Medevac Coordinator Assistant

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

The UNV will work in the MedEvac Unit, part of Medical Services Section. Will be responsible for the coordination of the missions daily MedEvac and CasEvac operations, both within and out of the DRC.

Task Description

Within the terms of the organization’s delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the Chief Medical Officer and under the direct supervision of Chief Medevac Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Responsible for the receipt and compilation of medical confidential information been forwarded from the Medical Administrative Unit, patients or treating physicians from alternative evacuation locations;
• Maintains the Medevac Database with regards to evacuations and recording of statistical data in EarthMed;
• Assist with the daily implementation of the missions medical evacuation requirements, both within and out of the DRC;
• Travel within the DRC to assist and present training regarding medical evacuation process;
• Assume, on occasion, the responsibility of Officer in Charge of the Medevac unit, in the absence of the unit supervisor;
• Assist, when necessary, with the medical evacuation or repatriation of patients out of the DRC;
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by Chief Medical Officer or through his designate, Chief Medevac Coordinator.
• Reports to the Chief Medevac Coordinator on clinical and administrative matters pertaining to medical evacuations;
• This assignment is a support service to the UN (MONUSCO); it is not a humanitarian assignment involving direct work or interaction with beneficiaries.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Teamwork
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Communication
• 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. Goma is a D-hardship duty station on a 6-week R&R cycle. Since January 2025 Goma and the surrounding territories have been under the de facto authority of a non-state armed group M23, in conflict with and in mediated discussions with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda and the DRC are also in mediated conflict relevant discussions. Entry and exit from Goma at the time of this advertisement is via the Rwandan border and full compliance with both DRC and Rwandan Ebola movement restrictions must be strictly adhered to. Goma is also a seismic activity zone in proximity to an inactive volcano, which is closely monitored. Due to the security context all MONUSCO personnel (including UN Volunteers) are under a 20:00-06:00 curfew monitor by UNDSS. There are no functioning banks in Goma, however bank cards are accepted in many shops. There are modalities for obtaining funds but it is advisable to arrive with funds sufficient to manage in between leave cycles. MONUSCO hosts a lvl 3 hospital and a lvl 1 clinic and in the event of extremis, medical evacuation is feasible. Goma features moderate shopping resupply options, some good restaurants and UN personnel do not live within UN premises, i.e. private living accommodations with mandatory private security arrangements. Security arrangements are reimbursed in line with applicable rules and policies. In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili. For both security reasons, geologic considerations (proximity to a volcano) and Ebola rationale, Goma should be considered a likely staff evacuation context, on short notice, as evidenced by the events of January 2025, and many other majority-of-staff- evacuation events at earlier dates.