Mission and objectives

MONUSCO/MONUC was established in 1999 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). SCR 2277 (2016) requests MONUSCO to support efforts of the Government of DRC towards the protection of civilians, through a comprehensive approach involving all components of MONUSCO, including through reduction of the threat posed by Congolese and foreign armed groups and of violence against civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence and violence against children to a level that can be effectively managed by the Congolese justice and security institutions; and to support Stabilization through the establishment of functional, professional, and accountable state institutions, including security and judicial institutions. The project aims at a better understanding of the most serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law in DRC and supports the leadership of the Mission through informed policy and decision making on future vetting of security forces through risk assessment and mitigation, joint planning for MONUSCO operations, as well as advocacy efforts.

Context

In order to facilitate and implement the Comprehensive Approach, MONUSCO has established a Comprehensive Approach Coordination Unit to coordinate and support the Management Leadership Team (MLT) in the development of integrated targeted strategies, with a focus on the protection of civilians including the neutralisation of armed groups. The Unit will also support the MLT in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the comprehensive strategies and evaluating progress and impact. Assignment is non-family (GOMA)

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the P5 Senior Coordination Officer, the duties of the Associate Coordination Officer will include but are not limited to the following: 1. Coordination • support the coordination of the programme of work and provide secretariat services of the Unit including organising meetings and preparing the agenda, supporting documents and drafting background documentation; • contribute to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, progress reports etc; and carries out basic research on selected topics/aspects relating to the work of the Unit including collecting, analyzing and presenting information gathered from diverse sources. • support and/or participates in field missions that may be required to support the development of the targeted strategies, background papers or monitoring reports. 2. Follow up on implementation of strategies • support the development of tracking systems for strategic interventions and action points; • contribute to the identification of critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; • participate, as appropriate, in strategy evaluation exercises to improve efficiency and quality of strategies; • record, analyse and select good practices and achievements for the Unit to highlight. 3. Knowledge Management • support knowledge management through providing professional assistance in data collection and analysis and complete and accurate reporting; • Any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Competencies and values

Client Orientation, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

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.