Legal Officer

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.

This United Nations Volunteer (UNV) assignment is located in the Legal Affairs Office (LAO) of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Kinshasa. LAO provides in-house legal counsel capacity, to including timely and effective advice, services and representation in respect of all aspects of the Mission’s mandate and activities. The UNV reports to a more senior Legal Officer or to the Senior Legal Officer as appropriate.

• Assists in the preparation of or provides primarily French and English language legal opinions and advice on a wide range of legal issues affecting the Mission’s mandate and activities, including public international, private and administrative law matters, as well as issues of constitutional and other national law as they affect the Mission or the mandate.
• In particular, provides or assists in the provision of advice on: the interpretation of the Mission’s mandate, the legal status of the Mission and its members, including in areas such as privileges and immunities and Status of Forces Agreement; on legal aspects of the Mission’s operational activities, including the Mission’s rules of engagement and directives on the use of force and related guidelines, matters relating to international law, including international humanitarian law, international criminal law and the protection of civilians, as appropriate; on administrative, personnel and contractual matters, including issues relating to the accountability of personnel, procurement matters, third party claims, as well as legal questions involving the interpretation or application of UN regulations and rules.
• S/he also prepares or assists in the preparation and review of draft agreements, institutional and operational modalities, contracts, legal submissions and other legal documents and assists and participates in negotiations for the settlement of claims and disputes.
• Conducts legal research and analysis using multiple research sources and prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions, studies, briefs, background papers, reports, and correspondence;
• Performs other duties, as assigned.