Planning Officer

Host entity: MONUSCO

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Project management, programme development, strategy, Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Information technology and telecommunications

Application deadline: 18/08/2026

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

Assignment is non-family (Goma)

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is related to MONUSCO implementation mandate SC resolution 2808.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office (HoO) , the duties of the Planning Officer will include but are not limited to the following:

• Support the Head of Office in all planning, coordinating, and programming initiatives;
• Assist the HoO in the coordination of sections and components contributing to the implementation of MONUSCO mandate at the field office level;
• Provide substantive and technical assistance to integrated field coordination structures at the field office level, and support those at the Mission and United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ ) levels;
• Accompany the HoO to various internal and external meetings and provide the necessary meeting minutes, action points, and follow-up work;
• Coordinate various Mission transition and disengagement activities as part of Phase;
• Act as Secretariat for the Provincial Integrated Transition Team (PITT);
• Contribute to the development and implementation of field office work plans;
• Assist the HoO and sections in the development and implementation of high-quality quick impact projects and community violence reduction projects; serve as the Project Focal Point for the office;
• Follow up and draft various budget-related documents and submissions;
• Support the drafting and compilation of various Mission documents;
• Attend various substantive, administrative, logistics, and security meetings, produce meeting summaries, and follow up on the different action points;
• Conduct research on relevant subject matters as determined by the HoO and write initial drafts;
• Provide recommendations on the design of specific planning tools and mechanisms, in line with policy and best practice, to meet the needs of the field office;
• Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Skills and experience

• Analytical abilities, report writing, and project management;
• Computer literacy;
• Good writing and drafting skills in English and French;
• Driving skills.

Competencies and values

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

Living conditions

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 both Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Supermarkets exist in the large towns, 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 which is now considered a family duty station. Beni is a non-family duty station. 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 in Kinshasa and Goma.

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, Bukavu, Kisangani).
In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.

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