Coordination and Protection Officer

Under Resolution 2677 (2023), the Security Council determined that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region.

The Council extended the UNMISS mandate until 15 March 2024. It also emphasized that the Mission should continue advancing its three-year strategic vision defined in resolution 2567 (2021) to prevent a return to civil war, build durable peace and support inclusive, accountable governance as well as free, fair and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

Under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, UNMISS is therefore authorized to use all necessary means to implement its mandate which includes:

(a) Protection of civilians
(b) Creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance
(c) Supporting the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement and the Peace Process
(d) Monitoring, investigating, and reporting on violations of humanitarian and human rights law

The overall ceiling for uniformed personnel is maintained at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 corrections officers.

Please refer to https://unmiss.unmissions.org/mandate for more information.

Coordination and Protection Officer will be under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office in close coordination with the Team Leader of the Field Integrated Operations Centre. The officer will be responsible coordination and facilitation of activities in support of implementation of the mission’s mandate. Moreover, the officer will carry out analysis, offer advice and draft reports on emerging developments; the officer will also support the management of the Office of the HOFO.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office (HoFO) Wau, the Coordination and Protection Officer will undertake the following tasks:

Coordination and Facilitation:
• Provide substantive and practical support to the HoFO in implementing the Mission's mandate. Facilitate and accompany the Head of Field Office as necessary on field trips and missions and prepare short reports on the outcome of such missions.
• Monitor and follow-up direction of and or requests from the HOFO to Substantive Sections as required.
• Coordinate interagency efforts to facilitate durable solutions for IDPs, including supporting initiatives for enhancing inter-communal co-existence and cohesion in areas of return.
• Participate in the protection cluster discussions to enhance coordination between the Mission, international partners and humanitarians related to delivery of protection and humanitarian services in the areas of responsibility.
• Keep the HoFO informed on all matters requiring his/her personal attention, assist in formulating response options, and ensure appropriate follow-up, as directed.
• Provide substantive support to HoFO’s meetings, internal and external engagements by coordinating events, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparing background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.
• Contribute to the development of written products including periodic reports, Note to File, talking points, briefings and conduct follow-up activities as appropriate; coordinate/draft correspondence for the HoFO’s signature.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the Office of the Chief of Staff, Mission components, state authorities, international partners, civil society and the humanitarian community.
• Support the HoFO during high-level visits to the Field Office as well as high-level meetings/engagements with the host Government in coordination with the Field Integrated Operations Centre, UNDSS and other relevant sections, in drafting the itinerary, briefing notes and handling logistics

Analysis, Advice and Reporting:
• Monitor and analyze ongoing and emerging developments/events relevant for the implementation of the Mission’s mandate, especially protection of civilians.
• Collect, analyze and manage information, in collaboration with relevant UNMISS and humanitarian actors, to identify conflict related trends, patterns and dynamics to elicit advise on actions to enhance protection of civilians.
• Produce forward looking advice within the context of the UNMISS Early Warning Strategy and Protection of Civilian Matrix that integrates and considers all the information gathered, resulting
• in clearly identifying the priorities where the Field Office should focus its Protection of Civilians (POC) efforts.
• Assess implications and make recommendations on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives; monitor, evaluate and report on implementation.
• Support the drafting of summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to briefing notes, notes to file, as required.
• Build effective networks for collecting, collating, coordinating, corroborating and analyzing information from a wide range of sources, including UNMISS components, UN Humanitarian Agencies, International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) and Local Government Authorities.

Management:
• Support internal coordination, monitoring and planning of the work of all the Sections that report to the HOFO, while maintaining a functional relationship with other Field Office and Mission components
• Support the HoFO in the flow of information within the Field Office, the Office of the Chief of Staff, other Mission components and external actors, by seeking to establish and encourage information sharing networks.
• Provide daily oversight and backstopping for administrative processes in the Office of the HoFO, in close cooperation with political, analytical and administrative staff, and perform general quality control in O/HoFO in routine correspondence.
• Perform other relevant duties as requested by the HoFO