The National Project Officer will support the operational side of the AIRCOP programme management to ensure that it is compliant with UNODC rules, regulations, and policies in project management. The incumbent will support the UNODC Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe in the area of effective gender mainstreaming and empowerment of women in UNODC initiatives in the region to foster access to justice and enhance a coordinated criminal justice response to gender issues.
The Airport Communication Programme is a multi-agency project based on the cooperation between UNODC, INTERPOL and the WCO that aims at strengthening the capacities of participating international airports in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, South-East Asia and South-Eastern Europe to detect and intercept drugs, illicit goods and high-risk passengers in origin, transit and destination countries with the overall objective of disrupting the illegal criminal networks. AIRCOP is implemented by UNODC in partnership with INTERPOL and the WCO and aims at rooting a culture of intelligence gathering and information sharing in regular working practices of law enforcement agencies present at international airports and at building their capacities to detect (through targeting and profiling) and interdict drugs, illicit goods, and high-risk passengers.
The Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe (2020-2023) provides the overall platform for the UNODC involvement in South-East Europe and supports the various thematic areas of the UNODC mandate, structured along three main pillars: (I) Illicit Drug Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime, (II) Strengthening Criminal Justice, Integrity and Legal Cooperation, (III) Prevention, Treatment, Reintegration and Care. The Programme focuses on priority actions identified in cooperation with the governments in the region and through a dialogue with national, regional and international partners. South-Eastern Europe lies on the most direct route between some of the world’s leading producer and consumer regions of opiates, and likewise serves as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees from Asia and the Middle East to Western Europe; it saw one of the world’s largest population movements in 2015-2016, as well as an influx of foreign terrorist fighters.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Project Officer will be responsible for:
Programme management:
Support the design, plan, coordination, implementation and monitoring of AIRCOP project activities in South-Eastern Europe, including the administrative and operational dimensions.
Support the AIRCOP Law Enforcement expert and Border Management Branch personnel in South Eastern Europe in the day-to-day implementation of the AIRCOP programme in South-Eastern Europe, with specific emphasis on the harmonization of the action with the UNODC Container Control Programme and facilitating the capacity-building activities including regional/national thematic workshop for the relevant counterparts in South Eastern Europe (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North-Macedonia), support the development, customization and adoption of the SOPs and MoUs for the task forces in South Eastern Europe.
Participate in international/national workshops/conferences/working groups related to the implementation of the Programme in South-Eastern Europe.
Review, analyze and assist in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals and revisions related to the activities under the AIRCOP programme.
Support the monitoring of project progress against the annual work plan for activities.
Contribute to the preparation of the programme’s progress and final reports against set targets and indicators, including donor narrative. Ensure quality and consistency of internal reporting.
Support in maintaining partnerships with relevant law enforcement institutions in South-Eastern Europe and programme’s counterparts to facilitate implementation of the project, and support the development of relevant coordination mechanisms, where needed.
Support the project and the Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe in effective mainstreaming of gender equality in projects implementation and assure knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in projects knowledge management activities and products.
Budget management:
Monitor project expenditures against approved work plans and keep track of project expenditure, status of implementation and ensure compliance with United Nations financial rules and regulations; initiate project and/or budget revisions as required.
Assist in collection, verification and presentation of information and data for the preparation and monitoring of the projects budget submission to UNODC HQ.
Preparation and submission for approval of the financial reports as per donor requirements and in cooperation with the Financial Resources Management Service in UNODC HQ.
Review project budget to determine costs and variations in programme’s expenditure, amendments, reprogramming or NCE requests.
Assist in the preparation and analysis of budget proposals and budget revisions for the project, provide assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines, and verify the availability of funds.
Event Management:
Provide budget estimates and support for the organization of international, regional and national conferences, meetings, seminars, study visits, exchange programs and workshops by liaising with national authorities of the jurisdictions concerned, as well as administrative and financial departments, regarding hotel reservations, DSA payments and preparing documents such as agendas, lists of attendees and certificates.
Establish, build and sustain effective relationships with internal and external clients.
General Administrative support:
Act as regional gender focal point in UNODC Regional Office of South Eastern Europe, support the Programme’s work in effective gender mainstreaming in UNODC initiatives to ensure positive effect on gender equality and empowerment of women and support equal representation and participation of women in all thematic areas.
Draft correspondence and communication for specific aspects of the project.
Perform other duties, as assigned.
Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:
Narrative project progress reports and financial reports provided in a timely and professional manner.
Programme/project budget maintained and managed, and any other financial/administrative reports repeated to the project provided as per request or agreed work plan.
Contacts with programme’s partners and regional/national counterparts maintained regularly.
Meetings and other activities related to the relevant programme’s implementation coordinated as per agreed work plan.
Administrative tasks, office systems and filing procedures related to the project management carried out timely and accurately.
All duties and responsibilities performed in a satisfactorily manner according to the project work plan.
Required Skills and Experience:
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, International Relations, or a related discipline is required.
Experience:
At least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in international organizations in the field of programme/project management including financial and budget management is required.
Experience in project implementation and working with government counterparts is required.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) is required.
Experience in the areas of Rule of Law, Security, Criminal Justice, Organized Crime or related subjects will be considered as an advantage.
Knowledge of UNODC/UN administrative rules and procedures is perceived as an asset.
Previous experience in working with multi donor and EU funded projects in regional context is perceived as an asset.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in oral and written English and languages of people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
