Overview
The Protection of Civilians Officer is responsible for supporting the implementation of protection of civilians mandates in UN peacekeeping operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Assists in improving the implementation of protection of civilians mandates in UN peacekeeping operations.
- Develops, implements and evaluates POC policy, guidance and implementation strategies.
- Monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation.
- Works to ensure that political strategies, peacebuilding and sustaining peace in peacekeeping operations inform POC mandates and vice versa.
- Reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiate corrective actions.
- Liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
- Works closely with DPO and DOS offices to determine how POC can be more effectively integrated into mission planning processes.
- Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
- Provides specialist inputs on POC into cross-cutting guidance, training and planning materials.
- Contributes to and provides analysis of ongoing POC policy debates.
- Contributes to POC lessons learned exercises, including generating and analyzing surveys; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
- Drafts written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
- Coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics and activities.
- Participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting missions summaries, etc.
- Contributes to activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports.
- Performs other duties as required.
Required Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the protection of civilians in armed conflict is required. Experience backstopping POC-mandated field missions is required. Experience in policy and guidance development for POC is required. Experience engaging Member States and intergovernmental organs on POC issues is required.
Qualifications
A first-level or advanced degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, human rights with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.
