Women’s Political Participation 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 with family (KINSHASA)

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Gender Adviser, Head of Gender Affairs, the UNV/Gender and Reporting Officer will have the following responsibilities:

• Supports the implementation of DPKO/DFS guidance on Gender in Peacekeeping Operations.
• Supports the knowledge management and data collection process of the Gender Affairs Section with regards to women’s political participation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). • Supports research and the preparation of briefs, digests, communiques and periodic reports with regard to women’s political participation, in particular but not only, in relation to the national and provincial elections, within and outside the mission. • Identifies and collaborate with key actors in the national and provincial level for the promotion of women’s political participation in the DRC. • Collaborates and provides innovative inputs to other divisions and units in the mission to ensure that women’s political participation is prioritized in activities, recommendations and reporting.
• Provides technical inputs and supports the Senior Gender Adviser in the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects and activities to promote women’s political participation, such as Women’s Situation Rooms. • Supports, advices and participates in inter-agency coordination mechanisms that partnership efforts for the promotion of women political and electoral participation. • Drafts, collates and edits specific inputs for mission reports and documentation in relation to women’s political participation, as required. • Participates in national and/or regional meetings, workshops and training programmes relevant to the work of the team; • Performs other duties as required.

Professionalism, Integrity, Team work, respect for diversity and gender, communication and team work

Gender or Political sciences

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.