Consultant (Prison and Penal Reform)

Result of Service

The following outputs are expected to be produced by the consultant: • Submission of comprehensive and high-quality draft of the Prison Operations Manual validated with the national counterparts. • Submission of the organizational structure for the new prison, jointly developed with national counterparts, outlining staffing requirements, reporting arrangements, and operational alignment. • Submission of the revised Function Book reflecting agreed roles, responsibilities, competencies, and position descriptions consistent with the new operational model. • Submission of two priority Standard Operating Procedures co-developed with prison personnel and endorsed by national authorities, reflecting local context and international standards. • Training report on the results of training courses delivered to current staff and/or new recruits, including materials and a brief evaluation summary (pre- and post- questionnaires), documenting participant feedback and learning. • Final assignment report summarizing activities undertaken, consultations held, deliverables produced and proposed next steps.

Work Location

Home-based, with travel to Sint Maarten and the Caribbean region 21 February – 11 March, 6-22 July, 20-31 July 2026 (travel dates tbc)

Expected duration

19 Jan-31 July 2026

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), established in 1997 and headquartered in Vienna, is the lead United Nations entity supporting Member States in combating illicit drugs, transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism, while strengthening justice and rule-of-law institutions. Through a global network of 54 regional and country offices, including the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean (ROPAN) based in Panama City, UNODC has been active in the Caribbean region for more than 15 years, providing technical assistance on crime prevention, criminal justice reform, prison management and social reintegration. UNODC’s work on prison and penal reform is grounded in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) and the United Nations Rules for Non-Custodial Measures (the Tokyo Rules). Its approach focuses on three interrelated objectives: rationalizing the scope of incarceration; strengthening prison management and improving prison conditions; and fostering the rehabilitation and social reintegration prospects of offenders, thereby being in close alignment with the the United Nations System Common Position on Incarceration (2021). In Sint Maarten, the penitentiary system has faced longstanding and well-documented challenges, including deteriorated and unsafe infrastructure, chronic understaffing, overcrowding, and limited access to education, vocational training, work opportunities and other social programmes. These issues have been repeatedly highlighted by international oversight bodies, including the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and other human rights mechanisms, which have raised concerns about conditions of detention, safety, and compliance with international standards. Purpose of the consultancy assignment: The consultant will be tasked with multiple deliverables related to developing operational, organizational and policy instruments required to manage the new correctional facility in Sint Maarten. This includes producing a Prison Operations Manual, an updated Function Book and organizational structure, two priority Standard Operating Procedures, and a tailored training component for current and newly recruited corrections staff. All work will be undertaken in close collaboration with prison management, the Ministry of Justice of Sint Maarten, UNODC, UNOPS and other relevant stakeholders. Under the overall supervision of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section and in close collaboration with UNODC ROPAN, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities across priority areas: Prison Operations Manual (POM) Draft a comprehensive Operations Manual for the functioning of the new prison to become operational in June 2028. It should cover all core prison functions, including prisoner admission and induction; property and finances; separation, categorization and allocation; security and intelligence; dynamic and procedural security; movements; structured activities, such as recreational activities, religious services, education, vocational training and work; healthcare; nutrition; canteen services; communication systems; visits and contact with the outside world; requests ad complaints; access to legal advice; discipline, case management; information systems and release procedures. Conduct consultations, design and conduct three 5-days interactive workshops with prison management, corrections staff and institutional partners to develop and review content. Take account of earlier work completed by UNOPS on how the new prison will function. Produce a draft and, after validation through a workshop with prison management and the Ministry of Justice of Sint Maarten, submit a final version ready for implementation, including suggested placement cues for graphics, diagrams, and illustrative elements to enhance readability and user-friendliness for staff. Ensure that the final draft of the Operations Manual is around 100-120 pages, Times New Romar, Line spacing – Single. Organizational structure and Function Book Co-develop a new organizational structure for the new facility, including staffing requirements; grades and qualifications needed to operate the new prison and reporting arrangements. Discuss it with prison management through one 5-days interactive workshop. Update and refine the existing Function Book to include posts set out in the organizational structure, update all person specifications and job descriptions in the existing 127-page Function Book and add person specifications and job descriptions for any new posts in the structure. Discuss it with prison management through one 5-days interactive workshop. Review, adjust and validate the final version of the revised Function Book and staffing requirements with prison management through one 5-days interactive workshop. Development of priority SOPs and staff training Identify, together with local stakeholders, two priority areas requiring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Develop and validate two SOPs in close coordination with prison authorities and the Ministry of Justice of Sint Maarten to promote ownership, feasibility and alignment with international standards. Provide training for new recruits on core custodial skills Provide one refresher training for existing prison officers on prison safety and security (physical, procedural, and dynamic). Provide one leadership and management training for prison managers Deliver two training sessions to support familiarization and practical application of the Operations Manual and SOPs among current staff and new recruits.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminology, law, social sciences, education, training and development, business administration or related field. A first-level university degree in a similar discipline, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. At least 10 years of professional work experience in management responsibilities in the field of strategic and operational planning, including in the field of drafting and implementing operational and competency frameworks, staffing models, performance systems, and organizational structures for prison services or other criminal justice institutions is required. Direct involvement in the development, delivery and/or evaluation of operational workflows across criminal justice institutions, including revising structures, functions and staffing requirements and administrative processes aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and coordination is required. Professional experience in the development and delivery of training programmes on prison management and leadership, prison safety and security, performance management system, prison operations and managing change is required; prior experience in drafting and validating operational frameworks, process documentation, staffing models, standardized training curricula, corrections operational procedures is highly desirable. International experience and in-depth understanding of crime prevention and criminal justice policies in general, and prison and offender management in particular, is required, including in low- and middle-income countries is desirable. Strong research, drafting and coordination skills, analytical capacities and ability to synthesize complex inputs into coherent and practice-oriented content and guidance, is required; prior experience in developing practice-oriented and user-friendly guidance and tools in the field of prison and offender management is highly desirable. Familiarity with UN standards and norms related to the treatment of prisoners, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, the Bangkok Rules and the UN System Common Position on Incarceration, preferably complemented by exposure to delivering technical assistance on prison management-related issues at international level, including in low- and middle-income countries, is desirable.

Languages

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

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE 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.

Read Full Description