Background

MONUSCO, the UN Joint Human Rights Office (JHRO) and UNDP have created a team of researchers, based in Kinshasa, to gather, systematize and analyze information about alleged perpetrators of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Team gathers and analyze existing information from different sources, such as public reports by international bodies, MONUSCO investigation reports, UNJHRO Database, etc., on individual perpetrators of human rights and international humanitarian law violations, as well as on the relevant command structures of security services and armed groups, with a particular emphasis on commanders and their responsibility. The work of the team contributes to a better understanding of the most serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law in DRC and supports informed policy and decision making on future vetting of security forces, joint planning for MONUSCO operations, as well as advocacy efforts for accountability for human rights violations.
   
UNDP provides administrative and financial support for the project, which comes under the auspices of UNDP’s Governance and Security Programme. UNJHRO provides substantive inputs and strategic guidance to the research team, with MONUSCO providing logistical support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Director of the UN Joint Human Rights Office in DRC, and under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Information Technology Officer (Database /Application) will be responsible for the following duties:  
  • Manage a project involving feasibility studies, systems analysis, design, development and implementation of new, complex systems and technological solutions to support the project;
  • Develop detailed system and other functional specifications and user documentation for the profiling systems;
  • Evaluate linkages with currently existing Human Rights information systems and determine opportunities for collaboration;
  • Develop and enhance user applications that could be used to query the institutional memory of the Organization in human rights matters;
  • Build capacity amongst human rights officers for the full support and roll-out of such systems; provide specialized advice to users, analyzing users’ requirements and translating these into new applications; determine application systems integration and linkage issues;
  • Assist, facilitate or participate in internal and external meetings aimed at brainstorming or offering direction to the profiling project from an information technology perspective;
  • Develop and maintain an application that carries appropriate data security and access controls;
  • Organize and perform unit and integrated testing, designing and utilizing test bases and assist users in acceptance testing.
  • Develop training materials, operating and user manuals; train staff in assigned systems; Maintain a disaster recovery plan in conjunction with the relevant Information Technology Unit
  • Handle aspects of contract administration for the project’s IT related matters including establishment of service level agreements with vendors and chargeback policy for external users;
  • Provide guidance to other profiling staff and project consultants.
Objective and Expected Results
 
Objective: To contribute to better knowledge and understanding of the perpetrators (individuals and units) of the most serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law in DRC and to provide means for a better approach to future vetting of security forces in order to fight against impunity and prevent new abuses.
 
Expected Results:
 
Following the Team’s work plan:  
  • Information systems are expanded including feasibility studies, systems analysis, design, development and implementation ;
  • Profiling database is expanded to manage information generated through the project;
  • Documents made available to the Team are integrated into existing organized and searchable collection;
  • Application facilitating profile creation is expanded in a stable manner meeting needs of project;
  • Interactions with Team to help determine prioritized short-term requirements and contribute to longer-term technology strategy for system are carried out;
  • The Team's user requirements are translated into technical specifications ;
  • The system's technical documentation and user documentation is written and updated;
  • Capacity among the Team to fully leverage the system is built;
  • Contacts are made and work is done with CITS to ensure system integration with focus on longer-term support including backup and disaster recovery strategies.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of information technology/information management, particularly in systems analysis, database design and programming. Knowledge of several high level programming languages and significant exposure to, and demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of programming and analysis, including structured/object-oriented design, relational systems, scripting and query languages, document design and management, hardware and software requirements, systems facilities and execution protocols. Knowledge of interactive systems; good knowledge of organization's information infrastructure and IT strategy as it relates to user area(s), in particular human rights information management; Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including proficiency in the development and implementation of systems of moderate size/complexity 

Planning & Organization:  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently; is able to plan and manage own work and to meet tight deadlines.
 
Client Orientation:  Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
 
Work ethics and motivation: Able to maintain a high output for extended periods of time, even where there are no particular deadlines.
 
Teamwork: Sound interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Works collaboratively and proactively with national and international colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; is able to work effectively even where required to implement strategic decisions that do not necessarily reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings; is able to discuss problems frankly and openly with colleagues.
 
Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree in computer science, information systems or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  

Experience:

  • A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems or related area.
 Languages:
  • English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of French language is an advantage.
Other Skills:
  • Proficiency with ASP.NET, MS SQL Server, and JavaScript, and a solid understanding of asynchronous web development (“Ajax”) is essential. Experience with JQuery is considered valuable. Understanding of technological solutions used in monitoring and analyzing human rights violations would be an advantage.