external stakeholders, including donors, to enable informed decision-making and course correction;
• Prepare and deliver high-quality M&E reports (baseline, interim, final, situation updates, fact sheets) for internal and external audiences, in close coordination with programme managers;
• Support learning and adaptive management by documenting lessons learned, good practices, and evidence-based recommendations;
• Strengthen the capacity of project staff and national counterparts through training and mentoring on M&E methods, tools, and reporting;
• Mainstream gender, human rights, and inclusivity considerations, including sex- and age-disaggregated data, in all M&E processes and outputs;
• Support the planning and facilitation of mid-term, final, and independent evaluations by coordinating data collection, stakeholder consultations, and documentation.

Communication & Visibility
• Lead and advise the planning and design of plans and initiatives for common communication, advocacy, and outreach initiatives, in line with the UN communication strategy;
• Track, research, and analyze information on assigned topics/issues, gather information from diverse sources;
• Produce monthly summary reports of projects and activities for relevant stakeholders and counterparts;
• Organize the clearance, production, and distribution of information material, conduct photo and graphics research;
• Prepare, based on official UN documentation and other sources, initial drafts of articles or chapters for inclusion on UN newsletters, periodicals, reports, and books;
• In consultation with other team members, identify and propose information opportunities, activities, and approaches, considering the situation/topic and target audience;
• Respond to a variety of inquiries and information requests internally and externally and prepare related correspondence; · Perform other tasks and assignments as necessary.

Results/expected outputs

• An operational Monitoring & Evaluation framework for the GMCP Atlantic Ocean Section is developed, implemented, and regularly updated, in line with UNODC and donor requirements.
• Baseline data and indicators are established for programme activities, and regular progress monitoring is conducted against agreed targets.
• High-quality M&E products (baseline reports, survey findings, evaluation reports, situation updates, interim and final donor reports) are produced and delivered on time.
• Systematic data collection and analysis tools (databases, dashboards, templates) are designed, maintained, and used by project teams.
• Programme outcomes and impacts are assessed through qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and pre-/post-activity evaluations.
• Lessons learned, good practices, and evidence-based recommendations are documented and shared to inform decision-making and programme adjustments.
• through training and mentoring on monitoring, reporting, and data analysis.
• Gender, human rights, and inclusivity considerations are mainstreamed in M&E processes and reporting.
• Communication and visibility products (success stories, case studies, newsletters, and donor visibility materials) are regularly produced and disseminated in line with UNODC standards.
• Programme visibility and outreach activities (press releases, social media content, stakeholder briefings, media events) are effectively planned, coordinated, and reported.
• Knowledge management systems are established and maintained, ensuring that monitoring and evaluation information is accessible to staff, management, and partners.