29 May 2012

South Kivu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Moussa Bakhaga, a UN Volunteer from Mali, works as a UNV Civil Affairs Officer for MONUSCO/South Kivu in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As the MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC) focal point for the protection of civilians in South Kivu, Moussa carries out coordination mechanisms and implementation strategies to protect civilians.  

As part of his work, Moussa takes part in the management of the Joint Protection Teams in South Kivu. Joint Protection Teams are involved in prevention, emergency response and strengthening the protective environment. The purpose of these teams is to improve interaction and establish a relationship of trust between MONUSCO, local communities and key stakeholders, as well as to establish coordination mechanisms, early warning systems and clearly identified needs for protection.
 
Moussa’s role is to plan missions, in areas under protection status, for the Joint Protection Teams before, during and after mission deployment. Before the mission, Moussa calls all MONUSCO’s substantive sections to participate in mission deployment. Once participations have been confirmed, Moussa convenes a preparatory meeting to discuss the expected results of the mission and to address the logistical issues such as provision of camp beds, sufficient quantities of water and food and possibly the deployment of a temporary military base. When the Joint Protection Team arrives in the mission area, a meeting is scheduled with local, civil and military authorities as well as civil society organizations and local communities. Several issues are raised during these meetings, including political and security situations, local response mechanisms, cases of human rights violations and sexual violence (if any), children at risk, etc. As a result of the mission, the team’s participants submit a report to MONUSCO with recommendations on their findings.

Working as a UN Volunteer has allowed Moussa to work directly with communities, to meet with people in their daily lives and share their concerns. Volunteering has allowed him to help establish a partnership of trust amongst MONUSCO, local communities and authorities. “When I look around me, I realize that everything is so diverse and plural but that this diversity is a fundamental value that must be preserved in the UN system,” says Moussa.

“The moments that I like the most are during the missions in the field. There, I have the opportunity to enter into direct contact with people I help. These times of giving and receiving end with the firm belief that what I do is noble and will not be in vain. Nothing is so important in life than seeing your neighbor during his difficult times.”
-- Moussa Bakhaga, UNV Civil Affairs Officer

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BIO
Moussa Bakhaga, from Mali, has been serving as a UN Volunteer in DRC since 2004. A lawyer by training, he served first as an Electoral Officer in Bunia and then as a Civil Affairs Officer in Bukavu, in South Kivu. Prior to becoming a UN Volunteer, he worked in Mali for NGOs dealing with human rights and development issues and at the Commission Electorale Independente du Mali.