CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting These two (2) positions are located in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The Civil Affairs Officers will be based in Bunia and Goma. The Bunia post will report operationally to the Head of Office, and substantively to the Chief of Service, Civil Affairs. The Goma post serves as the Deputy Chief of Section and reports directly to the Chief of Service, Civil Affairs.

MONUSCO's mandate is based on UN Security Council Resolution 2666 (2022). Civil Affairs has a significant field presence in the Mission area and contributes to a number of the mandated tasks including, inter alia, the protection of civilians and support for implementation of the stabilization process, including efforts in favor of the extension of state authority. More specifically, the Civil Affairs component contributes to the development and implementation of a reconciliation and conflict prevention strategy that includes activities in local communities in coordination with civil society organizations and national partners. Civil Affairs also plays a key role in developing and implementing the mission's strategy in support of the extension and restoration of state authority, in the areas of local governance and promotion of state-society relationships. In particular, Civil Affairs works to support the host government to ensure that essential state institutions are present in the populated areas freed from armed groups and that they function in accordance with the constitutional order and in a manner responsive to the needs of the population, including by providing a reasonable level of essential services. Note that in both functions and per the UN Security Council Resolution 2666 (2022), MONUSCO is directed to progressively transfer its tasks to the Government of the DRC, the UNCT and other relevant stakeholders, where appropriate and consistent with mandates and resources, in order to enable the responsible and sustainable exit of the Mission. The Civil Affairs Officer will be required to actively contribute to strategy and operations towards this Transition.

S/he will contribute to the formulation of the mission’s strategic plan, provide guidance and assistance to various components in MONUSCO; and provide advice on government strategies, policies and regulatory frameworks. The Civil Affairs Officers will work to strengthen the institutional capacities of government departments and provinces and develop necessary guidelines, policies and technical capacity to ensure effective management of public and private sector activities. The incumbent submits accurate analysis and reporting of issues and actions in well written and concise reports. S/he effectively works with the local community, including government and community-based organizations as well as the international community.

Responsibilities Within the limits of delegated authority, the Civil Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Core profile - Represents the mission at the regional or local level and ensures that all relevant governmental and non-governmental actors in the area have accurate information about the mandate and full range of operations of the Mission and are coordinated in support of the governance priorities identified by the government and agreed with the Mission. - Provides information and analysis for the Mission and other actors where applicable, on political, social and economic issues affecting conflict dynamics at the local and regional level, including analysis on how these relate to the national level and vice versa. Ensures a sound methodology for identifying concerns and perceptions of the local population, and ensures these are effectively communicated to the Mission, as well as other actors where appropriate. Identifies emerging issues and critical peacebuilding gaps. Actively supports implementation of the Mission’s early warning function. - Ensures a shared understanding of the Mission environment, mandate and operations amongst Mission actors at the regional or local level, in particular uniformed components, to support consistency and coherence of approach. - Establishes and fosters effective working relations with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and develops local initiatives for joint work where appropriate. Coordinates and plans with UNCT partners in their area of operations to ensure a coherent UN system effort. - Troubleshoots problems that arise at the regional or local level that threaten mandate implementation and the progress of the national and local peace processes. Formulates recommendations concerning Mission broader actions and approaches required at regional or local level, mobilises a response from other actors where appropriate. - Identifies, manages and evaluates individual Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) intended for confidence building purposes at the local level, in line with the Mission SOP as well as the overall DPKO/DFS Policy Directive on QIPs and mission specific priorities. - Supervises, monitors and encourages the work of officers under his/her responsibility holding them accountable for undertaking the full range of their duties. - Identifies and researches good practice and lessons learned in Civil Affairs work and shares these with colleagues, including through active participation in the online Civil Affairs Network. - Proactively contributes to overall mission monitoring and planning. - Performs other duties as required, in line with the DPKO/DFS Policy Directive on Civil Affairs.

Conflict Management and Protection of Civilians - Develops strategies for regional or local level conflict management work in line with the wider Mission strategy, including mechanisms for information-sharing, crisis response and protection of civilians as needed. - Facilitates and supports dialogue between groups in conflict, in the area of responsibility by convening structured meetings and similar activities. - Promotes and protects the interest of excluded and/or threatened groups through advocacy in full respect of humanitarian and international law. - Identifies and supports civil society groups and/or institutions that promote a culture of peace and reconciliation including by supporting Civil Society to organize Joint/thematic Working Groups and to coordinate joint positions on policy, peace and governance issues. Assists Civil Society organisations where appropriate, to become effective implementing partners for Quick Impact Projects and Community Violence Reduction activities. - Regularly updates the Mission’s knowledge, understanding of and engagement with Civil Society networks both at the national and sub national levels, particularly youth and women’s groups.

Support to State Institutions - Provides a strategy for effective cooperation between MONUSCO/UN and state institutions at the national or local level, in line with the wider Mission strategy and in coordination with other actors. - Assists local institutions to assess capacity building and support needs, working with partners including the UNCT and in particular UNDP. Helps to design and mobilise a coordinated response to these needs from relevant actors. - Designs and implements appropriate and practical Civil Affairs support to local authorities and institutions, including mentoring and provision of support to policy and decision-making processes where appropriate. - Supports dialogue and cooperation between authorities and relevant interest groups with the aim of creating political space and accountability. Provides support to the development of structures of accountability and transparency. - Initiates and/or supports events such as town-hall meetings to foster development of political space at the local level. Initiates and/or supports civic education programmes at the local level on a range of issues, including elections, policy issues, and good governance principles, in coordination with local authorities and/or civil society actors.

Programme Management - Supports the Head of Service/Chief of Civil Affairs in all aspects of their role. Acts as Deputy Director / Lead of a small Civil Affairs component where assigned. - In the CAS HQ in Goma, supports the Head of Service to manage the Civil Affairs Section, undertaking or overseeing the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for its functioning. Supports the Head of Service to design and oversee implementation of the Civil Affairs Section’s Strategic guidance note and work plan. Ensures that Civil Affairs teams in the various field offices work towards a shared understanding of the Mission mandate and operations, and act in a cohesive and consistent manner to deliver the Mandate. Coordinates with UNCT partners in that area of operations to ensure a coherent UN system effort, particularly towards MONUSCO’s transition. - Manages a regional or local field office or team, undertaking or overseeing the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for its functioning. Designs and oversees implementation of the Civil Affairs workplan for that area, as well as the work of other components as relevant, ensuring consistency of approach and efficiency of output. - Manages a large Mission QIPs programme in accordance with Mission priorities and SOP and the DPKO/DFS policy on QIPs. Includes, inter alia: acting as Secretariat to a decision-making body on QIPs, ensuring the effective and timely running of the project design, approval and implementation process, the keeping of accurate records, assistance with determining mission specific priorities, assessment of impact of the overall programme, and drafting of QIPs submission for the Mission budget. - Oversees development and ensures distribution of high-quality mission-specific induction materials. Designs, oversees implementation and evaluates tailored in-mission skills training for Civil Affairs components in accordance with global Civil Affairs skills training methodologies. - Serves as focal point for researching, identifying and sharing good practices and lessons learned with the Civil Affairs component and the global Civil Affairs community. - Performs other related work as required and tasked.

Competencies Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, law, international relations, public administration, social sciences, anthropology, economics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in social sciences, governance, international relations, civil affairs or other related area is required

Demonstrated experience in both protection of civilians and management of a large and diverse team is desirable.

Experience working on support to state institutions, and/or programme management, security, political and institutional analysis; planning and organizing, women's empowerment, youth empowerment, and /or development of civil society is desirable.

A minimum of 2 years of experience working in a UN Peacekeeping Operation or Special Political Mission is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required .

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice These positions are temporarily available for six (6) months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.