Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Programme Office in LAO PDR (POLAO) with duty station in Vientiane, and operates under the Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will report to the ROSEAP Programme Officer (Drugs Team Lead) as First Reporting Officer and to the Programme Coordinator as Second Reporting Officer, both based in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information on UNODC, please visit the following website: www.unodc.org.

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the incumbent will perform the following duties: • Contribute to the coordination of the implementation of the Alternative Development Programme in Lao PDR and all its activities to promote socio-economic development and the rule of law in opium cultivating areas of the country. • Guide the project team in the various field locations on planning and implementation of activities under the programme. • Establish working partnerships with the private sector to facilitate the marketing of products in support of the cooperatives working in the alternative development areas. • Plan, implement, manage, and monitor project activities, in line with applicable UN rules and regulations, policies and administrative mechanisms. • Coordinate with the authorities and beneficiaries at the municipal level with regard to their participation in and support to the programme. • Liaise and coordinate with the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision and other relevant authorities at national, provincial, district, and village levels with a view to ensuring ownership is firmly embedded throughout implementation. • Promote complementary drug use prevention and treatment models and other relevant development interventions and UNODC programmes in areas covered by the programme. • Develop and disseminate replicable models and best practices that are appropriate to communities and other parts of Lao PDR. • Monitor and manage the programme’s budget and all related administrative issues and report periodically and on an ongoing basis within UNODC on the implementation status and delivery. Plan, supervise and coordinate the evaluation of project activities and facilitate implementation of evaluation findings. • Contribute to coordinated efforts by the Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific on programme implementation and expansion in the Golden Triangle region. • Contribute to resource mobilization efforts in Lao PDR and other alternative development activities in the region, including by liaising and coordinating with national counterparts and donors to advance substantive activities. • Participate in the UN Country Team as an alternate UNODC focal point as well as in the Security Management Team. • Maintain regular communication national/local counterparts, donors and other partners, and ensure that reporting obligations and other obligations are fulfilled in a timely manner. • Contribute to the visibility of the Alternative Development Programme. • Provide substantive support to the design and implementation of a target-oriented fund-raising strategy for the Alternative Development Programme in Lao PDR. • Improve coordination between development partners and donors together with harmonising practice and procedure considered critical to improving aid effectiveness. • Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to illicit drug production and Alternative Development. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments. Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, business administration, economics, international relations, law, public administration, 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.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in project or programme management on Alternative Development (AD), including monitoring and evaluation, is required. Work experience in providing support to rural cooperatives or similar producers’ organizations is required. Work experience in rural development contexts in least developed countries is desirable. Work experience in technical cooperation and project implementation with drug control and crime prevention objectives and gender mainstreaming is desirable. Work experience in leading a team implementing programme activities in a rural development context is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Lao or Thai is an advantage. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This temporary position is available for five months. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.  All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.  The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff.  Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vientiane is classified in the B category (family duty station).

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.