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COMPLIANCE AND FACILITATION DIRECTORATE

COMPLIANCE SUB-DIRECTORATE

WCO Programme Global Shield (PGS)

Project Analyst for the Project PGS GLOBAL

INTRODUCTION

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an independent intergovernmental body, established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs services across the globe. The WCO represents 183 Customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters.

As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between national Customs delegates, the WCO offers its Members a range of Conventions and other international instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or with its participation. The Secretariat also actively supports its Members in their endeavours to modernize and build capacity within their national Customs administrations.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Programme Global Shield (hereinafter referred to as “PGS” or the “Programme”) is an unprecedented international effort to monitor licit movement of chemicals and counter the illicit diversion of chemical precursors and detonators used by terrorists and other criminal organizations to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

Spearheaded by the WCO, the Programme is running in partnership with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in order to secure global supply chain and to enhance public safety.

This Programme aims at monitoring the licit movement of thirteen (13) of the most common chemical precursors (e.g. Ammonium Nitrate, Acetone, Urea) and other materials that could be used to manufacture IEDs in order to counter their illicit trafficking and diversion. It promotes cooperation among Customs and Police administrations in combating the illicit diversion of precursor chemicals, engages with private industry to establish best practice, trains Customs officers in detecting and handling precursor chemicals, and initiates investigations and other enforcement activities.

Started in November 2010 and funded by the US as a global six (6) months project, the achievements and importance of PGS led the WCO to endorse it as a long-term endeavour. In the meantime, even the United Nations recognized PGS and encouraged all countries to participate in and support it.

Due to the success of the Programme, particularly the fact that it undoubtedly saved lives by keeping bomb-making materials out of the hands of terrorists, in March 2011 the WCO endorsed a proposal for the Programme to become a long-term programme within the WCO; enabling Customs Administrations and the Police to continue multilateral efforts to combat the illicit trafficking and diversion of precursor chemicals.

In the last years, PGS was focused only on supporting specific regions within smaller and geographically limited projects rather than a global programme to support all WCO members.

Nevertheless, WCO members, especially those who already received respective trainings, have been permanently invited to join PGS community by nominating PGS National Contact Points (NCPs) in order to be able to securely exchange information through secure communication platform.

Today around 285 NCPs within customs administrations from around 100 countries are sharing information on precursor chemicals and other materials used for IEDs. Along with training, technical assistance, operational exercises, real-time information and intelligence sharing PGS entails for its participants and partners to be better equipped to interdict the illicit diversion of these materials in the supply chain.

Project PGS GLOBAL (hereinafter referred to as the “Project”) aims at resuming the global approach of the Programme.

PGS forms part of the WCO Security Programme and is staffed with one (1) PGS Coordinator. Depending on regional PGS project funds additional project staff is temporarily added.

OBJECTIVES

The Project’s objectives are to be achieved mainly through:

• Organizing and conducting a global PGS conference;
• Delivering technical assistance and capacity building;
• Developing/updating training and promotion material;
• Updating and tailoring the Customs Enforcement Network Communication Platform (CENcomm) for PGS members and enhance information exchange;
• Establishing and delivering serious data analysis on PGS seizures, licit shipments including both WCO databases as well as open-source information;
• Conducting operational activities and fostering stakeholder cooperation; and
• Purchasing and delivering detection devises to most vulnerable members.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Within the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate (Enforcement and Compliance Sub-Directorate), and under the supervision of the PGS Coordinator, the Project Analyst for the Project PGS GLOBAL will assist and contribute effectively to the delivery of the Project objectives and activities in cooperation with the Project team which includes a Project Trainer as well as a Project Assistant.

He/she will be responsible for PGS Database analysis and will be asked to perform highly specialized duties in a timely manner, mainly:

PGS Database analysis:

• Compiling PGS-related information (mass data) from different sources (WCO databases CEN, CENcomm, open sources, stakeholder information);
• Acting as the central point of contact for all PGS NCPs to ensure timely and comprehensive data sharing;
• Providing operational analysis on the operations conducted in the course of the Project; and
• Supporting the PGS Coordinator, the Project Trainer and the Project Assistant in their duties, upon request.

Capacity building, training and technical assistance:

• Providing analytical and technical support to the data compiling process in CENcomm tool;
• Organizing and monitoring the data exchange between CENcomm users (e.g. National Contact Points – NCP);
• Organizing and conducting CENcomm training sessions for law enforcement officers; and
• Assisting and cooperating with the PGS Coordinator and the Project Trainer in the production and update of training material.

Operational activities

• Assisting in organizing and coordinating law enforcement operations in the Project implementation areas;
• Assisting in setting up and maintaining communication during operational activities; and
• Providing technical support to participants on CENcomm during operational activities.

Reporting and analysis activities

• Contributing effectively to regular reporting activities and drafting substantive analysis;
• Overseeing the mining and analysis of PGS data and information; and
• Compiling comprehensive data analysis of operational activities.

Communication activities

• Promoting the Project, including contribution to publications and communications;
• Operating and supporting development of the PGS CENcomm application; and
• Liaising with PGS NCPs, partners and key stakeholders in a demanding context.

Any other related duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

EDUCATION

• The applicant should hold a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field of study.
• A Master's degree in statistics/econometrics or a Master's degree specializing in IT would be an asset.

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of ten (10) years’ relevant experience is required;
• Sound knowledge and experience in customs and/or law enforcement and/or border security;
• Sound knowledge of data analysis;
• Experience as an analyst in enforcement data analysis would be an asset;
• Experience in capacity building and/or training will be an asset; and
• Experience in organizing workshops or events at national/regional/global level will be an asset.

LANGUAGES

• Fluency in English or French is a requirement; and
• Knowledge of the other would be desirable.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong communication skills;
• Capacity to create and sustain a network;
• Ability to work in a team and in multi-cultural environment with a wide variety of stakeholders;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Use of Advanced Excel and its features such as pivot tables and interactive dashboards, charts, functions, etc.;
• Knowledge of Power BI and/or Tableau Software or any other data visualization tool would be an advantage;
• Knowledge of processing and statistical software would be desirable; and
• Excellent command of the other components of MS office (Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook).

CONTRACT AND CONDITIONS

• Staff member under short-term contract of two (2) years (with the possibility of extension according to the duration of the Project);
• Probationary period: six (6) months;
• Full-time employment (37 hours and 40 minutes weekly) at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium;
• 30 days of annual paid leave;
• Salary commensurate with experience and up to 4,500 EUR/month all-inclusive (remuneration exempted from income tax in Belgium); and
• Compulsory WCO health insurance deducted from the salary (around 67 EUR/month).

This position is subject to the Manual for Short-Term Contractors. The successful applicant shall not acquire the right subsequently to occupy a permanent post within the WCO. The successful applicant will not be affiliated to any retirement fund or pension scheme taken by the WCO. 

APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate how he/she meets each of the essential qualifications and requirements. Applicants are encouraged to detail concrete achievements in their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and/or in their cover letters as well as include references.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an assessment which may include a written test and/or an interview. All short-listed candidates may be requested to provide copies of their original diploma, certificates and proof of relevant experience. Pre-selected candidates may also be subject to reference checks to confirm the information provided in the application.

Shortlisted candidates may also be subjected to practical data analysis tests.

Interested candidates should submit their application for review no later than January 14, 2022 including a CV and cover letter in English or French by e-mail to: globalshield@wcoomd.org

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