ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
TITLE
ANTICIPATED DURATION
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT
DUTY STATION
ESTIMATED REMUNERATION*
17-CON-15
16 March 2015
Consultant ( INCB New Psychoactive Substances Operational Project)
8 months (1 April – 30 November 2015)
UNODC/SINCB
Vienna, Austria, with travel to Bangkok, Thailand, and other destinations (tbd) to be determined
* This assignment does not carry any entitlement to social benefits such as medical insurance, pension, sick leave, etc.
BACKGROUND AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
In December 2013, in response to Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) resolutions 55/1 (2012) and
56/4 (2013), the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) launched Project ION (International
Operations on New Psychoactive Substances), the main vehicle for INCB's activities in the area of New
Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Activities, which have since been recognised also in CND resolution
57/9 (2014), are designed to foster real-time intelligence sharing at the global level and to provide the infrastructure for follow-up between the authorities of concerned countries, including source countries, with a view to assist investigations and devise practical solutions aimed at preventing NPS from reaching consumer markets.
Project ION activities are steered by the NPS Task Force and are aimed primarily at the coordination, collection and communication of strategic and operational information and intelligence related to suspicious shipments of, trafficking in, or manufacture or production of NPS. The global NPS communication platform, known as Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS), was launched in December 2014.
As at 1 February 2015, 100 Governments and 7 regional and international agencies have provided at least one Project ION focal point, while IONICS has 120 registered users. In the first month, the total quantity of NPS seized in incidents communicated through IONICS amounts to more than 375 kilograms.
The year 2015 marks the consolidation and further expansion of Project ION, including the management and expansion of the focal point network, the design, implementation and evaluation of operational activities, the stabilization and further development of the IONICS communication platform with the related training, and the representation of Project ION at relevant international events on new psychoactive substances, such as the international conference on “Precursor Chemicals and New
Psychoactive Substances (NPS)”, which will be convened by INCB and the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21-24 April 2015. Among other things, this and similar conferences will discuss operational investigative activities, networking and information-sharing related to NPS, existing tools and innovative approaches to NPS supply reduction, and will provide training opportunities for the Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS).
The purpose of the assignment is to contribute to the further development and implementation of Project
ION, specifically its communication platform and focal point network.
The consultancy involves work in Vienna, Austria, and travel to Bangkok, Thailand, for the duration of the international conference, 21-24 April 2015 (exact travel dates to be agreed on), as well as upcoming conferences and training events (details to be determined).
The expected tangible results for the consultancy are:
 The consultant will develop and deliver Project ION/IONICS-related documentation, training and presentation materials for the international conference in Bangkok and future reference.

The consultant will conduct a series of training workshops on the Project ION Incident
Communication System (IONICS) during the international conference in Bangkok, 21-24 April
17-CON-15

2015 and other training events, as appropriate, and will deliver a summary report on the conference(s) incorporating participants’ feedback.
 The consultant will develop and deliver a set of (6) standard operating procedures for Project ION and an IONICS administrator guide.
 The consultant will develop and deliver an IONICS training strategy.

The consultant will develop and deliver, in close coordination with UNODC/ITS, an enhanced version of IONICS and an outline of priority action for the future development of Project ION /
IONICS.
QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: First-level university degree or higher in management, computer science or a related field. Specialized IT and project management training or certification is desirable.
 Professional Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems or applications and the related user management, preferably in the international drug/precursor control context. Proven presentation / training skills, strong communication with cross-functional groups, and excellent drafting and coordination skills. Experience in MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), JIRA issue management software, desktop publishing and design software, and web content management software.
Knowledge of new psychoactive substances and approaches to address them. Knowledge of INCB’s webbased communication platforms is an asset.
 Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United UN Secretariat. For the consultancy advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official
United Nations language is highly desirable.
All applicants are requested to complete a United Nations Personal History form (PHP), available online (inspira.un.org).
Applicants should also outline in a cover letter why they consider themselves qualified for the position. Due to the expected high volume of applications, only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. All applications should be sent to consultants@unvienna.org
, by e-mail with PHP in pdf format attached and with the announcement number mentioned clearly in the subject line. Preference will be given to equally qualified women applicants.
17-CON-15