Closing date

23 June 2025

National Programme Coordinator

General

Description of assignment title

Assignment country

Maldives

Expected start date

06/15/2025

Sustainable Development Goal

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category

National UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity

UNODC Maldives

Type

Onsite

Duration

12 months

Number of assignments

Duty stations

Male

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is the main UN agency in the fight against illicit drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism in line with the UN Conventions and Universal Instruments. The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (UNODC ROSA) is located in New Delhi (India) and covers six countries of the region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Under its new Regional Programme for South Asia for the period 2024-2028, UNODC is delivering technical assistance to South Asia under the following five sub-programs: (1) addressing and countering the drug problem (2) preventing and countering transnational organized crime; (3) preventing and countering corruption and economic crime; (4) preventing and countering terrorism; (5) criminal justice and crime prevention.

Context

To support the implementation of the GLO.ACT Project (Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants – GLO.ACT South Asia) implemented through UNODC’s Action against Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (GLOTS3), the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia seeks to hire the services of a National UN Volunteer – Specialist (National Programme Coordinator) in Malé, Maldives. This incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the global GLO.ACT Project Coordinator and overall guidance of the Regional Representative/Deputy Representative, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia, located at the UNODC ROSA in New Delhi, India.

Task description

Under the general supervision and policy guidance of the UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia and the direct supervision of GLO.ACT Project Coordinator, the incumbent will be responsible for leading GLO.ACT South Asia implementation in Maldives, through planning, implementing, and managing the delivery of policies, reports, knowledge products, and other results approved in the project document and annual work plans, in accordance with UNODC rules and regulations. S/he will also closely work with Government officials, local government, non-government and civil society organizations, as well as other UN agencies. Summary of key functions: 1. Overall operational management for successful execution and results achievement 2. Knowledge building and capacity enhancement services 3. Financial management 4. Provide policy and programme support to the project 1. Overall operational management for successful execution: • Be responsible for managing, monitoring, and coordinating the implementation of the GLO.ACT South Asia project in Maldives; • Provide substantive and technical expertise for the implementation and assessment of the project, including the collection and compilation of relevant background data and information, monitoring, and evaluation; • Monitor project activities and ensure that the project achieves its stated goals and objectives, and all deadlines are met as stated in the project document; • Lead in the coordination of project activities with related and parallel activities both within UNODC and with external agencies (including the EU Delegation); • Prepare technical presentations on the project at related regional/international criminal justice and/or other events, as required; • Prepare periodic project progress reports and contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of GLO.ACT, including supporting the mid-term and final independent evaluations; • Represent UNODC at relevant meetings, workshops, and trainings with Government and non-government entities; • Devise new concept notes to augment GLO.ACT results; • Perform any other assignments as deemed necessary for the effective implementation of the project. 2. Knowledge building and capacity enhancement services: • Lead on the design and implementation of events/workshops as determined in the project work plan; • Facilitate and provide training and other capacity-building assistance for criminal justice actors, including the development of related technical material and the monitoring of training and assistance provided; • Design and facilitate interregional, regional, and national level training activities for criminal justice practitioners related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants; • Contribute to updating, by reviewing and revising, relevant UNODC training and capacity-building tools; promote their use and application by respective target groups; compile information on best practices in response to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants; • Undertake outreach and dissemination activities, as required, and promote cooperation and continuous sharing of information; • Coordinate with other intergovernmental organizations, relevant non-governmental organizations, and institutions which are active in the provision of training on related issues at the regional or country level. 3. Financial management: • Ensure effective management of the project’s financial resources; • Supervise proper accounting of the project resources and reporting. 4. Provide policy and programme support to the project: • Provide intellectual inputs in the subject area through the identification of key policy issues and formulation of the best possible and alternative policy programme options for Maldives. Stimulate strategic thinking in the subject area, taking into account the needs of the country; • Undertake and facilitate necessary actions to leverage relevant policies. • Undertake associated research (including) desk research and assessment missions; • Coordinate with various government and non-governmental agencies on measures against trafficking in persons and/or smuggling of migrants, and lead the support from the project as required by the stakeholders; • Engage in technical consultations with participating countries, donors, and other actors on measures against trafficking in persons and/or smuggling of migrants; • Establish and maintain direct relationships with Government counterparts, partner organizations, and other relevant stakeholders; take part in developing and implementing resource mobilization strategies and actively engage in funds raising activities; • Undertake negotiations and consultations on anti-trafficking in persons and anti-smuggling issues, especially those concerning criminal justice, with relevant international bodies and organizations and NGOs, as required. 5. Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); 6. Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; 7. Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; 8. Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; 9. Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; 10. 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.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

3 years

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

7 years

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Dhivehi, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in or currently studying towards a degree in Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, Criminal law, criminology, and/or related social science, international relations, political science, law, public administration, or other relevant field.

Competencies and values

Accountability
Adaptability and Flexibility
Building Trust
Client Orientation
Commitment and Motivation
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Communication
Creativity
Empowering Others
Ethics and Values
Integrity
Judgement and Decision-making
Knowledge Sharing
Leadership
Managing Performance
Planning and Organizing
Professionalism
Respect for Diversity
Self-Management
Technological Awareness
Vision
Working in Teams

Skills and experience

• A minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in crime prevention and criminal justice matters at national levels is required. • Work experience with project formulation, implementation, and monitoring, and experience in and knowledge of relevant development issues as well as experience working in South Asia are an asset. • Work experience in combating trafficking in persons and/or smuggling of migrants is required. • Capacity to build strong and enduring partnerships with stakeholders at all levels and proven cross-cultural and gender sensitivity is highly desirable. • Work experience within UNODC or with the United Nations system is desirable.

Area(s) of expertise

Communication, Development programmes, Legal affairs

Driving license

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Male City is situated in the Indian Ocean’s southern portion of the North Male Atoll (Kaafu Atoll). Male’s climate is dominated by the tropical monsoon. Maldives has two distinct seasons: the wet season from May to November and the dry season from November to April. Temperature changes are uncommon in Male City. The average maximum temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius, while the average low temperature is around 26.5 degrees Celsius. About 150,000 people, or one-third of the entire population of the Maldives, reside in Male. About 110,000 of them reside on the island of Male, while the remainder reside on nearby atolls. Male is the Maldives’ economic and commercial center. Here are the major investments, and the majority of profits are created in the greater Male region. Male has the principal harbor and port of the country, making it the commercial hub. Male is an exception to the usual lack of road infrastructure in the Maldives, where roads are largely under continuous renovation. Male is an exception to the Maldives’ usual lack of road infrastructure, where roads are constantly being renovated. 77% of vehicles are motorcycles and scooters, whereas just 9% are four-wheelers. Living alone is expensive, and a 900-square-foot apartment can be rented for over $1,000 per calendar month. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her housing and other living essentials.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply here: National Programme Coordinator- UVP UNV