The 2015 Afghanistan National Drug Use Survey (ANDUS)1 indicated that 11% of the country population (2.9 to 3.5 million people) were tested positive for narcotic drugs.  Furthermore, around 690,000 ‐ 850,000 females used drugs in Afghanistan. Sub-programme 3 of UNODC country Programme for Afghanistan aims at addressing drug use, drug use disorders and related HIV/AIDS and other co- morbidities as part of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan, with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, female drug users and populations in closed settings.

PROJECT CONTEXT AND SCOPE:

Drug dependence is considered as a multi‐factorial health disorder that often follows the course of a relapsing and remitting chronic disease.  To address drug use, and its related disorders, it is necessary to adopt a multifaceted treatment approach taking into account  the  health,  socioeconomic,  and  security  implications  of drug use.

An effective drug treatment program should contain quality drug treatment services with particular focus  on physical, mental, social, psychological, and economic wellbeing and should facilitate recovery and re‐integration to families and communities.

In order to improve treatment outcomes, prevent relapse and ensure successful integration into society, drug dependence must not be treated in isolation; instead,  the wider context in which drug use and  recovery  take place must also be considered and addressed (sustained recovery management).  Currently, drug  treatment  centres  in  Afghanistan  are  providing  a  range  of  services  including  detoxification, rehabilitation, medication. After care, including recovery and social re‐integration services, is not available.

In order to protect recovering drug users from social  exclusion,  stigma,  discrimination  and  support  their integration  to  families  and  communities  as  well  as  to  prevent  them  from  relapse,  it  is  crucial  to  provide opportunities and tools that will help improve the individual resources required to achieve social reintegration though employment.

Employment is a key protective factor against social exclusion, as it can provide financial means, increase social networks, be associated with certain rights (e.g. access to free healthcare). Evidence shows that recovering drug users who are employed usually respond well to substance abuse treatment. Employment also helps moderate the occurrence and severity of relapse to addiction2. In addition, the benefits of being in (paid) work can include a sense of responsibility and contribution to society; a sense  of  self‐worth  and  confidence;  a  new  source  of identity; a new social network of non‐drug users; and a daily routine that is not focused on the procurement of drugs.

From 2023, UNODC through partners organization has been implementing an EU-funded project in collaboration with WHO to ensure successful integration of people who use drugs at recovery to their families and society by supporting four vocational skills training programmes in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces.

Objective of the Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to carefully review the existing Vocational Skill Training Program (VSTP) under the EU-funded project and come up with recommendations and suggestions for further development and quality improvement of the program.

Under the overall guidance of the Representative of the UNODC Country Office for Afghanistan (COAFG) and direct supervision of Programme Officer for Drug Demand Reduction and HIV Prevention, the National VSTP Consultant will be home based and need based visits to COAFG in Kabul and closely work with the UNODC health team and relevant implementing partners on completion of the mentioned assignment.

Summary of key functions:

• Review the overall design, implementation, and approaches of the current vocational skill training program under EU-funded project; focusing on establishing partnership with the private businesses and corporates in the country and come up with recommendations for improvement;
• Develop/ amend the existing training curriculums in accordance with the agreements signed with the partners and donor’s requirements;
• Develop an implementation strategy and guidelines for vocational skills training program. This should be done through the collection and analysis of field information, and desk review of the existing practices in Afghanistan and developing countries contest – including VSTP sustainability plan;
• Train key NGOs staff on VSTP implementation guidelines and approaches;
• Conduct market assessment/analysis with relevant UNODC partners and amend the program based on the findings;
• Facilitate linkages and collaboration with the relevant entities working in vocational skills training programs, for example private corporate houses and implementing partners, and UNODC as needed;
• Lead development of Public Private partnership strategy/protocol, and planning for the sustainability of the program;
• Review and revise the existing reporting formats, monitoring tools in line with the project/donors’ requirements;
• Develop a plan and advocacy initiatives for the employment to support the recovered individuals who completed VSTP;
• Come up with a marketing plan and policy for the small business and products of the recovered individuals who completed the VSTP;
• Review the project implementation progress and make recommendations for further development and improvement of the quality of the program;
• Organize field visits and conduct assessments, in order to collect the data and information needed for completion of the assigned tasks;
• Perform other duties assigned by the head of health section in line with this

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver the followings:

Deliverable1: 

VSTP training curriculums revised/adopted.

VSTP reporting and monitoring tools revised.

VSTP implementation guideline.

Due dates (working days):  15 days/ date TBD

Deliverable percentage: 30%

Deliverable2: 

Market assessment report.

Advocacy action plan.

Small business development planning tool.

Due dates (working days): 15 days/ date TBD

Deliverable3: 

Public private partnership strategy – sustainability.

Detailed report on assessment of VSTP with specific recombination for improvement.

Due dates (working days): 15 days/ date TBD

Interested and qualified Afghans national candidates should email their applications and CV (indicating on the subject line the vacancy number and the title of the position applied for) to

unodc-afghanistanvacancies@un.org

Please note that incomplete applications & applications received after the closing date (13-July-2024) will not be given consideration.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

unodc-afghanistanvacancies@un.org