International Consultant – Maritime and Riverine Navigation Trainer

1. Development and delivery of two VBSS courses as part of the ITP simulated exercises in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, including the preparation of training materials, practical exercise scenarios, participant assessments, and submission of post-training reports. 2. Development and delivery of two specialized VBSS courses focusing on (i) the handling and operational use of specialized VBSS equipment and (ii) the identification and searching of hidden compartments on board vessels, in the Maldives and Bangladesh, including the preparation of course materials, practical exercises, participant assessments, and post-training reports. 3. Development and delivery of one VBSS course focused on the effective use of specialized VBSS equipment in Bangladesh, including the preparation of training materials, practical exercises, participant assessments, and submission of a post-training report. 4. Development and delivery of one VBSS course on crime scene documentation, evidence handling, and report writing in Bangladesh and the Maldives, including the preparation of course materials, practical exercises, participant assessments, and submission of a post-training report. 5. Development and delivery of one RHIB maintenance course in Kirinda, Sri Lanka, including the preparation of training materials, practical demonstrations, participant assessments, and submission of a post-training report. 6. Development and delivery of one VBSS course focusing on the maintenance, inventory management, and warehousing of specialized VBSS equipment in the Maldives, including the preparation of training materials, practical exercises, participant assessments, and submission of a post-training report.

Home based with travel to Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh

26 August - 16 October 2026

The mission of Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is to improve the capabilities of Member States’ entire criminal justice system to prevent, interdict, investigate, and prosecute maritime crime, through a sound rule of law framework and effective international cooperation. For that purpose, UNODC GMCP delivers a range of activities within several maritime-related thematic areas to strengthen the capacities of national authorities to prevent and combat maritime crimes on a regional, national, and local basis. The Programme also aims to improve inter-agency and regional cooperation and to strengthen Member States’ response to maritime crime through dedicated research, provisioning of capacity-building training and providing equipment and infrastructure support. The Indian Ocean region continues to face varied security threats including drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, arms trafficking, piracy, and other transnational organized crime which directly impact Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. As such, there is a continued need for strengthened maritime law enforcement capabilities to counter evolving criminal methods such as the development of new concealment methods and increasingly sophisticated smuggling techniques. In addition, maritime crime continues to face low prosecution rates, often linked to the complexity of developing evidence from maritime interdictions, highlighting the need for better documentation of evidence during boarding operations. Against this evolving landscape, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations are a critical tool. Through targeted boardings, for example, VBSS teams can detect illicit activity, seize drugs before they reach domestic markets, and contribute to disrupt the supply chains utilized by organized criminal networks. However, VBSS operations are conducted in complex maritime environments, requiring specialized equipment and skills. Therefore, GMCP, UNODC is currently updating the curriculum of its MLE courses in alignment with the new requirements identified by counterparts during the joint planning exercise as well as follow-up observations made by UNODC Maritime Law Enforcement expert during the UNODC VBSS training programme conducted in 2025. As part of this, GMCP will deliver VBSS boarding operations courses focusing on the use of specialized equipment, searching hidden compartments, and crime scene documentation to strengthen capacity of maritime authorities in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.In addition, GMCP will organize Integrated Training Packages (ITP) in the Maldives and Sri Lanka incorporating a simulated law enforcement response at sea, including the detection of a suspicious vessel followed by a VBSS operation. This exercise will include the use of controlled delivery techniques to enable participants to practice and execute safe, effective, and legally sound maritime interdiction operations in accordance with the provisions of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The expert will work closely with the GMCP UNODC staff to develop the new VBSS curriculum with greater emphasis on the use of specialized VBSS equipment, searching hidden compartments, and crime scene documentation and reporting in addition to the core VBSS components. In addition, the expert will support the National Maritime Interdiction Training coordinated with the Nuclear Smuggling, Detection and Deterrence Programme (NSDD). Furthermore, the consultant will deliver Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) training courses in Maldives and Sri Lanka, including a simulated exercise as part of GMCP Integrated Training Package. Under the overall supervision of the Head of GMCP and the direct supervision and coordination with the UNODC GMCP Regional Programme Coordinator Indian Ocean East, the expert will perform the following tasks: 1. Design and deliver two VBSS courses as part of ITP simulated exercise in Maldives Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 2. Design and deliver two VBSS courses with focus on handling specialized VBSS equipment and searching of hidden compartments onboard vessels respectively in Maldives and Bangladesh. 3. Design and deliver a VBSS course focused on the effective use of specialized VBSS equipment in Bangladesh. 4. Design and deliver a VBSS course on crime scene documentation, evidence handling, and report writing in Bangladesh and Maldives. 5. Design and deliver a RHIB maintenance course in Kirinda, Sri Lanka 6. Design and deliver a VBSS course with a focus on maintenance and warehousing of equipment, in Maldives.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminal justice, criminology, law, political science, management or other related fields is required. A first-level university degree in the aforementioned fields in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Formal qualifications or certifications from a recognised national or international customs authority, police academy, or military-training institution, supplemented by specialization in criminal justice, crime prevention, or law enforcement, in combination with four (4) additional years of qualifying work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the first level university degree. At least seven (07) years of experience as a boat operator, with specific experience on navigation, is required Maritime/riverine working experience is required Experience training maritime/riverine law enforcement officers with training in an international environment is required Proven report writing skills are required A broad understanding of the maritime situation in the Indian Ocean is desirable Experience working in South Asia is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Not available.