Board of Inquiry Officer

Mission and objectives

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.

Context

Provide effective guidance and expertise to the Boards of Inquiry with greater emphasis on timely conclusion of Board’s activities within the specified timelines. Enhance collaborative efforts with key stakeholders such as Military, Police and Civilian Sections to ensure that the work of BOI is facilitated to promote dynamic and continuous learning. Facilitate continuous monitoring of the implementation of recommendations approved by the Head of Mission (HOM) to close identified gaps to improve Mission processes. Provide expert advice to Mission leadership on BOI related matters to identify gaps in procedures and policies, strengthen internal controls and improve financial and managerial accountability

Task Description

• Liaise with relevant offices within the Civilian, Police, and Military components to obtain Investigation Reports and other pertinent documentation; • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant counterparts and stakeholders, including the Force Provost Marshal, Chief Military Personnel Officer, Chief Force Police Unit, Office of the Force Commander, Military Legal Adviser, Chief Conduct and Discipline Officer, Chief Security Adviser, and Chief Medical Officer; • Prior to the convening of a Board of Inquiry (BOI), review Investigation Reports and all relevant case documentation to identify gaps, inconsistencies, discrepancies, contradictions, and outstanding issues requiring clarification; identify relevant parties and witnesses for interview purposes; • Confirm the availability of nominated Board members from the roster while ensuring the avoidance of any conflict of interest; • Draft BOI Convening Orders and case-specific Terms of Reference for review and approval by the Section Chief, Office of Legal Affairs, Convening Authority, and Head of Mission; • Ensure Board members receive the requisite legal and administrative briefings and administer Undertakings of Confidentiality; • During BOI proceedings, serve in an advisory capacity to the Board by providing guidance in accordance with the Terms of Reference and applicable UN rules, regulations, directives, and administrative instructions, while ensuring proceedings remain focused on the matters under consideration; • Provide comprehensive clerical, logistical, and communication support to Boards during proceedings; • Participate in on-site visits and accurately record observations and findings; • Coordinate and arrange witness interviews in advance to ensure witnesses and relevant parties are adequately prepared and able to refresh their recollection of the facts; • Obtain Witness Attestations and record statements, ensuring all relevant questions are addressed; where necessary, advise the Chairperson and prepare finalized statements for review and signature; • Monitor case progress to ensure compliance with established deadlines for submission of final reports in accordance with BOI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); • Ensure that BOI reports demonstrate integrity, methodological soundness, and completeness, and that all lines of inquiry have been adequately explored; • Ensure reports are well-structured, format-compliant, and clearly articulated; • Ensure recommendations are practical, feasible, and implementable; • Submit draft BOI Reports to the Office of Legal Affairs for review, comments, and/or approval; • Where applicable, communicate comments and observations from the Office of Legal Affairs to Board members for further consideration; • Upon approval by the Office of Legal Affairs, compile complete BOI case files, including annexes and signed Final BOI Reports, for review, comments, and/or approval by the Unit/Section Chief, Office of Legal Affairs, and Head of Mission; • On behalf of the Head of Mission, draft transmittal memoranda to the Under-Secretary-General for Department of Support (USG/DOS), summarizing case facts with accuracy and ensuring high standards of grammar, coherence, chronology, tone, style, and format; prepare transmittal memoranda to relevant offices outlining the Board’s recommendations and requesting implementation; • Follow up with relevant offices to ensure implementation of recommendations as directed by the Head of Mission; • Upload finalized BOI case files into relevant databases, including the BOI Tracker; • Notify the Conduct and Discipline Team where misconduct is established through a BOI process; • Monitor and record the movement and circulation of BOI case files; • Maintain a proactive, solution-oriented, and dynamic approach to managing assigned case portfolios and the Unit’s workload; • Provide backup support during the absence of colleagues; • Ensure timely, professional, and effective responses to enquiries; • When working with or supervising national staff and non-governmental counterparts, dedicate time to capacity-building initiatives through coaching, mentoring, formal training, and on-the-job learning; • Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse. Living conditions therefore vary between MONUSCO duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water. The ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential. Accommodation is very expensive in Kinshasa. Supermarkets exist in the large towns (e.g. Goma), but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative. All MONUSCO duty stations are considered non-family duty stations, except for Kinshasa and Entebbe which are family duty stations, and most are currently under UN Security Phase III (“relocation phase”: internationally recruited staff are temporarily concentrated or relocated to specified sites/locations). In addition to insecurity related to the relatively volatile political situation as well as various conflict situations, certain places are subject to increasing street and residential crime, including Kinshasa, Goma and all the other towns. Some degree of medical service is provided in all MONUSCO duty stations. Certain vaccinations are mandatory for MONUSCO personnel to enter the DRC, while others are compulsory for all other incoming persons. It is possible for incoming MONUSCO personnel, including UN Volunteers, to be asked to provide proof of some or all vaccinations, though this is unlikely. All UN Volunteers must ensure that they are up-to-date with all appropriate vaccinations, which should be clearly and properly endorsed in the International Certificate of Vaccination (“carte jaune”). Malaria is present virtually throughout the DRC, and it is therefore recommended to take prophylaxis. The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller’s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma), UN Volunteers are recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and VLA payments will be processed in cash. UN Volunteers have the possibility to send part of their allowances to a bank account abroad. In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.