About UNODC Regional Office in Eastern Africa (ROEA) 

The UNODC "Regional Office for Eastern Africa" was established in 1988 in Nairobi, Kenya and currently covers thirteen countries, namely, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. The Office is located in the complex of the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya and has around 70 staff members at the moment.

UNODC, as the guardian of crime prevention and criminal justice standards and norms, the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its related Protocols, the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), as well as the various international instruments on drug control and counter-terrorism, has unique expertise in addressing illicit trafficking and organized crime, as well as their linkages to corruption and terrorism.Through its Regional Office in Eastern Africa, UNODC has developed extensive knowledge of the drug and crime situation in the region, and has strong cooperation links with relevant national authorities and partner organizations.

The complex challenges facing the thirteen countries in the region in the area of human security demand a comprehensive and coherent approach. In this regard, UNODC has developed in close consultation with the countries in the region, the Regional Programme for Eastern Africa, entitled: "Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in Eastern Africa" (2016-2021). The Regional Programme overall objective is to support the efforts of Member States in the region to respond to evolving human security threats, with a focus on achieving a tangible impact. The Regional Programme, which the Regional Office has the sole responsibility to implement, is composed of five Sub-Programmes.

  • Sub-Programme I: Countering Transnational Organized Crime Trafficking
  • Sub-Programme II: Countering Corruption
  • Sub-Programme Ill: Terrorism Prevention
  • Sub-Programme IV: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
  • Sub-Programme V: Prevention of Drug Use, Treatment and Care of Drug Use Disorders and HIV and AIDS Prevention and Care.

The Regional Programme is managed by the Regional Representative's office, which works in close cooperation and collaboration with the Sub-Programme Managers, as well as with the Regional Section for Africa and the Middle East (RSAME), Integrated Programme and Oversight Branch (IPB), Division for Operations (DO) and the UNODC Headquarters in Vienna in ensuring the effective implementation of the Regional Programme.

The Regional Office is therefore strengthening its partnerships with East African Governments and is assisting and supporting them in tackling their drug, crime, justice, health and terrorism challenges in a more comprehensive and focused manner.