Consultant – Prison and Penal Reform

About the role

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is seeking an experienced consultant to develop technical guidance, deliver advisory services, conduct assessments and provide capacity‑building support for prison and corrections services in Ukraine, Iraq and South Africa. The role focuses on advancing penal and prison reform, addressing corruption risks, and aligning interventions with UN standards and the Global Programme on People‑Centered Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and produce practice‑oriented guidance material on prison management, corruption risk mitigation and gender‑responsive reforms.
• Deliver advisory services, assessments and capacity‑building activities in close collaboration with CPCJS, UNODC field offices and the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch.
• Organise and facilitate consultative meetings, workshops and training sessions for national counterparts and UN stakeholders.
• Ensure timely submission of well‑researched deliverables, maintain transparent communication, and incorporate inputs from all relevant parties.
• Prepare final documents in clear, professional English, formatted according to UN standards.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in criminology, law, social sciences, business administration or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in criminal justice, prison management or offender treatment, including exposure to organizational change, regulatory frameworks, safety and security, rehabilitation and corruption prevention.
• Proven experience in designing, delivering and evaluating training programmes for criminal‑justice officials or prison officers.
• International experience, preferably in low‑ and middle‑income countries, with strong research, drafting, analytical and coordination skills.
• Familiarity with UN standards and norms such as the Nelson Mandela Rules, Bangkok Rules and Tokyo Rules.