Information Analyst

Host entity: MONUSCO

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information, Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Safety and security

Application deadline: 23/10/2026

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.

Assignment context

The Joint Mission Analysis Centre provides timely targeted analysis to senior leadership and briefs in a diversity of mission and mission/country team settings. HUMINT, OSINT and articulation via conflict mapping as well as drafting and verbal articulation are hallmarks of how the section functions. Predictive analysis, current context dynamics, and historical research are also common functions JMAC personnel will be expected to function effectively both in and outside of an office context

This post will work under the supervision of the (P-3) JMAC Goma Team Leader and will be expected to liaise with other MONUSCO and Country Team entities as well as UN eternal actors. The incumbent of this post will substitute for the JMAC Goma Team leader and as such is expected to maintain a close and cordial working relationship with JMAC national staff. JMAC is under the pilar of the Chief of Staff but also responds to Senior leadership directly upon request, notably the Office of the SRSG and the Office of the DSRSG PO and others. JMAC retains close contacts with a diversity of formal and informal actors both in and outside of the UN, including Government counterparts, armed groups, the diplomatic corps, think tanks, UN and non-UN Humanitarian and Development actors and equivalents in adjacent countries.

JMAC is significantly understaffed in the context of the liquidity crisis, and maintains staff in Kinshasa, Bunia, Beni as well as the duty station for which this position is advertised Goma.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the North-Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC ) Joint Mission Analysis Centre (JMAC ) Team Leader (Goma-based post), and the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief JMAC and Chief JMAC, the UN Volunteer will be tasked with the timely collection, verification, collation, analysis, and presentation of peacekeeping intelligence and accurate information necessary for the MONUSCO mandate implementation and Senior Mission leadership’s decision-making:

• Manage and produce information in line with confidentiality rules and United Nations (UN ) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Identify and construct a network of own, vetted, and verified sources relevant to security, Protection of Civilians, humanitarian, and peacekeeping thematics.
• Implement the phases of the UN peacekeeping intelligence cycle (i.e., identification, collection, verification, collation, analysis, and production), submitting products to the JMAC Team Leader, Deputy Chief JMAC, and Chief JMAC for distribution;
• Interact with State and non-State actors, civil society, researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other sources, as well as coordinate joint mission analysis drawing on information and collection by MONUSCO's civilian sections, Division of Mission Support (DMS), Force (Military) and United Nations Police (UNPOL ), as well as UN Agencies, Funds, and Programs to assess conflict dynamics, threats, and risks at local, national, and international levels.
• Interview key players of the military and political environment operating in the Area of Responsibility (AoR), including spoilers, non-State armed actors, and civilians;
• Gather information on the cross-border illegal regional networks and their connections to the current conflict;
• Participate in fact-finding, verification, and other field missions, including in areas under armed group control.
• Provide multi-sourced and complex analyses, applying a mixture of tools from Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT), Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT ), and Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), in addition to archival, database, and repository research and retrieval.
• Update, store, and archive information collected and produced throughout the UN peacekeeping intelligence cycle.
• Draft analytical research reports, interview notes, topic assessments, and stakeholder and other mapping products.
• Monitor, track, and identify emerging threats related to conflict, land issues, political developments, security, military, national and foreign armed group activity, as well as provide profiling, mapping, trend analysis, and policy recommendations, under the supervision of the JMAC Team Leader and Deputy Chief JMAC to advise the Chief JMAC.
• Contribute to the drafting of the JMAC Weekly Threat Assessment (WTA);
• Function as JMAC’s liaison with the Goma Field Office and contribute in standing meetings, such as but not limited to Senior Mission Group Planning - Protection (SMGP-P), Senior Management Team (SMT), Area Security Management Team (ASMT), and other ad hoc meetings.
• Contribute to the drafting of internal UN and MONUSCO policy documents, reports, and analyses.
• Fluency in English and French languages is required;
• A valid driving license and driving experience are required;
• Willingness to learn about local history, key actors, regional and political dynamics, language, and customs is required.
• Perform other duties, as required.

Results/Expected Outputs:
• Accurate and relevant information is produced on a timely and regular basis.
• Write concise, action-oriented chapters for the Weekly Threat Assessment (WTA ) on a weekly basis;
• Research and produce topical, routine, and ad hoc JMAC analyses in response to Mission Priority Information Requirements (PIR), Requests for Information (RFI) , and ad hoc requests concerning the Area of Responsibility in a timely manner;
• Analyses are done using multi-sourced sources, tools, and techniques.
• Own network of reliable contacts in the AoR is established and maintained, enabling the UN Volunteer to gather relevant information, fact-check, and verify;
• Viable and realistic, benchmarked courses of action aimed at preventing, mitigating, and transforming the conflict are proposed and monitored;
• 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.

Skills and experience

• A minimum of 3 years of work experience is required, including at least 2 years in hardship contexts, active conflict zones, or complex post-conflict and humanitarian settings, political transitions, or similar environments, which is highly desirable.
• The incumbent must be a dynamic, multi-functional person who supports MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) with professionalism, dedication, and client orientation, and has an affinity for or interest in humanitarian relief, conflict and post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the United Nations (UN ) system. Experience working in conflict settings is desirable.
• The candidate shall be intrinsically motivated, self-reliant, diplomatic, and able to work cooperatively in a team with supervision while handling confidential information.
• The candidate shall be outgoing, a people person, responsible, and conscientious with an eye for detail, while being equally able to think laterally.
• Researchers with a background in a variety of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT) imagery analysis, political stakeholder mapping, conflict mediation, disarmament, and/or traceability fields are solicited. Other backgrounds may be considered upon receipt of compelling resumes.
• Individuals with backgrounds combining data analysis and anthropology, ethnography, journalism, criminology, history, or psychology are solicited. Other backgrounds may be considered upon receipt of compelling resumes.
• Individuals with certifications in various digital forensic tools, OSINT techniques, and/or qualitative social research methodologies are desirable.
• Flexibility to travel frequently is required; a driving license is mandatory.
• The ability to proactively and collaboratively adapt to new, unforeseen, and sometimes stressful environments, uncertainty, and conflict situations is mandatory, including operating in the context of an ongoing Ebola Virus Disease epidemic, movement restrictions, security curfews, and rebel-held areas.
• Experience in source identification and protection, fact-checking, information gathering, and analysis of sensitive and confidential information, including grave human rights abuses/violations and political, security, or military information, is required.
• Excellent drafting and editing skills in English and French are mandatory.
• Knowledge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC ) context is desirable.

Competencies and values

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.
• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise ; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Living conditions

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.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.