Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with duty station, Goma. The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution authorizing the mandate of MONUSCO. The incumbent will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of MONUSCO and the Assistant Secretary-General, Victims’ Rights Advocate (VRA) at UNHQ.

Responsibilities

The SVRO will discharge the role of Field Victims’ Rights Advocate and support the VRA at Headquarters to monitor, oversee and coordinate the strategic vision for victims’ assistance and support in relation to sexual exploitation and abuse with all relevant UN system actors, with a view to ensuring that victims’ rights are upheld, and their needs met. The SRVO will act as the main point-of-contact for all victims. This will be in coordination with existing mandates and responsibilities of UN-system actors in-country that work closely with victims, including those with responsibilities for the provision of assistance and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, with specific reference to the UN Comprehensive Strategy (A/RES/62/214, Annex), the Secretary-General’s strategy (A/71/818), and international human rights law. The SVRO will ensure that a victim-centred, gender and child-sensitive and non-discriminatory approach is integrated into all activities involving support and assistance to victims. Within delegated authority, the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer will be responsible for, but not limited to the following duties. • Support the implementation of the VRA-led policies, procedures and programmes on victims’ assistance and support in relation to sexual exploitation and abuse at the field level. Provide support to processes that will allow victims to have access to justice and legal services, including remedies and reparations. Support UN-system actors in the field in their efforts to facilitate paternity claims on behalf of victims. Provision of victim assistance is monitored and recorded for reporting and evaluation purposes. • Maintain direct and regular contact with victims, in line with the strategic vision on victims’ assistance and support, judicial processes and related outcomes, as set out by the HQ VRA, and ensure that mechanisms and policies (including safeguarding) are in place to support this task. • Cooperate with UN-system actors in the field to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place to raise awareness among victims and the greater communities as to the available complaint/reporting mechanisms and support services. Where victims/witnesses are under 18, ensure that consent is obtained from the parents or guardian/caregiver and that appropriate safeguarding policies are in place and implemented. • Cooperate with UN system actors and clusters to maintain oversight over mapping of relevant services by UN-system actors in the field, which are intended to identify networks of service providers, including in the areas of medical, psychological, legal and community reintegration, in coordination with Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and relevant UN entities, making recommendations as to gaps and opportunities in specific country situations. In consultation with UN-system actors in the field, local civil society organizations and service providers, in line with the “Uniform Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse,” contribute to the assessment of assistance needs to inform mapping exercises. Take corrective measures where needed to address gaps in such mapping and services. • Advise the Head of Mission and the HQ VRA, as well as UN-system actors in the field on lessons learned, best practices, gaps and opportunities in strengthening assistance and support to victims. • Coordinate with UN-system actors in the field to ensure that they receive updated information on assistance provided to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, including on the status of judicial and administrative proceedings in host countries and countries of alleged perpetrators. • Engage with local authorities to enhance the protection of victims, during investigation, criminal and disciplinary/administrative proceedings and to assure that victims, including child victims, are treated with child- and gender-sensitive care in respect of their rights, including the right to be advised of the outcome of the proceeding via updates from the relevant Member State. • Identify and work closely with legal assistance networks, national human rights institutions, relevant regional and sub-regional human rights bodies, civil society organizations and victims’ groups that can provide individualized support and assistance to victims, their families and survivors, including during investigation and judicial/administrative proceedings taking place at the field level and to address gaps in support for victims and for children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse during and after mission drawdown. • Coordinate with relevant Mission components for targeted continuous awareness training on UN victims’ rights approach, and remedial actions for victims of SEA to ensure a victim-centred approach is observed and maintained. • Support the monitoring, coordination and tracking of the provision of assistance and support to ensure that victims’ rights are upheld, in conjunction with the RC/HC or HoM. Ensure that the assistance and support is it is provided in a manner that is victim-centred, rights-based, age, disability-and gender sensitive, non-discriminatory and culturally appropriate. Ensure that assistance and support to child victims (under age 18) is provided in a manner consistent with the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. • Perform other duties assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM Demonstrated ability to provide advice in a broad range of strategic, policy, management and administrative issues to senior leadership and management; -Lead integrated processes; and, ensure the timely delivery of a programme of work. -Track record of team building, problem solving and continuous organizational improvement for effective programme delivery; -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. JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly -Gathers relevant information before making a decision -Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them -Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization -Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information -Checks assumptions against facts -Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision -Makes tough decisions when necessary 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. ACCOUNTABILITY Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments – Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards -Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules -Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments -Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, humanitarian affairs, political science, international affairs, public administration, social science, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination of two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of advance university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, humanitarian affairs, gender, political affairs, security sector or a related area is required. Experience with multi-stakeholder policy and/or advocacy processes at the national level is desirable. Legal background, including knowledge of legal assistance, international human rights law, criminal justice or victims’ protection is desirable. Experience working in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization, or similar multi-lateral or non-governmental organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in both English and French is required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2024. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.