Drug Prevention and Treatment Researcher

The core mission of the UNODC is to contribute to global peace and security, human rights, and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism. Strategic Objectives (Thematic Areas) The UNODC organizes its objectives into five key thematic areas (often called pillars) to address interconnected global challenges: - Addressing the World Drug Problem: o Ensuring access to controlled medicines while preventing diversion and abuse. o Promoting evidence-based prevention, treatment, and care for drug use. o Combating illicit drug cultivation, production, and trafficking. - Preventing and Countering Organized Crime: o Strengthening legal frameworks to disrupt organized criminal groups. o Combating crimes such as trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, and firearms trafficking. o Addressing cybercrime and environmental crimes (e.g., wildlife trafficking). - Preventing and Countering Corruption and Economic Crime: o Promoting integrity, accountability, and transparency in public and private sectors. o Combating money laundering and recovering stolen assets (asset recovery). o Supporting the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). - Preventing and Countering Terrorism: o Promoting international cooperation to investigate and prosecute terrorist acts. o Preventing violent extremism and countering the financing of terrorism. o Ensuring legal responses to terrorism comply with human rights standards. - Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: o Strengthening the rule of law and access to justice. o Improving prison conditions and promoting rehabilitation/reintegration. o Preventing violence, particularly against women and children.

UNODC based in Bogotá has an evidence-based prevention and treatment area. UNODC supports local policies, train professionals, and lead community initiatives for youth and families. Focus is on public health, human rights, and improving treatment quality standards (QALAT). The area manages projects at the regional, national, and Bogotá levels, implementing prevention programs, working with populations at risk of psychoactive substance use, and conducting research and knowledge management. The UN Volunteer will support research activities, the drafting of technical documents on drug use, context analysis, and data collection.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator of the Drug Use and Treatment Area, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: - Research Support: Assist in the design and execution of research activities and knowledge management strategies related to psychoactive substance use. - Technical Drafting: Draft, review, and edit technical documents, briefs, and reports focused on drug use prevention and treatment. - Context Analysis: Conduct context analysis to monitor trends, risks, and developments in the drug consumption landscape at local (Bogotá) and national levels. - Data Management: Support data collection, capture, and verification processes to ensure accurate information for decision-making. - Project Implementation: Assist in the execution of prevention programs and initiatives targeting populations at risk of substance use.