Associate Mission Planning 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.

Under Resolution 2677 (2023), the Security Council determined that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. The Council extended the UNMISS mandate until 15 March 2024 and reiterated that the Mission should advance a three-year strategic vision (2021-2024) to prevent a return to civil war, build durable peace and support inclusive, accountable governance and free, fair and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, UNMISS is authorized to use all necessary means to implement its mandate, which includes four main areas: (a) Protection of civilians (b) Creating the conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance (c) Supporting the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement and the Peace Process (d) Monitoring, investigating, and reporting on violations of humanitarian and human rights law. The Security Council decided that the protection of civilians shall be given priority in decisions about the use of available capacity and resources. UNMISS is one of the largest UN peacekeeping operations. It has an annual budget of USD 1,116,609,000 (for the period of 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023). The ceiling (maximum level of deployment) is maintained at 17,000 troop personnel and 2,101 police personnel, including 88 justice and corrections advisors. UNMISS has just above 2,800 civilian personnel. Please refer to https://unmiss.unmissions.org/mandate for more information.

The Strategic Planning Unit (SPU) of UNMISS is housed in the Office of the Mission Chief of Staff (OCOS). SPU’s role is to provide expert advice and support to the Mission senior management on strategic and operational planning issues and to initiate, organize and lead core mission-wide strategic planning processes and mechanisms to support integrated mandate delivery. The latter includes the development of mission-wide products such as the Mission Plan, the Comprehensive Performance Assessment System (CPAS) framework, and the Results-based Budget (RBB) framework, as well as monitoring and reporting on their implementation. SPU also supports the Mission’s substantive components on the development and implementation of section and office-specific plans and strategies. It also works closely with the UNMISS military and police component planning units, as well as with the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) to support effective integration among the UN family in South Sudan.

The UN Volunteer will assist with the overall portfolio of SPU and, more specifically, will focus on activities in the areas of monitoring, assessing and reporting on the Mission’s impact and performance. The UN Volunteer will also support the Best Practices Unit (BPU) in promoting and facilitating organizational learning and knowledge sharing within the Mission, with other missions and the UN Headquarters. BPU is co-located with SPU. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Mission Planning Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Contribute to the development and revision of various strategic documents, including the mission plan, CPAS results framework/integrated workplan and the United Nations, in accordance with the UN Policy on Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) and DPO/DOS Policy on Planning and Review of Peacekeeping Operations; • Assist with the provision of technical assistance and advice to all Mission components to ensure strategic guidance from mission leadership is translated into concrete operational and programmatic plans, including through interacting and collaborating with planning focal points across Mission components to help foster a culture of planning and coordination; • Establish procedures related to and contribute to collecting, analyzing, securing and presenting data, create monitoring and reporting tools (such as databases) and templates, and design graphs, presentations and other products to support evidence-based analysis, assessment, and evaluation of the Mission’s impact and performance; • Support preparation and coordination of inputs for the Mission’s results-based budget (RBB) framework and performance reports as well as for audits and evaluations, particularly through compiling, monitoring and analysing budget proposals and performance data; support the implementation of the comprehensive performance assessment system (CPAS) and assist in monitoring and reporting on the use of programmatic activities funding; • Support the work of BPU, particularly in promoting knowledge sharing tools and systems, such as the Policy and Practice Database, in developing and managing a mission-specific guidance repository, and in supporting after-action reviews and lessons learned studies, as required; • Undertake research, compile background information, draft documents, support the organization of meetings, trainings and workshops, and support assessments, reviews and official visits within the purview of SPU and BPU; • Perform other related duties, as required by the direct supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote capacity development activities and transfer of skills to national personnel during the assignment; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Connect and Collaborate • Analyse and Plan • Learn and Develop

the areas of strategic planning or programme/project management. Solid computer skills, including full proficiency in core Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint). Interest in peacekeeping and peacebuilding issues, the UN system, and volunteerism as a mechanism for development. Desirable skills and experience: Knowledge of and experience in using monitoring and evaluation methodology, tools and applications, and statistical and other data analysis programmes. Experience in results-based management. Experience in database management, application and design. Knowledge of additional Microsoft 365 applications such as PowerBI and Visio. Experience in drafting guidance and clear communication and in supporting the coordination of multistakeholder drafting and reporting processes. Experience in enterprise risk management. Experience in working with the UN System entities or another relevant organization in or on a conflict or post conflict setting.

Living conditions vary between UNMISS duty stations. Each duty station where UNMISS has a field presence has basic residential camp facilities, which includes running water and electricity. Candidates should be aware that accommodation may be austere with the possibility of water shortages and power blackouts. On arrival in Juba accommodation will be on a share basis. Ablutions will also be shared. As the accommodation situation improves single unit accommodation, with an attached ablution, should become available in all locations. Hard wall accommodation is available in Juba.

All UNMISS duty stations apart from Entebbe, Uganda are considered non - family duty stations. The security level of UNMISS duty stations is classified by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) who will brief on arrival. A number of locations in South Sudan are prone to conflict.

Primary health care services (preventive and curative) are provided in 11 United Nations Owned Equipment (UNOE) Level-I clinics, 21 Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Level-I clinics, 4 COE Level-II medical facilities within the mission area and the establishment of contractual agreements for Level-III and Level-IIII care outside the mission area. The 4 Level-II facilities available in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Wau, run by the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC), take referrals from the Level-I clinics and provide hospital-based care.

The climate is tropical with a rainy season in many areas, which should normally span from around April to October. Ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions is essential.