International Consultant - PSCF Assessment

Result of Service On 24 February 2013, 11 countries signed the ‘Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC) Framework for the Democratic of the Congo (DRC) and the region’ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with two additional countries also signing the PSC Framework on 31 January 2014. The PSC Framework aims to help “address the root causes of conflict and put an end to recurring cycles of violence” in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region. It represents a renewed drive by the Member States to end the cycles of devastating conflict that impact stability and development in the region.

During the 11th High-Level Meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM), held on 6 May 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi, the Heads of State and Governments of the region noted the continuous difficult regional situation in the context of the 10th Anniversary of the signing of the PSC Framework. They reiterated the pertinence of the PSC Framework as a vehicle for promoting sustainable peace and stability in the region and requested the Technical Support Committee (TSC) to conduct an independent, frank, and sincere assessment of the implementation of the Framework’s implementation, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, and to review how signatory countries were adhering to its principles and commitments. They further requested the inclusion of the conclusions and recommendations of the aforementioned assessment in the Roadmap for the revitalization of the PSC Framework devised during the 34th meeting of the TSC held on 2 May 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi. The Roadmap resulted from successive deliberations among signatory countries during the 31st, 32nd and 33rd sessions of the TSC, which all took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 7 to 8 July 2022, 14 to 15 November 2022, and 12 to 13 April 2023, respectively.

Prior to this development, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1140th meeting of Heads of State, held on 17 February 2023, noted the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and recommended that “the AU, in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the United Nations (UN), to urgently work towards the revitalization of the [PSC Framework for the DRC and the region] and to report back to the Council within six weeks”. The AU PSC also stressed in its Communiqué of 19 April 2022 on the Great Lakes region, the essential role of the Guarantor Institutions (UN, AU, ICGLR and SADC), as well as other stakeholders, in ensuring the full implementation of the PSC Framework.

The AU Commission also organized a technical consultation on 29 March 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought together the Guarantor Institutions of the PSC Framework as well as representatives of EAC and ECCAS and resulted in the development of a Plan of Action for the Revitalization of the PSC Framework.

The overall objective of the consultancy is to conduct a thorough review and an in-depth assessment of the implementation of the PSC Framework since its signing in 2013, focusing on the progress, challenges and possible opportunities, with a view to formulating recommendations to enhance and reinvigorate the implementation of national, regional and international commitments enshrined in the PSC Framework. In so doing, the consultant will build on previous progress reports reviewed and adopted by the governance mechanisms of the PSC Framework and consultations to be conducted with signatory countries and other key stakeholders.

Work Location Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travels within the Great Lakes Region.

Expected duration Three (3) Months. 15 June to 15 September 2023.

Duties and Responsibilities The Consultant will carry out the following tasks:

•Design a work methodology with timelines for the consultative process with relevant national, regional, international stakeholders as well as civil society organizations and academia; •Review previous progress reports on the implementation of the PSC Framework and related documents; •Undertake travels in and/or conduct online engagements with, as appropriate, signatory countries in the region; •Conduct an updated and comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the PSC Framework, including the commitments by signatory countries and the role of the Guarantor Institutions, as well as the functioning of the governance mechanisms of the PSC Framework; •Produce a high-quality and detailed report entailing key findings and forward-looking recommendations/actions for the revitalization of the PSC Framework, including entry points for the effective participation of women and youth in existing monitoring mechanisms. •Participate in a retreat with signatory countries and other stakeholders to present the findings of the report and incorporate additional inputs as may be required.

Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, International Relations, Social Science, Law, Security Studies, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Experience working on the Great Lakes region is required; Experience working on regional peace and security mechanisms in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required; Experience in mediation/facilitation, political negotiations or dialogue processes is desirable; Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills and demonstrated ability to build trusted working relationships with stakeholders and external actors, is required; Experience in conducting/guiding evaluations is required; Strong analytical and writing skills is required

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this Consultancy, fluency in English and French (written and spoken) is required.

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.