Child Protection Officer (Reporting)

MONUSCO/MONUC was established in 1999 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). SCR 2277 (2016) requests MONUSCO to support efforts of the Government of DRC towards the protection of civilians, through a comprehensive approach involving all components of MONUSCO, including through reduction of the threat posed by Congolese and foreign armed groups and of violence against civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence and violence against children to a level that can be effectively managed by the Congolese justice and security institutions; and to support Stabilization through the establishment of functional, professional, and accountable state institutions, including security and judicial institutions. The project aims at a better understanding of the most serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law in DRC and supports the leadership of the Mission through informed policy and decision making on future vetting of security forces through risk assessment and mitigation, joint planning for MONUSCO operations, as well as advocacy efforts.

The UN Volunteer will serve within the Child Protection/Reporting Unit of the MONUSCO Child Protection Section in Goma, which is responsible for the monitoring, documentation, and reporting of child protection concerns, including grave violations against children. The unit works closely with field teams, partner organizations, and UN agencies—particularly UNICEF and other members of the Country Task Force on the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM)—to ensure accurate, timely, and ethical reporting that informs child protection interventions and advocacy.

This assignment supports the management of the child protection data base, which aims to strengthen child protection systems, improve data collection and analysis, and enhance referral pathways for children at risk. The UNV role contributes to MONUSCO’s broader child protection objectives and aligns with its global objective to promote the safety, rights, and well‑being of children affected by conflict.

Within the terms of the organization’s delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of the reporting chief of unit in Goma, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Working with the chief child protection and the chief of the reporting Unit, UNICEF and the CTFMR to harmonize the collection and insertion of violations in the child protection central database to draft concise, accurate and timely reports to the MONUSCO leadership, the Security Council working Group on CAAC, the DPO child protection Team in New York and the SRSG CAAC office.
• Ensure impartiality, neutrality, confidentiality, and security of information collected as well as the protection sources.
• Train staff on reporting standards; verifying with field offices the info shared in the Daily Reports, Activity Reports, Weekly Incident Reviews, Monthly Reports, flash reports, Incident Reports.
• When necessary, carry out field visits to gather and report on grave violations perpetrated against children in a timely and accurate manner.
• Participation in the Child DDR, advising on child protection standards to separate children associated with armed forces or groups and liaison with UNICEF and the DDR-CS national programmes in place for the prioritization of child protection concerns.
• Participate in the judicial follow up when children conflict with the law (perpetrators, victims, witnesses) as per the DRC Law on the Protection of Children as well as International Juvenile Justice Standards; Participate in the judicial follow-up of perpetrators of grave violations against children
• Ensure Capacity building to the Force, UNPOL, MONUSCO civilian staff and civil society organizations
• Ensure timely referral of children separated from armed groups or armed forces to appropriate UN Agencies, NGOs, Government institutions and other relevant actors and partners for transit care, family tracing and reunification.
• Any other related duties as may be required.