Programme Management Advisor (DRC) - retainer

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism to implement project activities under the UNOCT/United National Counter-Terrorism Center (UNCCT) Global Programme on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for several years. In 2017, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of the Iraq and Levant (ISIL - hereafter Da’esh). Following its allegiance to ISCAP, Uganda and the United States of America  designated the ADF as a foreign terrorist organization. 

To cope with the rising threat from armed groups’ activities, including ADF/ISCAP, President Tshisekedi has decreed since 6 May 2021 a State of Siege in Ituri and North Kivu provinces and authorised the deployment of Ugandan troops (UPDF) since 30 November 2021 to conduct joint military operations with Congolese military forces (FARDC) in North Kivu targeting the ADF/ISCAP. As a result of previous and ongoing military operations conducted for years, several ADF/ISCAP elements have been arrested and jailed. According to MONUSCO Corrections Unit in Beni, out of 1,063 prisoners currently held at Beni prison, 88 prisoners, including 14 women, are detained. However, national authorities face new challenges in understanding the best practices to handle these individuals suspected of being associated to ADF/ISCAP.

To address various non-military challenges linked to ADF/ISCAP, an internal MONUSCO ADF Task Force coordinated by its Political Affairs Division, reporting directly to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), has been in place since December 2021. Its main objective entails ensuring a permanent exchange of information between the various MONUSCO components working directly or indirectly on this issue. The topics addressed by this Task Force focus primarily on priority information and intelligence gathering on the ADF/ISCAP and developing options for complementary non-military actions to be considered, as well as  the development of a mapping project on actors, policies and needs to address the ADF threat, which will be supported by the UN Office of Counter terrorism (UNOCT). 

MONUSCO envisages, through the support of UNOCT’s Global Programme on PRR, to explore ways to support the DRC in its counter-terrorism efforts, by providing guidance, coordination and capacity building on the PRR of individuals associated with terrorist groups, including FTFs. In collaboration with the UN Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), it is crucial to complement these initiatives, analyzing complementarities, identifying opportunities for joint efforts, and creating adequate links with the Demobilization, Disarmament, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), national strategy and with any other local initiatives that PRR efforts could build on. In this regard, the UNOCT Global Programme on PRR is seeking to assist MONUSCO and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in the DRC in developing a PRR approach with clear links to the DRC’s national P-DDRCS to provide clear and legal pathways for individuals believed to be associated to ADF/ISCAP. 

This consultancy will be based in Kinshasa, DRC and may require multiple missions to East DRC and the Great Lake Region. 

The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Portfolio Manager, working with the UNOPS Project Manager and closely coordinating with the UNOCT Programme Management Officer and the MONUSCO ADF Task Force Coordinator, as well as with the Director of Political Affairs and both missions’ military and police components, the consultant will determine existing operational, legal, and institutional frameworks conducive to PRR within the DRC before ultimately identifying challenges and gaps, as well as possible recommendations, for further application of strengthened PRR approaches. The Consultant will also be required to make specific considerations to delineate both complementarities between existing DDR approaches in-country, as well as necessary differences. 

The incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

• Review the national legal framework, and institutional arrangements including the criminal justice system, in the area of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism in order to identify relevant legal bases, efforts and capacities to propose how comprehensive and tailored PRR approaches could be implemented and what areas may require strengthening.
• Review and identify complementarities and opportunities for consolidation and collaboration with DDR in-country operations (P-DDRCS).
• Assess the feasibility and operability of creating a separate national/provincial detention centre(s) dedicated to processing individuals with reasonable grounds believed to be associated to terrorist groups.
• Provide technical assistance to MONUSCO and the UNCT as well as to national authorities  in the area of screening and risk assessment tools for individuals with reasonable grounds believed to be associated to terrorist groups.
• Document lessons learned from other national and regional PRR strategies and possible links with the P-DDRCS.
• Undertake consultations with various local, national and international actors leading to formulate a resource mobilization strategy in support of developing a draft roadmap to strengthen comprehensive PRR approaches including the repatriation and/or transfer/extradition of FTFs.
• Participate in various events both within the UN and with other national and local stakeholders within the current phase of elaboration of P-DDRCS operational plans, where appropriate.
• Provide technical support to both MONUSCO and the UNCT to ensure that national PRR approaches are human rights-based and gender-responsive. 
• Integrate a specific approach to address the specific status needs of children affected by terrorism within the national PRR approaches in consultation with UNICEF. 
• Provide elements to a whole-of-government communication strategy to address the issue of radicalization and violent extremism.
• Provide a series of recommendations to the Task-Force as well as guidance on the use of detention centres, etc., considerations in addressing repatriation of FTF etc.
• Carry out other tasks that may be required.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in political science, public policy, policy analysis, international law, international relations, international security,  or other relevant field
• A first-level university degree in combination with 2 years of additional experience is required.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs with a minimum of three years of work experience in the area of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) is required.
• Experience in drafting evidence-based policy papers, reports and summaries on PRR or political matters is required.

• Experience on United Nations and other counter-terrorism conventions, instruments and documents, in particular the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its four pillars, as well as knowledge of the applicable international requirements surrounding individuals associated to terrorist group is a strong asset.
• Contextual experience working on terrorism and conflict dynamics in the DRC, as well as key stakeholders and national and local institutions is desirable.

• Fluency in oral and written English and French is required. 
• Knowledge of any local language is desirable.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement  - ICA retainer modality. A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work

Contract level: IICA-3/ICSC-11
Contract duration: up to 6 months - retainer

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster 

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.