Job Title: Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) Technical Consultant

Function: Programme Implementation

Job Group: Technical advisor

Duty Station: South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Administrative Line Manager: Head of Mission - DRC

Technical Line Manager: Global Head of Programming

Line Management Responsibility: N/A

Position Type: Temporary from 6 to 12 months depend on Funding

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organization. We work with people affected by violent conflicts to enhance their security and dignity through unarmed civilian protection (UCP). We work to reduce violence and protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath and to help transform the world’s response to conflict situations.

JOB PURPOSE

The Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) Consultant will play a critical role in establishing and demonstrating the effectiveness of UCP methods, particularly direct protection, in South Kivu, DRC. They will be physically present with NP teams in the locations where UCP activities are being implemented. This hands-on role involves providing continuous, practical coaching to teams as they carry out direct protection activities, including protective presence, accompaniment, and patrols, ensuring consistency and quality in programming.

The consultant will ensure that all training and capacity-building efforts are directly applied during activities, steering the teams away from passive or theoretical approaches. The role will safeguard teams from defaulting to traditional humanitarian protection roles, maintaining a strong focus on UCP’s nonviolent, community-based approach. They will also support teams in building relationships with local communities, ensuring interventions are grounded in UCP principles and tailored to each specific context. By the end of the consultancy, teams should be well-equipped to independently and effectively carry out UCP activities within communities, demonstrating the viability and impact of UCP in conflict-affected areas.

This is a temporary role, envisioned for a duration of 6 or 12 months, depending on funding and other programming decisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist teams in finding appropriate entry points for direct protection activities in the field, ensuring a strong focus on UCP principles.
• Coach teams in building relationships with communities through a UCP lens, ensuring interventions are rooted in trust and cooperation.
• Lead teams in initiating protective presence, accompaniment, and patrols in strategic locations where the presence of peacekeepers can have a significant impact.
• Coach teams in transitioning from reactive to preventive UCP, ensuring they anticipate protection needs and act proactively.
• Safeguard teams from defaulting to traditional humanitarian protection roles, coaching them through difficult dilemmas, including how to refer civilians to services without falling into case management.
• Ensure training remains focused on direct application of UCP, steering teams away from generic training approaches and maintaining hands-on, practical guidance.
• Support senior management in identifying opportunities to showcase the impact of direct protection activities, including protective presence and accompaniment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education, Knowledge and Experience

• At least five years of experience in programmatic implementation in conflict-affected areas, specifically in direct violence prevention and civilian protection programming.
• Experience in Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) or similar is required.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering comprehensive training programs, particularly in conflict prevention, direct protection, and UCP.
• Strong background in conflict analysis, protection strategy development, and programme management, with a proven track record of achieving results.
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders, including authorities, military, police, non-state actors, local communities, international organizations, and other humanitarian actors.
• Proven ability to analyze complex conflict dynamics and protection contexts and provide strategic recommendations for programme adaptation and advocacy.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as human rights, peace and conflict studies, humanitarian response, international humanitarian law, or related areas is highly desirable.

Interpersonal

• Excellent communication, coaching, and mentoring skills with the ability to build the capacity of teams to operate independently.
• Strong public speaking, presentation, and facilitation skills, with experience delivering training to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in high-stress, rapidly changing environments and to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Experience working in multicultural environments and with diverse teams.
• Genuine commitment to and interest in working at the community level in conflict-affected areas.

Communication

• English is Nonviolent Peaceforce’s working language; proficiency in English is required.
• Knowledge of French is highly desirable, especially given the operational context in the DRC.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and impactful reports, proposals, and training materials.

Commitment to NP Principles

Demonstrate a commitment to NP’s mission and principles. All NP employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s guiding principles:

• Nonviolence
• Direct action
• Radical connection
• Process-oriented
• Independence
• Nonpartisanship
• Redemption and healing
• Pluriversality
• Accountability

These principles and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships in protecting civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies