Associate Civil Affairs Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Assignment is non-family (GOMA)

Under the direct supervision of the Civil Affairs Planning and Reporting Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

The incumbent will be placed at Goma HQ of Civil Affairs section in the Planning Reporting and Monitoring and Evaluation unit (PRME) and the main talks will be those mentioned in “Reporting and Program Management”.

Reporting and Program Management • Contribute to the formulation of the Mission’s strategic provincial plan; identify emerging issues and analyse their implications; • Gather information and prepare analytical reports on the impact of political, social and economic issues on conflict dynamics at the local level and how these relate to the developments at the national level (and conversely), and impact on Mission mandate implementation; • Report on Civil Affairs activities carried out in support to and coordinated with local authorities, civilian institutions and NGOs; • Contribute to overall mission monitoring and planning as required; • Prepare or contribute to the preparation of various written reports and communications, e.g. Security Council reports, draft sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, briefings, case studies, presentations; • Coordinate with Civil Affairs Pillar leads of Protection of Civilians (POC) and Stabilisation and Civil Affairs Coordinator in the field monitoring and evaluation of respective programmatic activities. • Act as a gender Focal Point for Civil Affairs Section in close collaboration with gender focal points in the field and MONUSCO Gender Office • Perform other related duties as may be required.

Protection of Civilians • Support existing protection mechanisms at the local level in their reporting and analysis of key challenges to the protection of civilians as well as of early warnings of potential threats against civilians and of community conflicts. Formulate actionable recommendations for the good offices of Mission Leadership to help address these challenges and threats; • Contribute to the facilitation and support to dialogue between groups in conflict through the organisation of structured meetings, dialogue sessions and similar activities; • Provide support to initiatives that build the capacity of local authorities and civil servants; • Participate to Joint Assessment Missions and Joint Protection Teams, together with MONUSCO substantive sections, in support of protection of civilians and stabilisation activities.

Coordination with Government/Civil Society/NGOs • Participate in the identification of new or emerging civil society issues and support the development of programs to address them; • Establish and maintain contacts with local interlocutors, including representatives of local authorities and communities, civil society actors, non-governmental organisations as well as representatives of local interest groups on protection of civilians and stabilization matters, in line with the Mission’s political engagement strategy; • Engage with and provide technical assistance and advice to civil society groups or institution that promotes a culture of peace and reconciliation, in support of the Mission’s protection priorities; • Provide support to events or activities (e.g. public fora, town hall meetings) to foster the development of political space at the local level, and in particular, dialogue and cooperation between local authorities and relevant interest groups; • Liaise, assist, coordinate and share information with local government and humanitarian/development actors active in the region to plan and coordinate peace consolidation and stabilisation development and assistance programmes.

Professionalism, Team work, Respect for diversity, Integrity.

Social science

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse. Living conditions therefore vary between MONUSCO duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water. The ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential. Accommodation is very expensive in both Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Supermarkets exist in the large towns (e.g. Bukavu, Kisangani), but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative. All MONUSCO duty stations are considered non-family duty stations, except for Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Entebbe which are now considered family duty stations, and most are currently under UN Security Phase III (“relocation phase”: internationally-recruited staff are temporarily concentrated or relocated to specified sites/locations). In addition to insecurity related to the relatively volatile political situation as well as various conflict situations, certain places are subject to increasing street and residential crime, including in Kinshasa and Goma. Some degree of medical service is provided in all MONUSCO duty stations. Certain vaccinations are mandatory for MONUSCO personnel to enter the DRC, while others are compulsory for all other incoming persons. It is possible for incoming MONUSCO personnel, including UN Volunteers, to be asked to provide proof of some or all vaccinations, though this is unlikely. All UN Volunteers must ensure that they are up-to-date with all appropriate vaccinations, which should be clearly and properly endorsed in the International Certificate of Vaccination (“carte jaune”). Malaria is present virtually throughout the DRC, and it is therefore recommended to take prophylaxis. The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller’s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), UN Volunteers are recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and VLA payments will be processed in cash. UN Volunteers have the possibility to send part of their allowances to a bank account abroad. In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.