Senior Research Consultant and Junior National Consultant for a Conflict Analysis Study to Inform the Shift to Community Violence Reduction in the Pool Department

The Republic of the Congo has experienced increasing levels of violence during recent electoral cycles. Following the disputed 2016 presidential election, armed conflict resurfaced between the Government and Ninja rebels led by Frédéric Bintsamou alias Pasteur Ntumi in the restive Pool region, underlining the continued strong interlinkages between the political context at national level and the situation in the Pool region. In 2017, the Government agreed a ceasefire with the Ninja rebels led by Pasteur Ntumi in the restive southeastern region of Pool, halting a 15-year conflict. Under the agreement, the militias have agreed to hand over arms. The situation in the Pool region significantly improved since. However, the underlying conflict dynamics have not yet been addressed in a sustainable manner. 

Community-level dialogues, local dispute resolution mechanisms and livelihoods activities were implemented with the support of the PBF until mid-2020. Punctual DDR-related activities such as weapons collections were carried out in the context of this project, but never amounted to a DDR programme in line with international standards. Most notably, the critically important reintegration phase for the over 5,665 (12 per cent women) ex-combatants who have been disarmed and demobilized has not started. This was due to the non-disbursement of the Government’s financial contribution, which was supposed to stimulate considerable donor support. The UN Country Team has tried to temporarily bridge the resulting gap through some PBF-funded community-based labor-intensive activities for former Ninja combatants. Meanwhile, UN-facilitated local dialogue, also funded through the PBF project, has contributed to restoring social cohesion in the Pool region, while identifying a series of grievances that require national-level engagement.

Recently, risks for violence in the Republic of the Congo have been increasing in the lead-up to a presidential and legislative elections. Tensions have re-emerged in the Pool region, with reports of troop movements.

There are three main interrelated observations associated with the upcoming elections: a) there is a risk that – given the persistent political tensions – violence may once more erupt in the lead up to, during, and after the presidential election in March 2021 and beyond; b) in such a scenario, there is a risk that segments of the Ninja – disgruntled by the fact that they have been disarmed and demobilized, but are yet to receive long-term reintegration support – are re-mobilized and take up arms again against the Government; furthermore c) there is an additional risk that the lack of progress in the implementation of the DDR program will have generated new grievances amongst demobilized ex-combatants which may in turn further compound tensions around the elections.

The recently concluded PBF project also provides concrete programmatic entry points. The project, which ran from May 2018 to July 2020, was implemented by UNDP, UNFPA and UNHCR, with OHCHR contribution as implementing agency. The project fostered dialogue between ex-combatants and local as well as national authorities.  Joint consultations led to the development of a DDR project document signed by the government. The Commission Ad Hoc Mixte Paritaire (CAMP), composed of Ntumi representatives and Government representatives, played an important role in the aftermath of the cease-fire agreement and recently eased renewed tensions in the Pool region. The Haut-Commissariat à la Reinsertion des Ex-Combattants (HCREC), the entity tasked with leading on and implementing the DDR on behalf of the Government, is headed by a Haut Commissaire with the rank of Minister (and the son of former Ninja leader Kolelas) who is officially part of the Government. UN-facilitated local dialogue has contributed to restoring social cohesion, while identifying a series of grievances that require national-level engagement.  Fifteen local dialogue committee remain operational and play an important in maintaining social cohesion. Each comprises four members, including at least one woman, with a Ninja representative as vice-president. It will be important to maintain these committees. The project also had a human rights component.  The latter opened a window for some human rights interventions. The human rights dimension will be central to the CVR process in terms of compliance with the international human rights standards. OHCHR will aim to confer an important role to the human rights dedicated institutions, notably the National Human Rights Commission, throughout all phases of the CVR project, while focusing CVR related interventions on key stakeholders such as security and defense forces, CSOs, and the judiciary.

The Office of the Resident Coordinator and UNDP are looking for consultants to undertake an analysis in the Pool Region to inform the formulation of the Community Violence Reduction in the Pool.

Working under the overall supervision of the Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, the Deputy Resident Representative for Programs and under the direct supervision of the Peace and Development Advisor:

1. Conducting a comprehensive conflict/context analysis to inform conflict-sensitive programming and decision-making, including piecing together the cause-effect relationship, the consequences, and the legacy of the conflict on women, girls and youth.
2. Conduct the mapping of stakeholders, their interests, positions, influence, and relationships.
3. Conduct a hotspot mapping of districts and subdistricts in the Pool and surrounding regions (influencing the situation in the Pool).
4. Identify opportunities and entry points for CVR programs.
5. Identify programmatic synergies for peacebuilding in the Pool.
6. Supporting the shift to CVR approach as a transitional measure in the Pool.

The main objective of the study is to provide an analytical basis for shift to Community Violence Reduction and Identification of peacebuilding synergies within the UNCT and with bilateral and multilateral partners. The assessment phase will include a conflict context analysis, a security and consequence assessment accounting for the risks and benefits of conducting selected activities; a detailed stakeholder mapping (including of the grievances and perceptions of ex-combatants and the identification of potential local implementing partners), and an assessment of local markets.  This will include an analysis of the role of women and youth in the conflict dynamics/ the specific impact of the conflict dynamics on women and youth and mainstream their agency in the outlining of peacebuilding efforts. 

Core competencies

1. Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
2. Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN.
3. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies

1. Professionalism – Proven technical and managerial knowledge and leadership in conducting needs assessment, developing conflict analysis tools and strategies, technical assistance in crisis supporting development processes in fragile countries by working with a variety of humanitarian and long-term development actors; demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment to ensure the effective and timely completion of complex tasks; ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters).
2. Communication – Excellent communication and training (spoken and written) skills in English or French, including the ability to convey complex information management concepts and recommendations to staff at all levels, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style that can be readily understood by non-information management practitioners.
3. Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision.
4. Planning and Organization – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
5. Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates and peers, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
6. Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; designs solutions and basis recommendations on the principles of usability; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients’ informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.

Education

1. Master’s degree or higher in development studies, social sciences, public policy or other relevant fields.
2. A combination of relevant academic background (at least a first level university degree id est bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and extensive relevant professional experience in humanitarian response, inter-agency coordination or development assistance may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience

1. At least 10 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility in conducting conflict analyses in conflict and post-conflict settings
2. Proven technical and managerial knowledge and leadership in developing strategies and humanitarian coordination, and supporting development processes, including in fragile countries by working with a variety of humanitarian, long-term development and peacebuilding actors;
3. Knowledge and experience of working in Congo desirable
4. Knowledge of United Nations rules, policies, procedures and practices, as well as the programming mechanisms of the United Nations and its partners, particularly in crisis and post-conflict situations, as well as a functional understanding of the international development architecture; and
5. Excellent communication and analytical skills (written, verbal, interpersonal and intercultural).

Language Requirements:

• L’anglais et le français sont les deux langues de travail du Secrétariat de l’Organisation des Nations Unies. Pour le poste faisant l’objet du présent avis, la maîtrise du français est indispensable. La connaissance de la deuxième langue est souhaitable. La connaissance d’une autre langue officielle de l’Organisation constitue un atout.