Associate on Countering Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) supports national counterparts in the Central Asian States in specific niche areas such as, countering narcotics, drug control strategies, intelligence analysis, multilateral operations, precursors control, border liaison and management, customs controls, smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, terrorism prevention and cybercrime.

UNODC has been implementing a wide range of targeted interventions aimed at strengthening the efforts of the Central Asian Member States to effectively combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Under the UNODC Global Programme “UNODC Action against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants” and within the framework of the Programme for Central Asia 2022–2026, the technical assistance focused on enhancing national legal and policy frameworks, enhancing cross-border cooperation and building capacity to investigate trafficking in persons and related crimes, and sharing information and guiding on emerging trends of trafficking in persons and related crimes. The majority of the activities were implemented with the financial support of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). UNODC is currently implementing the European Union-(EU) funded PROTECT initiative through the Global Action to Address Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling (GLO.ACT) across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. This initiative also addresses challenges in the broader Central Asia region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with a primary focus on enhancing the effectiveness of responses to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), particularly in relation to criminal justice. UNODC supported adoption of Bukhara Declaration in 2021 followed by establishment of the Central Asian Law Enforcement Network Against Trafficking in Persons (CALENTIP)-regional network for law enforcement on TIP issues. In Central Asia, UNODC promotes ratification and implementation both the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (TIP Protocol) and Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (SOM Protocol) supplementing The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). Under overall coordination of UNODC ROCA Programme Management Officer and the Coordinator of GLO.ACT, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC Vienna as well as strategic guidance of UNODC Regional Representative, UNV’s key activities involve support around the global and regional programmes interventions on countering trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Central Asia. The UN Volunteer will support these activities by contributing to planning, data collection, implementation, and monitoring efforts, ensuring alignment with international practices, UNTOC and TIP/SOM protocols and regional priorities to address the challenges of trafficking in persons. UNODC’s regional office has the capacity and necessary facilities to support several volunteers, with a large, well-equipped premises capable of accommodating around 80 employees.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer (national professional post) and GLO.ACT Coordinator (international professional post), the UN Volunteer Associate will undertake the following tasks: - Support the implementation of UNODC prevention and awareness-raising activities on trafficking in persons, including initiatives targeting at risk groups (such as youth, migrants, and vulnerable communities), in line with UNODC’s crime prevention and victim-centered approach. - Assist with data collection, desk research, and basic analysis related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, including compiling information from national counterparts, partners, and UNODC tools (such as reports or case law resources), to support evidence-informed programming and reporting in line with UNTOC and TIP/SOM Protocols. - Provide organizational and substantive support to workshops, trainings, annual meetings of CALENTIP and capacity-building activities on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, including preparation of agenda drafts, participant lists, background materials, and logistical coordination with partners and stakeholders. - Contribute to the preparation of progress reports and donor updates on trafficking in persons activities, ensuring accurate documentation of implemented actions, outputs, lessons learned, and results achieved, in line with UNODC reporting standards. - Support knowledge-sharing and coordination across UNODC offices, projects, and implementing partners and UN sister agencies, including consolidating inputs, maintaining activity trackers, and facilitating internal information exchange related to trafficking in persons initiatives. - Assist in drafting, editing, and disseminating communication and visibility materials (such as briefs, newsletters, talking points, social media content, and factsheets) to increase awareness of trafficking in persons and enhance the visibility of UNODC-supported interventions. During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.