Joint Operations 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.

The overall goal of the Joint Operations Center (JOC) is to promote an overall situational awareness that can assist the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Senior leadership in strategic decision-making relating to the implementation of the Mission’s mandate as well as during the management of crisis. The JOC maintains a 24/7 monitoring and reporting function covering mission-wide key developments and events, resulting in timely and accurate integrated reports and presentations both within the Mission as well to UNOCC in NY. It assists senior mission leadership to coordinate, at the working level, MINUSMA operational activities to ensure complementarity, coherence of actions and the efficient & effective use of resources. It also supports the Mission’s responses to crises situations.

• Under the direct supervision of the Menaka Regional JOC Office Team Leader and the overall responsibility of the Chief JOC (in Bamako), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Engage in the drafting and verification processes associated with the production of the integrated daily reports (DSR) as well as official e- mails and other types of reports. • Ensures the distribution of various technical reports (e.g., military, police updates, mine action, DDR, etc.) to relevant sections, or divisions. • Visualization of data through power point presentations or other business tools such as the Power BI Receive/collect information from the relevant UN Country Team; • Cultivate and maintain collaborative exchanges with all components of the Menaka Office and JOC in Bamako; • Assist, plan, coordinate and report on joint field missions and medical evacuations. • Support the facilitation/coordination of integrated operations of different mission’s components and other actors. • The position will require week-end and overnight duty. 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 instance 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 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.

Results/Expected Outputs: • Daily situation reports and PPP covering Menaka events and activities are drafted and compiled. • Contribution to information flow internally and externally with partners as appropriate. • Distribution of various technical reports (e.g., military, police updates, mine action, DDR, etc.) to relevant offices, sections or divisions ensured; • Information from the relevant UN Country Team actors received and compiled; • Contribution to the planning, coordination and reporting of joint field missions or medical evacuation provided;

Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

international affairs, development, administration, international relief operations or peacekeeping operations. International experience is required.

The living conditions in Bamako are harsh with extreme heat and sandstorms. Newcomers are advised to bring appropriate clothing and shoes compatible with dust condition and sand, mosquito repellent and a hanging mosquito net. Appropriate measures are in place to mitigate the current security risk for UN personnel in the country. All UN Volunteers, like all UN personnel, undergo a security briefing and the 3-day mandatory training “Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments” (SSAFE) upon arrival, where practical guidance and recommendations are provided regarding security threats in Mali. An additional security briefing is provided upon arrival to the final duty station. Like all UN personnel, UN Volunteers based in Bamako are responsible for finding their own accommodation in town which need to be cleared by UNDSS in accordance with their most compliant security standards. Rents vary from 200 USD to 1,000 USD. Emergency contacts (security, medical, staff counselling, UNV Office) are made available for all UN Volunteers upon arrival, and each individual is provided with a VHF radio and a call sign, which can be used at all time.

For the sake of rewarding experience, UN volunteers in MINUSMA carry out their duties with flexibility, commitment, and a willingness to live and work in challenging conditions including heat and limited water and electricity supply.

The duration of your initial assignment is 12 months with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no exception of renewal of assignment. A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three). The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,587. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website (http://icsc.un.org).

For UN Volunteer entitlements, kindly refer to the link: https://vmam.unv.org/calculator/entitlements

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.