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Staff Counsellor in DR Congo

Kinshasa

  • Organization: UNV - United Nations Volunteers
  • Location: Kinshasa
  • Grade: Volunteer - International Specialist - Internationally recruited Volunteer
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Human Resources
  • Closing Date: Closed

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Preamble:

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1. UNV Assignment Title: Staff Counsellor – 1 position

UNV Strategic Framework 2014-2017; Outcome 1, Output 1.2: ‘Volunteerism is integrated within UN entities’ programming through the implementation of UNV-UN partner joint programmes/projects in four

priority areas: (a) youth; (b) peace building; (c) basic social services; (d) community resilience for environment and disaster risk reduction’

2. Type of Assignment: International UN Volunteer

3. Project Title: UNV support to MONUSCO

4. Duration: Until 30 June 2017 with possible extension of 12 months

5. Location, Country: Kinshasa, DR Congo. Duty station can change in course of assignment; volunteer may be required to work anywhere in area

of operations, including in remote locations

6. Expected Starting Date: Immediate

7. Brief Project Description: Under the supervision of the Chief Staff Counselling & Welfare Unit and the technical guidance of the Critical Incident Stress

Management Unit (CISMU) Regional Stress Counsellor; the

volunteer will provide a wide range of stress management activities

and counselling support actively participating in emergency

preparedness in the country/region as per the UNDSS CISMU

Standard Operational Procedures on Critical Incident Stress

Management

8. Host Agency/Host Institute: United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) –http://monusco.unmissions.org

T. +49 (0) 228-815 2000A. Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001W. www.unv.org

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).9. Organizational Context: MONUSCO/MONUC was established in 1999 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)

10. Type of Assignment Place: Assignment without family

11. Description of tasks:

Within the terms of the organization’s delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of

MONUSCO Chief Staff Counselling & Welfare Unit in Goma, the UN Volunteer will undertake the

following tasks:

  • Provide adequate Counselling Services within the region (mission), (i.e.: overall assessment of the psychosocial needs of the staff members, development of the services, etc.);
  • Perform individual assessments in the case of individual staff members experiencing difficulty coping and/or presenting mental health-related symptoms or syndromes;
  • Advise the Chief Staff Counselling Unit as necessary, on individual cases where an identified problem is likely to have professional, vocational, and/or counselling effect, such as work-related problem due to a psychological problem, conflict resolution, need-oriented medication, etc.;
  • Advise Chief/head of Sections as necessary, or upon request, with the aim at improving the working atmosphere in their Sections and resolving problems of a work-related or personal nature that adversely affect job performance and productivity;
  • Conduct periodic psychosocial needs assessment research and propose measurement to prevent occurrence of psychosocial problem in the mission;
  • Perform critical incident stress defusing and/or providing debriefing, psychosocial first aid including individual and/or group debriefing whenever and wherever there is crisis;
  • Assure, in conjunction with the Medical Services, a continuum of services (referral, short-term supportive intervention to individual staff members who have HIV/AIDS or to those staff members suffering from other serious diseases or illnesses;
  • Establish a Staff groups and work with members in order to develop programmes designed to improve the quality of life of staff members within the mission area;
  • Provide training sessions on crisis and stress management, and other stress related topics as stipulated in the UN Resolutions;
  • Monitor environmental factors that could lead to stress with particular focus on stress related to critical incidents including emergency and crisis situations;
  • Develop, organize and implement a resilience-building programme(s) for all staff;
  • Liaise with National Mental Health professionals and other Psych—medical resources when need arises;
  • Perform other professional duties as may be required by the Chief of Staff Counselling Unit;

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to:

  • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; network and build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals, and support and/or participate in local volunteering initiatives; reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
  • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; initiate and/or participate in local volunteer groups, including assisting them in submitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site;
  • Promote or advise local groups on the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible;

T. +49 (0) 228-815 2000 A. Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001 W. www.unv.org

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Encourage, mobilize and support co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in peace and development activities on a voluntary basis;

  • Discuss with supervisors how volunteerism for peace and development can be mainstreamed in the assignment and integrate activities promoting volunteerism for peace and development into work plans;
  • Assist with the UNV “buddy programme” for newly arriving UN Volunteers.

12. Results/Expected Outputs:

  • High-quality support services rendered to MONUSCO staff members including UN Volunteers;
  • The well-being of staff members are enhanced by providing services in timely, effective, efficient, and professional manner;
  • Work-relationships are improved and conflict at work place are minimized;
  • Stress-related health problems in the mission are significantly reduced;
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

13. Profile Requirements:

a) Qualifications, skills, experience:

The incumbent must be a dynamic, multi-functional person, who supports the organization with

professionalism, dedication and client orientation. The following qualifications are required; along with

self-discipline and respect to others in respect of race, geographical, gender and education differences:

  • Bachelor/Master Degree or equivalent in clinical psychology, clinical social worker, or other clinical mental Health Profession;
  • Knowledge of Conflict Resolution and/or diploma in Counselling or therapy and Administration would be an asset;
  • Minimum of five years of professional experience (among which three at international level) in psychological counselling, training skills, with special emphasis on managing critical incident stress;
  • Additional skill/training in a broad range of related field such as alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress and cross cultural communication would be an asset;
  • Well-developed communication, leadership and team building skills;
  • Experience in United Nations System in a capacity of social work/ community worker or counsellor skills is an advantage;
  • Knowledge of relaxation techniques skills would be an asset;
  • Fully conversant with computer software skills i.e. Microsoft Office Suit (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.);
  • English and French are the working languages of the United Nations/MONUSCO therefore fluency in oral and written French and English is mandatory (for candidate with no fluency in French, please refer to paragraph 14); Knowledge of Kiswahili and/or other UN Languages is an advantage;
  • Possess valid National driving license;
  • Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System

b) Competencies and Values:

  • Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

T. +49 (0) 228-815 2000 A. Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001 W. www.unv.org

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations;

  • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment;
  • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
  • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi- cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
  • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;
  • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values

14. Language Requirements

This position entails that the incumbent has good spoken and written communication skills in English

and has basic French language skills. Further, s/he personally commits to take intensive French lessons

from the beginning of his/her assignment. French classes are available at mission level through different

means: at MONUSCO Training Centre (IMTC); online and through the UNV buddy scheme which is in

place in DR Congo among UN Volunteers. A language test shall be conducted to assess progress and

acquired competencies of French language during the course of the assignment (envisaged to take

place 6 months into the assignment).

15. Living Conditions:

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third 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, Goma, 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.

T. +49 (0) 228-815 2000 A. Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001 W. www.unv.org

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).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.

16. Conditions of Service

Initial contract is issued until 30 June 2017, with possible 12-month extensions depending on mandate,

availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance.

A volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living

Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three). The

Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities,

transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-

Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,571. The VLA base rate is a global rate

across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis

according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable

purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by

the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on

the ICSC website (http://icsc.un.org). For example, if the PAM for the current month is 54.6%, then the

VLA for that month will be (US$ 1,571 x 54,6 /100) + 1,571= US$ 2,429. Moreover, to complete the

monthly VLA rate, a Family Allowance (FA) is added in function of the number of recognized dependents

(or: in the amount of US$ 250 if the UN Volunteer has 1 recognized dependent, and US$ 450 if the UN

Volunteer has 2 or more recognized dependents). In addition, in non-family duty stations that belong to

hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being

Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. The VLA and WBD taken together form the net core entitlements.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the

volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and

in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave,

full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN

Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for

periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for

satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including

Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

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F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001 W. www.unv.org

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).17. Application Procedure:

If you have not yet registered in the UNV database, please apply by registering your profile at

https://ereta.unv.org/html/index.php?module=myprofile

Important: Once you have created your UNV account by validating your email address, please complete

all sections of your profile.

Go to ‘Special Recruitment’ section on the left menu, click on the ‘Edit’ button and select the

advertisement code “16_CODR000135” from the drop down list. Please do not forget to click the ‘Update’

button.

If you are registered in the UNV database, please update your profile at: http://myprofile.unv.org click on

the ‘Special Recruitment’ option on the left menu, then click on the ‘Edit’ button and select the

advertisement code “16_CODR000135”.

Application deadline is 18 December 2016. Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted.

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from

qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and

culture.

T. +49 (0) 228-815 2000 A. Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001 W. www.unv.org

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This vacancy is now closed.
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