Consultant – Whistle-Blower Protection and Right to Information

Result of ServiceUnder the supervision of the UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officers referred as supervisors and with the substantive guidance of the UNODC expert on whistle-blower protection, UNODC expert on corruption risk management and working in close collaboration with other substantive officers assigned to these activities, the consultant will: 1. ASEAN Member States, Sri Lanka and the Pacific A. Deliver two targeted whistle-blower protection workshops for the National Police Commission and the Supreme Court of the Philippines, conducted separately and tailored to their respective institutional mandates. The workshops will facilitate interactive sessions in which participants work collaboratively to develop the key elements of whistle-blower protection policies. B. Deliver a workshop for public officers and external stakeholders in Malaysia to map, review, and assess existing mechanisms related to the Right to Information and whistle-blower protection. The activity will support relevant ministerial counterparts in reviewing and drafting policies and legislation on RTI and whistle-blower protection C. Design and deliver a training program for Fiji Public Service Commission staff and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective understanding and implementation of the Whistleblowing Policy. D. Provide technical guidance and draft comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation for the Republic of the Marshall Islands. E. Draft an analysis (approx. 10 pages) of SLAPPs within the context of whistle-blower protection in ASEAN and Mongolia that identify the gaps in current whistle-blower protection legal frameworks and institutional support provided in addressing SLAPPs; propose recommendations to prevent or mitigate their harmful effects (e.g. examples of SLAPP provisions in whistleblower protection legislation), including good practices/ examples. F. Develop training module and deliver corresponding training sessions on whistle-blower protection in the context of money-laundering and proceeds of crimes to support Sri Lanka CIABOC (with regard to their Proceeds of Crime Act), and provide recommendations to CIABOC to strengthen existing SOP on whistle-blower protection 2. Africa G. Provide expertise and train the authorized personnel in fully implementing the two newly adopted whistleblowing policies of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) of Botswana and conduct training of trainers for DCEC to assist other public institutions of Botswana to develop and implement whistleblowing policies. H. Provide expertise and guidance to the Public Service Commission of South Africa (PSC) for the strengthening of their Whistleblower Protection mechanism (including the policy and the organizational structure for the reports handling), to allow PSC in fully implementing some recommendations for improvement received. I. Provide expertise to the South African National Parks (SANParks) in strengthening the management of whistleblowing reports and the implementation of the internal whistleblowing policy. J. Provide expertise for the finalization, validation and adoption of the Kenya Wildlife Service whistleblowing policy. K. Provide expert advice and drafting support for the finalization of the standardized whistleblowing policy of Ghana for the implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Act. Work LocationHome-based (with travel to Kenya, Sri-Lanka, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Fiji, Botswana, Republic of MArshall Islands and South Africa) Expected duration15 Feb - 31 Aug 2025 Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism. It possesses extensive expertise and specialization in international cooperation in criminal matters. Guided by a wide range of legally binding international instruments, as well as United Nations standards and norms on crime prevention and criminal justice, UNODC works to promote peace, security, and justice worldwide. One of the key areas of focus for UNODC is combating corruption, which poses significant threats to countries around the world. Corruption weakens institutions, erodes trust, and undermines fair competition, hindering economic growth and discouraging investment. Recognizing the critical importance of addressing corruption, UNODC collaborates with governments, businesses, and civil society to strengthen efforts in this area. Through capacity-building activities and technical assistance, UNODC supports national authorities and other relevant stakeholders in enhancing transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption. This support is particularly relevant to countries that are parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), as UNODC serves as the guardian of this Convention and the secretariat to its Conference of the States Parties. Whistle-blower Protection is vital to anti-corruption efforts, safeguarding individuals who report corruption, fraud, and other misconduct. Effective whistle-blower protection policies encourage transparency and accountability within institutions, while also protecting whistle-blowers from retaliation. UNODC promotes the adoption of robust legal frameworks to protect whistle-blowers and fosters a culture of integrity by supporting member states in strengthening their national laws. To support these efforts, in Southeast Asia, UNODC seeks to support both whistle-blower protection and Right to Information (RTI) regimes in Member States in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). RTI is a powerful anti-corruption tool that gives all persons the right to access information held by public bodies. RTI reflects the principle that all information held by governments and other public institutions is public information and should only be withheld from the public for legitimate reasons that are within the public interest. The right of access to information is a central component of the right to freedom of expression. The challenge of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) lies in their potential to intimidate, silence, and financially burden individuals who expose wrongdoing or illegal activities. Addressing SLAPPs through whistle-blower protection frameworks is an essential approach, as these frameworks are designed to shield individuals from retaliation, including through unfounded litigation. To be effective, whistle-blower protection laws should be integrated with anti-SLAPP measures that not only safeguard individuals reporting misconduct but also provide clear legal recourse against lawsuits aimed at stifling their voices. In Africa UNODC is providing a wide range of technical assistance to States to support their efforts in strengthening their whistle-blower protection frameworks and systems. Notably, UNODC has been supporting Ghana for several year for the drafting and adoption of a standardized Whistle-blower protection policy to allow for the implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2006. In addition, UNODC is currently supporting Botswana’s Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the South Africa’s Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop and strengthen their internal whistle-blowing systems. UNODC has also been supporting South African National Parks (SANParks) in managing their corruption risks by implementing key risk mitigation strategies such as enhancing the reporting mechanisms and strengthening the related internal policies. Finally, UNODC has been supporting the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in managing its corruption risks and as part of this work it has been supporting the development their whistleblowing policy that is now in the validation phase. In the Pacific Island countries, there is a growing need to strengthen whistle-blower protection frameworks in line with UNCAC and the Teieniwa Vision. UNODC is responding to country-specific requests, such as the Fiji Public Service Commission’s call for support in reviewing its existing Whistleblowing Policy and delivering targeted training for effective implementation. Similarly, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has requested technical guidance to develop comprehensive Whistleblower Protection Legislation. These interventions will incorporate recommendations from the Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM), ensuring that national frameworks meet international standards and regional commitments while fostering a culture of integrity and accountability. Finally, Sri Lanka has requested the support of UNODC to develop a training module and deliver corresponding training sessions on whistle-blower protection in the context of money-laundering and proceeds of crimes. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law, social science (international relations, management, public administration, political science, or economics, etc.) or in a subject closely related to good governance, anti-corruption or crime prevention 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 ten (10) years of relevant professional experience, including academic experience in whistle-blower protection/right to information is required. Experience in the provision of practical policy advice is desirable. Experience in Southeast Asia and/or Africa working on anti-corruption is desirable Previous experience working with the United Nations or equivalent international organizations is desirable LanguagesEnglish 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 or Southeast Asian language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.