Result of Service

2. Purpose of the assignment: Technical support specific to IPEF Pillar IV, as well as implementation of the Regional Roadmap (2024-2027) in line with the UNCAC, plus moderate technical sessions on foreign bribery, public procurement and asset recovery. 3. Specific tasks to be performed by the Consultant: Under the direct supervision of the UNODC Anti-Corruption Adviser for Southeast Asia, the Consultant will be responsible for:  Technical support to the review of Viet Nam’s national mechanism for asset recovery and mutual legal assistance;  Draft the national asset recovery strategy for Viet Nam including in-country engagement;  Technical support to criminalizing illicit enrichment (UNCAC article 20) in Viet Nam;  Technical review of the draft circular on conducting inspection skills in Viet Nam;  Prepare and facilitate UNODC’s Anti-Corruption Hub Strategy Discussion and Team-Building;  Review and draft an integrity pact policy for Malaysia;  Legislative review of Indonesia’s implementation of UNCAC in line with the UNCAC review recommendations;  Initial technical support to the develop of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) of Indonesia, including an initial workshop on the methodology;  Initial technical support to the develop of a NACS of Timor-Leste, including an initial workshop on the methodology and observer to the UNCAC review country visit, upon request of the Government for context to the NACS;  Technical support to the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Hub for South-East Asia’s Regional Roadmap. The Consultant will be required to liaise closely with the UNODC Anti-Corruption Adviser for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and relevant national counterparts in Southeast Asia in carrying out the tasks.

Work Location

Home based with travel

Expected duration

24/01/2025-15/07/25

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background of the assignment: Corruption remains a significant obstacle to development globally and throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) region. Corruption is cross-cutting numerous illegal activities, from the process of harvesting and manufacturing illegal wood-based products, migrant smuggling and human trafficking to terrorism financing. Corruption of public officials is perceived as an enabler of serious and organized crimes that are undermining the countries` abilities to deliver the development agenda. The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) provides a comprehensive framework to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks in the region. As all SEAP countries have ratified this universal and the only globally binding treaty, they have also successfully completed the UNCAC compliance review mechanism related to criminal enforcement and international cooperation capacity. They are all currently undergoing the second review cycle, which will, in the coming years, provide reports on their compliance to a wider range of preventive measures and recovery of assets. The outcome of the UNCAC review process provides a solid basis for formulating anti-corruption technical assistance programmes, the process helps countries to identify gaps in anti-corruption policies and frameworks as well as technical assistance needs. UNODC provides technical support to countries so that they can translate the gap analysis into effective legal and policy frameworks and sustainable anti-corruption strategies. Effective anti-corruption efforts require a whole-of-government and society approach, including different sectors and branches of the government, civil society groups and the private sector. Public engagement often makes a real difference. Ongoing support to developing national and regional capacities to prevent and effectively address corruption remains an important priority for UNODC. UNODC works with Member States to enhance the capacities of their national anti-corruption bodies through the provision of technical assistance as well as the organization of training programmes. In addition, in order to facilitate the coordination of international anti-corruption efforts and peer to peer technical assistance the UNODC provides a framework for regional and bilateral support. Support is offered to:  Strengthen anti-corruption policies, legislation and strategies;  Strengthen institutional frameworks and capacities for control of corruption;  Development of regional anti-corruption forums, networks and institutions;  Enhanced capacity of the private sector, civil society groups, academia and the media to promote and implement anti-corruption strategies. UNODC’s ROSEAP Regional Programme, Sub Component 2 on Anti-Corruption and Global Anti-Corruption Programme and Global Anti-Corruption Programme have been designed to provide a comprehensive technical assistance to the States Parties to UNCAC, offering the specialized expertise, knowledge tools and sharing of experience and good practice examples in preventing and fighting corruption, enhancing the international cooperation and recovery of assets. Activities are aimed at assisting national authorities, in public, private and civil sectors, and conducting training and workshops events at national, regional and international levels. The Regional Roadmap (2024-2027), aligned with UNCAC, was agreed upon by ASEAN Member States, Mongolia and Timor-Leste in February 2024 at “Conference to Reinvigorate the Regional Platform to Fast-Track the Implementation of UNCAC in Southeast Asia”. This Roadmap guides the work for UNDOC in the region, also in collaboration with ASEAN-Parties Against Corruption (ASEAN-PAC). Specific to this assignment, in May 2022, countries from the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, came together to launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The IPEF aims at building partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to advance the resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness and competitiveness of the region. This framework seeks to offer tangible benefits that fuel economic activity and investment, promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and benefit workers and consumers across the region, to which addressing corruption is paramount. The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 percent of global GDP and 28 percent of global goods and services trade. IPEF’s four pillars include: (1) Trade; (2) Supply Chains; (3) Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and (4) Tax and Anti-Corruption. IPEF partners include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and the United States, of which seven are ODA recipient countries. UNODC has a specific project to support the mapping and capacity-building of IPEF countries on (1) foreign bribery, (2) public procurement, and (3) asset recovery.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, international relations, social science, psychology, law, political science, international relations, criminology or a 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. A minimum of 15 years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience in the field of law, including experience in anti-corruption operations and policy at national, regional and international levels, is required. Experience in the field of providing technical assistance to develop regional and national anti-corruption capacity, including delivering workshops and policy documents, is required. Expertise in the field of combating foreign bribery at national and international levels, including knowledge of the international standards, is required. Experience in the area of operating in Southeast Asia and the Pacific with existing regional anti-corruption networks is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language, is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.