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1. 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.

1. OVERVIEW

The WCO is creating its 8th Programme within the Compliance and Enforcement Sub-directorate, the Anti-money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing Programme (AML-CTF). The primary reason that most transnational criminal organizations engage in their illicit activities is to generate premium profits due the illegal nature of their activities. Law enforcement authorities, in addition to targeting the illicit activity that is at the core of these networks, should also target the illicit profits that these organizations generate. The most damaging action against such networks, after the actual arrest and prosecution of their leadership, is the identification, seizure and confiscation of their dirty money. Without these illicit funds, Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and terrorist organizations cannot continue their operations. They cannot pay their lower level members, purchase the equipment they need, pay bribes, etc.

The WCO realizes that Customs Services (“Customs”) play a primary role in the global effort to thwart money laundering. Customs is uniquely positioned to serve as the primary sentinel at international borders and inland ports of entry, as they enforce the movement of smuggled currency, currency equivalents, gems/precious metals and other items of monetary value across the international borders.

In support of the global law enforcement and regulatory effort to combat international money laundering, the WCO will be implementing Project TENTACLE in 2020 and 2021. Project TENTACLE is a WCO-led AML-CTF project that will target bulk currency smuggling, the smuggling of gems and precious metals, as well as identified corrupt free trade zones.

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The goal of Project TENTACLE is to raise the capabilities of the WCO membership to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and to target the same activities from an operational standpoint. The WCO will conduct 5 capacity building workshops in 2020 and 2021 in the regions of Latin America, Asia and Africa. Each of these capacity building workshops will be followed by regional operational efforts.

1. OBJECTIVES

The program objectives are envisioned to be achieved mainly through:

• Delivery of technical assistance and capacity building;
• Conducting training workshops;
• Conducting scoping missions;
• Developing and updating training curriculum and materials including e-learning module;
• Preparing operational efforts to target the smuggling of currency/currency equivalents, gems and precious metals and basic trade-based money laundering;
• Providing experts to support Members operational efforts within their countries
• Organizing post-operational meetings to assess the over results of the missions;
• Promotional efforts to heighten awareness of AML/CTF in the Customs arena;
• Creation of a panel of WCO AML/CTF experts to provide training and subject matter expertise; and
• Partnering with the primary WCO counterparts on the international stage with regard to AML/CTF, such as INTERPOL, the Egmont Group, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and others.

1. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Drafting of letters in support of capacity building and operational efforts;
• Maintenance of statistical records and tracking of the same through established Project TENTACLE templates;
• Regular communications with the appropriate parties in support of the Project TENTACLE mission;
• Drafting of summaries of Project TENTACLE progress and Power Point presentations in support of the same;
• Logistical coordination of Project TENTACLE activities; and
• Other general activities to support the project.

1. EDUCATION

Higher education degree or equivalent by experience, and any appropriate additional trainings.          

1. EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience in providing administrative and logistical support in a programme/project context is required;
• Preference will be given to candidates familiar with the functioning of international organizations;
• Experience with development projects benefitting Asia, Latin America and Africa is considered an asset; and
• Experience in working with US-funded projects and/or law enforcement-related projects is an asset.

1. LANGUAGES

• Strong command of English language, both written and spoken; and
• Ability to speak and write French and/or Spanish at a high level would be an asset.

1. COMPETENCIES

• Excellent organizational skills;
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English; the ability to also speak and write at an excellent level in French and/or Spanish is preferred;
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment;
• Ability to adhere to tight deadlines;
• In-depth knowledge of MS office (mainly Word, Excel and PowerPoint);
• Ability to adapt to the administrative and financial tools used by the WCO.

1. CONTRACT AND CONDITIONS

• Staff member under short-term contract until September 2021 (with possibility of renewal);
• Probationary period: 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 up to 3,000 EUR/month all-inclusive (remuneration exempted from income tax in Belgium); and
• Compulsory WCO health insurance deducted from the salary (around 65 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. 

1. APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The bonus 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 CVs 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.

Interested candidates should submit their application for review no later than Friday, 15 December 2019, including a CV and cover letter in English or French by e-mail to:

wcoinamapa@wcoomd.org

Or by mail to:

World Customs Organization

COMPLIANCE AND FACILITATION

Rue du Marché, 30

B-1210 Brussels

Belgium

Interested candidates may submit a request for additional information via e-mail, providing full name and contact details.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to criteria of the position and the WCO applicable rules.

1. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The WCO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability as well as values diversity among its staff members. Applications from qualified women and men will receive equal treatment and due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting nationals from WCO Members on as wide a geographical basis as possible. Please note that the WCO Headquarters is a non-smoking environment.

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