Terms of Reference: Workstream Lead – Countering Narcotics

Technical context

UK-Pakistan Serious Crime and Law Enforcement (UPSCALE)-2 programme is an UK Government- funded programme designed to help tackle cross-border crime that undermine the security and prosperity of the UK and Pakistan. This phase of the UK-Pakistan Cooperation on Serious Crime and Law Enforcement will run for 12 months from April 2025 to March 2026. This programme continues our critical mission of enhancing protection for vulnerable communities through improved systems and reduced threats, building upon the remarkable achievements of our previous project phase.  

The programme is intended to address cross-border crime across the following thematic areas:

Criminal Justice Cooperation – MLA and Extradition

• Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition: To make the process in Pakistan more effective, efficient, expeditious, and accountable.
  

Irregular Migration and Organised Immigration Crime

• Strengthen detection and targeting of irregular migration via Pakistan airports.
  

Strengthen community protection and mitigate against diaspora high harm offenders

• Sex Offender Management: Fully operationalise an effective and legally compliant sex offender register following Nov 2024 launch.

• Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA): Deliver Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven capability to better target OCSEA.

Criminal Record Sharing

• The quality of criminal records data transmitted from Pakistan to the UK is prompt, reliable, consistent, and adequate. Pakistan is tracking relevant information.

Countering Narcotics

• An enhanced and strengthened system capacity improving the potential to tackle shared narcotics-related threats.

Improved law enforcement cooperation on Illicit Finance

• Pakistan systems deliver against FATF commitments and better use illicit finance capacity to disrupt criminal activity, including with UK nexus. The aim of the project is to deliver meaningfulandmeasurableresultsinthetacklingofcrossbordercrime,buildingsystems and institutional capability that provide a sustainable foundation for the operational effectiveness of relevant UK and Pakistan agencies.

WAYS OF WORKING

Project approach

ASI is implementing a problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) approach to system reform. This places a priority on the delivery of results, in line with the project’s theory of change, logical framework and with the agreement of project leadership.

ASI way of working

All associates are required to work in accordance with ASI’s best practice of:

• Results-focused problem solving.

• Collaborative working to building and maintain great relationships.

• Developing and sharing insights, technical knowledge and thought leadership within the project and across ASI.
  

Contractual and policy compliance

All associates are expected to read and understand the obligations detailed in their contract, including adherence to ASI policies. This includes use of ASI systems for communication and for storage of ongoing and completed project work. Associates should note that over the course of the project they are accountable to ASI and act as ‘ambassadors’ of the company.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Team leadership and management: Team Leader, Programme Director

• Team management: Programme Management Unit

• Regional ASI leadership: Head of Pakistan, Head of Pakistan Finance, People & Talent Manager, Operations Manager, Head of Duty of Care.

• Other ASI programmes: Pakistan programmes, international programmes working in the same sector.
  

External:

• Clients: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office representatives in the British High Commission.

• Counterparts: Pakistan and UK agencies operating in the project’s technical space - Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF)

• Project consortium partners and suppliers.

• Other project stakeholders from government, bilateral agencies, multilateral agencies and non-government organisations.

KEY TASKS

Part A: Technical Skills

Results-focused problem solving

• Work with the Team lead to lead a problem-driven, iterative adaptation approach to project design and delivery.

• Undertake the below activities and work with other members of the project leadership team to coordinate the activities across thematic areas:

1. Identify and define problems that lie within the scope of the project’s theory of change and within the area of project scope for which you are responsible.

2. Identify indicators that reflect meaningful, measurable and achievable results.

3. Identify, plan and deliver policy, process, human capacity and system changes that deliver results.

4. Drive sustainable institutional and system improvements that deliver long-term value.

•  Support finalisation of project theory of change and logical framework.

Work collaboratively with counterparts and team members

• Undertake the below activities and work with other members of the project leadership team to coordinate the activities across thematic areas:

1. Ensure all activities are completed in partnership with Pakistani and British government counterparts, positioning your work and the wider project as a shared endeavour between all parties.

2. Build a deep understand the needs of counterparts and the constraints they face.

• Lead on:

1. Identification and facilitation of project ‘entry’ to counterpart and stakeholder institutions to allow reform support, including support for engagement by other team members.

2. Building of relationships that position you as a trusted adviser to counterparts, driven by sustainable technical improvement.

• Proactively identity issues and risks and seek resolutions and mitigations in partnership with other team members and counterparts. Review these regularly as part of the project’s risk management process.

• Work positively and collaboratively with other team members with a view to making the project a shared success.

Deploy, develop and share technical knowledge and learning

• Coordinate technical interventions across the project.

• Use your technical knowledge of the project scope and the theme to which you are assigned to advise on value-driven and legally compliant system interventions and improvements.

• Leverage available material and other team members to build your understanding of technical issues that represent gaps in your knowledge.

• Share your knowledge, insights and learning with other team members, counterparts and the wider set of ASI colleagues in Pakistan and globally.

Part B: GESI, Sustainability, Communications and Political Economic Analysis

Integrating GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) into Project Delivery

•  Work with the project team to mainstream GESI considerations across all activities and ensure inclusive policy and system improvements.

• Identify and address gender and inclusion barriers within the programme’s scope, ensuring that proposed reforms create equitable opportunities and outcomes.

• Develop and implement GESI-sensitive indicators to track the project's impact on marginalized groups.

• Provide recommendations on how to integrate gender-responsive and inclusive approaches into policy, process, and system changes.

Promoting Sustainability in Reforms and System Improvements

• Work with counterparts to ensure that all interventions are designed for long-term sustainability, with a focus on institutional ownership.

• Identify policy and regulatory frameworks that support sustainable reform efforts, ensuring that improvements are embedded within counterparts’ institutions.

• Promote capacity-building initiatives that empower local stakeholders and institutions to sustain programme-driven changes beyond the programme lifecycle.

• Incorporate environmental and financial sustainability considerations in planning and decision-making processes.

Strengthening Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and implement communication strategies that highlight project achievements and enhance stakeholder engagement.

• Work collaboratively with government counterparts and team members to ensure effective knowledge-sharing and transparency.

• Ensure that communications are accessible, culturally appropriate, and aligned with ASI goals.

• Identify opportunities for media engagement, policy dialogues, and dissemination of project learnings to a wider audience.

Applying Political Economy Analysis (PEA) for Adaptive Programming

• Working with the team continuously apply PEA to understand the political, economic, and institutional context affecting project delivery.

• Identify key stakeholders, power dynamics, and potential challenges that may impact reform efforts.

• Use PEA findings to adapt and refine project strategies, ensuring alignment with local realities.

• Build relationships with key influencers and decision-makers to enhance project impact and secure buy-in for reforms.

Part C: Specific Targets and Logframe Indicators

• Specific targets will be set and agreed upon with Team Lead. To be shared via email separately once the Logframe is finalised with the client.

• Lead all aspects of delivery of respective workstream outcome and output indicator(s) set out in programme logframe and as aligned with the client.

Part D: Additional Responsibilities

Beyond the core responsibilities outlined in Parts A, B and C, associates are expected to:

• Adapt to evolving project needs and take on additional tasks as required by the leadership team.

• Support cross-functional initiatives, ad hoc assignments, and urgent project priorities as they arise.

• Contribute to internal learning, process improvements, and team capacity-building efforts.

• Maintain a flexible and proactive approach to responsibilities, ensuring the overall success of the project.

• Attend ASI Corporate trainings, workshops and learning sessions

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 16+ years of education from reputable university

• Essential – Good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. Master’s degree is a bonus.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• 10+ years of relevant work experience

• Additional qualifications relevant to the job

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• Problem definition and problem solving

• Research and synthesis

• Planning and delivering results

• Data gathering, analysis and evaluation

• Stakeholder management

• Quality and attention to detail

• Continuous improvement

• Managing complexity

• Innovation and change management

• Communication and knowledge management

• Collaboration and teamwork

• Personal impact and effectiveness

• Writing and presentation

• Relationship building
  
  

KNOWLEDGE:

• In-depth technical understanding of assigned workstream of project scope

• Understanding of the interests, institutions and ideologies of actors and stakeholders operating within the project’s technical scope.

• Monitoring and evaluation.

• Political, GESI, sustainability, social and cultural understanding of the context.

ATTITUDE:

• High level of emotional intelligence in the following areas: self- awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship management.

• Proactive, self-starter, resourceful.

• Open-minded, flexible approach to problem-solving.

• Resilient to changing circumstances and challenges.

• Achievement oriented.

• Determination to complete work.

• Trustworthy, reliable, professional and accountable.

Deadline for applications is 8th September 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.