Drug Counseling Specialist at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Drug Counseling Specialist-UNODC NGAV16 Project - Response to Drugs and Related Organized Crime in Nigeria

Location : Home-based with possible travel, Nigeria

Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : National Consultant
Languages Required : English

Duration of Initial Contract : 30 working days between August and October 31, 2014
Expected Duration of Assignment : 30 working days

Background
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.

UNODC is implementing a large-scale project funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). Project NGAV16 – Response to Drugs and Related Organized Crime in Nigeria, which aims at supporting Nigeria’s efforts in fighting drug production, trafficking and use, and in curbing related organised crime including counterfeit narcotics and psychotropic substances. The project proposes a balanced approach to drug control, with equal attention paid to drug interdiction and drug demand reduction, including drug prevention, treatment and care (DPTC).

The NDLEA was formed in 1989 to tackle drug-related crime. NDLEA is a large law enforcement and paramilitary agency, with 7 Directorates including one on drug demand reduction (DDR). There is at least one treatment (counseling) provider in each of the States affiliated with the NDLEA.

Against this background, the Drug Counseling Specialist is required to 1/ review the capacity and the functioning of the DDR department and the counseling centres of the NDLEA at the state level; 2/ assess the efficacy of the counseling programme and 3/ develop a support strategy for the DDR department and the counseling centres of the NDLEA.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Drug Counseling Specialist will work with 2 other consultants as a team in accordance with the tasks outlined in the inception phase report. S/he will work under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator, UNODC Project Office in Lagos, and the technical supervision of the Project Officer (DDR) at the UNODC Project Office in Lagos, Nigeria. The Drug Counseling Specialist will undertake field work to assess the DDR Department and the counselling centres of the NDLEA and the efficacy of the counseling programme and produce a comprehensive report with recommendations based on the findings of the assessment. The Drug Counseling Specialist will use the same set of questions to assess the centres. Based on the findings of the assessment and on feedback from stakeholders, the Drug Counseling Specialist will provide recommendations and develop the support strategy for the NDLEA DDR department and the counselling centres.

The support strategy should cover (but not be limited to) technical support (including inputs on rights of drug users), physical capacity, training needs, staffing, equipment, reporting, M&E, strengthening linkages with other government counterparts etc.

The assignment will be conducted between August and October 2014 and consist of the following:

• Contribute to a review and analysis of secondary literature available on the drug situation in Nigeria and international best practice in the area of drug prevention, treatment and care, with an emphasis on counseling programmes and policies;
• Contribute to developing an inception report outlining clearly a methodology, workplan and tasks for each of the consultants and questionnaires for carrying out the assessment both at the NDLEA headquarters and at the state commands so as to assess current capacity vis a vis international best practice;
• physical capacity of DDR department and centres; (location, size, ventilation etc);
• staff capacity (number of staff, length of posting in position, training provided to counselors etc)
• assess the “pathway” to treatment from client referral or entry to counseling, ability to leave centre, length of stay at centre, referral to counseling or treatment, outreach, services provided at counseling centres, post-release follow-up etc through a rights based approach;
• Current counseling programmes and policies including referral services;
• understand institutional linkages of NDLEA centres with prisons, hospitals, NGOs and other facilities for referrals of clients

Note: Methodology should include training of 1 NDLEA staff from each of the 6 geo-political zones who could administer part of the questionnaire.

• Undertake field visits to states (as per agreed upon methodology) in order to assess in-depth both the interventions being implemented and the capacity of the NDLEA counseling centres, using the standardized questionnaire developed (this could include physical structure, interventions, assessment and reporting formats, staff strength and capacity, client satisfaction, referral mechanisms etc) ;
• Contribute to a draft report which clearly identifies strengths and gaps in the current model to UNODC and NDLEA on the assessment (including a list of centres by state with contact details) and clear recommendations for the support strategy for inputs;(The recommendations could include but not limited to upgrading certain centres if they meet the basic standards, or merging certain centres or closing certain centres based on an objective criteria; residential or non-residential counseling)
• Co-facilitate a workshop where the findings of the report (assessment and support strategy) are shared with wider stakeholders and incorporate feedback;
• Provide inputs into the finalization of the report that includes a detailed assessment of the NDLEA DDR Department at its headquarters and the counseling centres and the recommendations for a support strategy after incorporating the comments from these key stakeholders;
• Draw the attention of stakeholders of further actions required to further build the capacity of NDLEA in the area of drug prevention, treatment and care during the workshop

Expected outputs/deliverables

• An inception report with clear methodology, including specific and relevant tasks which will form part of a joint work plan to be implemented jointly with 2 other consultants.

A consultancy report which will include a section which specifically focuses on the following:

• Physical capacity of the centres in relation to drug counselling;
• The management of the NDLEA DDR department and technical and staff capacity of the counseling centres to provide specialized drug counselling at the State level (including a list of centres by State with contact details);
• The efficacy of the counseling programme to address counseling needs of users;
• Implementable and relevant recommendations on support strategy for NDLEA centres.

Methodology:

• The Drug Counseling Specialist will work with 2 other consultants to jointly develop a methodology and questionnaire for assessment. S/he will conduct the assessment through direct interactions with the NDLEA HQ and staff based in the Commands (as much as possible), as well as clients receiving services at these facilities. The methodology should include training of one NDLEA staff from each of the 6 geo-political zones who could administer part of the questionnaire.
• S/he will provide inputs to all processes of the consultancy and focus on the process and content of counseling services provided at the NDLEA centres and carry out field work.
• The Drug Counseling Specialist will maintain close consultations with UNODC in addition to 2 other consultants to deliver on the expected outputs as stated in 3 above.

The Drug Counseling Specialist will submit the report of the assessment on or before 31 October 2014. The consultancywill take place between the first week of July to the end of October 2014. The Drug Counseling Specialist will be remunerated in the following manner:

• 30% payment on certification of inception report (including methodology, roles and deliverables of team members, as well as questionnaire) by UNODC;
• 30% payment upon certification of the draft reports to UNODC;
• 40% payment on delivery and certification of final assessment report and support strategy to UNODC.

Competencies

• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Proven communication and leadership skills;
• Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
• Display cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age related sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced university degree in health, psychology, social sciences or other related fields.

Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in drug dependence treatment or HIV/AIDS; developing or delivering treatment and counseling services to drug users, providing training on counseling, drug dependence treatment, understanding of drug treatment systems particularly in Nigeria will be an asset.
• Wide experience working with CSOs, government and universities;

Language:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential and a few Nigerian dialects is desirable.

Application Closing Date
23rd July, 2014

How to Apply
Interested candidates should
Click here to apply