Special Assistant / Political Affairs 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.

This position is located at State Coordinator Section of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Malakal which is classified as an “E” hardship duty station and a non-family duty station. The Special Assistant will report directly to the Head of Field Office

Under the direct supervision of The Head of Field Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Monitor and analyze political developments at local level and advise the HoFO of impact on the work of the office in respective field location.
• Keep track of political milestones and major events;
• Management and coordinating day-to-day operations of the UNMISS Field Office including management and strategic support provided to the Coordinators in the UNMISS Team Sites in the respective area of operation;
• Assisting with coordination of daily programmers, activities and events, overseeing and coordination of briefing notes and reports by the substantive sections.
• Providing substantive and administrative support to consultative and other meetings, official visits, coordinating events, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposing participants, preparing background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.;
• Organizing meetings between the UNMISS civilian and uniformed personnel, UN Funds Agencies and Programmes and implementing partners, taking notes, following-up on action points.
• Coordinating, across disciplines and components at field level, with other team members to achieve consistency and synergy.
• Contributing to building effective networks through Mission components with state authorities, international partners, civil society and the humanitarian community.
• Facilitating and accompanying the Head of Field Office and other mission components as necessary in field trips and missions and preparing short reports on the outcome of such missions.
• Performing other related duties as required.

• Results/Expected Outputs:
• Professional support provided to the Head of Field Office including a well-functioning, arranged and maintained office.
• Timely and accurate reports, which in the description of any event, incident or development, address to the extent possible the questions of ‘Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?’;
• Capacity for operational coordination in South Sudan developed and built.
• Professional reporting, writing and analytical skills.
• Maintained and efficient database of all returns and numbers important for future operational planning and identification of specific patterns.
• Efficient and timely operational responses to support field colleagues in dealing with conflict or violence related incidents.
• Promoted national knowledge and capacity of national counterparts through the promotion of volunteerism.
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.
• 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