UN Office of Counter-Terrorism

Position description

This position is located within the Countering Terrorist Travel Section (CTTS) within the Special Projects and Innovation Branch (SPIB) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). The duty station for this position is Budapest, Hungary. The Programme Officer will report to the Senior Programme Management Officer. The focus of this position is to support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the UN Countering Terrorist Travel (CT Travel) Programme. The CT Travel Programme is a UNOCT-led technical assistance programme jointly implemented with the following partners: Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Office of Information and Communication Technology (OICT), INTERPOL, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The CT Travel Programme works to support Member States to build their capacity to detect and counter terrorist travel, including through the use of API/PNR data. The project responds to requirements established by the Security Council which, on 24 September 2014, adopted resolution 2178 to address the acute and growing threat posed by FTFs. The resolution inter alia calls upon Member States to require airlines operating in their territories to provide API to the appropriate national authorities in order to detect the departure from their territories, or attempted entry into or transit through their territories, by means of civil aircraft, of individuals designated by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) (the Committee). On 21 December 2017, the Security Council adopted resolution 2396, which builds on resolution 2178 (2014) by creating new international obligations and other provisions to strengthen border security and information sharing. This includes the use of API and PNR data to address returning and relocating FTFs and transnational terrorist groups. UNOCT was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the 46 Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (e) ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Coordinates the provision and delivery of CT Travel technical assistance to Member States within the Middle East and North Africa, including through facilitation with internal and external project partners
• Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
• Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client and programme partners, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
• Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
• Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies,
• Generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc. on API-PNR; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, and approaches relevant to API and/or PNR issues, including the adoption, introduction, and use of API and/or PNR by Member States. 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. Shows pride in work and 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.
• Planning& 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.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, business administration, management, international relations or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required. Experience in the development, planning, monitoring, and reporting of capacity building and technical assistance programs on counter-terrorism, law enforcement, and crime prevention is required. Experience in working on the use of passenger data in the area of law enforcement is desirable. Experience in inter-governmental engagement is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat; for this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language, particularly Arabic, is an advantage.

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