Kian Lovett | Joint Operations Officer | MONUSCO (UN Organization Stabilization Mission for the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Welcome to the United Nations Career Journey Podcast brought to you by the Office of Human Resources at the UN Secretariat and UNDP, the UN Development Programme. In this series, we interview colleagues from around the world working for the UN. We ask them about their career paths and what working for the UN means to them. My name is Kate Doyle and today we’ll hear from Kian Lovett, Joint Operations Officer at the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — also known as MONUSCO.
Welcome, Kian, how are you doing today?
I’m very well, thank you. Okay, it’s a pleasure to be with you.
So to start off, could you share with our listeners a little bit about yourself?
Okay, so my name is Kian Lovett. I’m 47 years old. I’m originally from Ireland. And I’m speaking to you today from Goma, DRC, where I work as a Joint Operations Officer with MONUSCO. And that’s a UN peacekeeping mission.
And what does your job entail on a day-to-day basis?
Essentially, a Joint Operations Officer focuses on several things. The first is reporting. So essentially what is happening on a daily basis is that you have information that is coming in via various channels, primarily from field offices. Think of it like a news desk. So the information has to be verified. And then once it’s verified, you know good to go, then it’s distributed throughout the mission, and then primarily to leadership to facilitate their decision making. The second thing about this job as well is crisis management. So where you have peacekeeping missions, while there’s usually conflict and civil unrest, there can be kinetic activity. So there’s a real need for crisis management, to manage crises as they arise. And then to determine what are appropriate responses. And then finally, the last area is organizational resilience. So these days, you know, the environments where the UN is operating, but particularly with peacekeeping missions — frequently they’re affected by the climate crisis, and also manmade disasters. So in terms of organizational resilience, one of my roles is involved in the planning. So in terms of planning, this could be the business continuity plan, mass casualty response plans, crisis communications and several other plans. And there’s a huge element of coordination and bringing the right people together at the table and focusing minds on the issues that need to be addressed.
And what kind of crises are happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Okay, well, in the in the DRC, the Democratic Republic of Congo, you have a very, very large area. It’s the second largest country or state, in Africa. And particularly the eastern DRC is where there are a huge number of issues. So you have provinces — Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu — that are impacted by violence. So there are massacres on quite a regular basis. There are terrorist incidents as well — so the use of IEDs and then also cases of unexploded ordnance. Then you have armed groups that are fighting between each other… then you have resource wars that are taking place between armed groups because the eastern DRC is characterized by a great richness in mineral resources. So in terms of a JOC Operations Officer, there will be incidents involving the civilian population, where there are injuries or loss of life. Villages may be burned, houses torched and you have mass movements of internally displaced people…then you may have cases of UN assets or convoys that are targeted, and they can be ambushed, attacked. And then also unfortunate instance where there’s loss of life involving peacekeepers — “blue helmets” — and then also civilian staff. So in terms of the JOC, there’s a need to report on this and then feed that information to leadership within the mission, and then also back to New York, so that then, especially when there’s loss of life, involving UN staff or troop contributing countries, that then there can be an adequate response then from the level of New York where you have a concentration of embassies.
It sounds like an especially volatile environment to be in right now. Have you ever feared for your personal safety?
I think all peacekeeping missions… their context is everything. So far in this mission, I’ve fortunately never been shot at or I haven’t had guns pointed at me. But I would say that, you know, there is a climate of concern in an area, like Eastern DRC. I’m based in Goma, so I don’t face the same realities as some of the colleagues in the field missions. But I would say that, probably in the Central African Republic of where I previously worked as a Political Affairs Officer, I would say that I was more at the pointy end of the spear, where there were greater risks and where, yes, guns were pointed at me and there were threats.
And how does one adapt to that type of working environment? I suppose you know, you there’s some aspect of simply getting used to it and developing a higher tolerance for stress.
Yeah. Well, I grew up in Ireland. So at the time of the troubles, sectarian violence and terrorism, so I was sensitized from a young age, to the fact that things can change pretty quickly and that you needed to be aware of your surroundings.
I had also previously worked with the International Committee for the Red Cross. And in that role as a protection delegate in Colombia, I was faced with many, many challenging circumstances, dealing with armed groups, criminal groups, state and non-state actors. So I would say that, you know training is key. So I’ve participated in a lot of hostile environment-awareness training. That has helped, of course. The SAFE trainings when you join a new mission where they actually showcase and it gives you the opportunity to experience firsthand some scenarios that are similar to incidents that have taken place in that particular context that you’re working in. So I would say that it’s a combination of, okay, some of my upbringing and some of the training, and then exposure that I’ve had that has helped me. Then it’s recognizing, okay, there’s a reason for me being in these environments, there’s a mandate or a mission that I’m working for. And it’s almost like being an actor and that an actor has a right to be on the stage. And in a in a conflict environment, you have many different sorts of actors, who are all have different roles and responsibilities. And when I’m in tricky, dangerous, conflict, kinetic environments, there’s a real reason why I’m there. And that is always in the back of my mind. But also, first and foremost, well I will be of no use to anyone if I go and get myself injured or killed. So with that in mind that, you know, I’m being very careful in what I’m being exposed to, and constantly analyzing and evaluating, and also, primarily following the guidance that I’ve been given. And as a good UN staff member, making sure that I’m getting the security clearances before heading out into some of these tricky environments.
It’s not a typical working environment that you’re in. It has many risks and threats but I would suppose that a good sense of fulfillment for the contributions you are making there.
Yeah, there’s huge satisfaction. The reality is that we all work — whether it’s in our home countries or in foreign environments. And I remember when I first had the opportunity to go and study abroad, it was just like it was eye-opening, and it gave me an option to grow and develop. And then with joining the UN missions, you are challenged on a daily basis. Because there may be linguistic issues or cultural issues, then if there’s a climate of fear or violence or threats. One of the things that happens is that you end up growing, growing more than you would ordinarily, in your regular environment. It’s almost like a being an elastic band, you get stretched, sometimes you get stretched more than you might like to. But you are being constantly stretched. And, yes, there is fulfillment because you’re coming to a better understanding of the environments. The reality is that if you come into these environments, if you’ve never experienced them before, if you’ve only read about the place, it means nothing. You have to live and breathe it. You have to understand what it means when you don’t have access to water, or where there may be some food insecurity issues, or where you’re dealing with threats that may affect your life, and well-being. So when you’re living and breathing these kinds of threats and dangers…in my case, what I find is, it always brings me back to why am I here? Who am I helping? And the realities are that what I face are minimal in comparison to what a lot of people face on a daily basis. So I am in a privileged position in many ways.
One of the things that I would think would be most interesting and fulfilling about working on a peacekeeping mission is the possibility of getting to know some of the local people. Have you had that experience?
Yes, um, getting to know the local people is essential to work. And also to do any kind of meaningful work, you have to be in contact with the local people. You have to be listening more than you speak. And you have to build relationships, and the relationships are professional, but then also socially, if you really get to know the local people. It’s going to inform everything that you do. And, you know, I’ll give you one example. Recently, I was in contact with a Congolese photographer. So I happen to be a documentary photographer in my free time. So anyway, he reached out to me. And then in discussion with him, I realized, okay, well, he’s heading into environments where there’s kinetic activity, but he wasn’t aware of measures that he needed to take in order to protect himself. So anyway, through some dialogue, it was possible then to share with him some knowledge and training that I had that directly benefited him. Also, you know, I’ve had cases where I’ve been dealing with leaders of village councils, and then unfortunately, some have been killed by armed groups. And when that happens, it really hits home about the nature of the environment that you’re working in. But going back to the question, it’s essential that you have contact with the local people. Because otherwise, you can be operating in the UN bubble, and you know working with people from the UN, socializing with people from the UN. And, again, the reason why we’re in these countries is to help the local people.
And in terms of the UN community there — your colleagues at the mission there. Do you all socialize together on the weekends? Do you live close to each other?
Okay, so yeah, with peacekeeping missions every context is different. So life quality, for example, in Goma is probably far better than some of the field office locations. And that can be as simple as things like what altitude you’re working at…the higher you go, the fewer the insects. The lower you go closer to sea level, the more insects. The more insects then probably greater likelihood of malaria, chikungunya, Leishmaniasis, etc. So in Goma, the majority of our staff — international staff — there’ll be living in houses. You have military who may live in houses, or if they are from a large contingent, then they’ll live within a camp. And generally speaking, life quality is good in that there are supermarkets well-stocked. There are restaurants with good quality food, a lot of very, very nice vegetables and fruits that come in from a place called Masisi, which is the Congolese version of Switzerland — it’s called the Swiss Alps, because the food is so nice, and it looks very much like Switzerland in many respects. So from a food security and living conditions, the things are good. Socially as well. Yeah, there are opportunities to meet up with people. And other people do have, you know get-togethers or they invite people over for dinner. They’ll have sometimes parties. What I would say is that, of course, normal in New York or Geneva or Nairobi sense is different than in a peacekeeping mission. So with peacekeeping missions, depending on where you happen to be, there may be a curfew… the curfew could be at 6pm, it could be 8pm, it could be 10pm. And then also recently thinking of the recent history, with COVID-19, that had a huge impact. So some missions in Africa sent people away, and then other missions were getting people to come back into the mission areas. So I would say COVID-19 was pretty destructive in terms of the impact professionally, and also socially, because many people ended up being confined, working remotely, tele-working, etc.
And so, if you were talking to a new staff member who had just gotten a job, what are a couple things that you would tell that person to be most mindful of or aware of?
Wow, great question. Please cut me off. I can go on and on. So the first thing is one — and UNDSS will love me for this — get your security briefing done, ASAP, within the first 24 or 48 hours. Two: you really are responsible for your security. So you need to prioritize that. Three: try to strike a life- work balance. Do your work but when you have the opportunity to rest, then get your rest. I’m saying this because these environments are very addictive in many ways because of the…what is happening and the dynamic nature of these environments. So what’s important as well is that, to take your R&R — your rest and relaxation periods. There’s a reason why these exist in some environments. If it’s a category “E,” it may only be four-week cycle. If it’s “D” it could be six or eight weeks. These R&R cycles are essential to respect because if you’re doing this kind of work long term, you need to ensure that you don’t burn out. And I would say as well: the people who will understand the environment the best are the colleagues that you’re working with. So when issues do arise, for example, let’s say you’re unhappy with the work environment, or you’re facing some sort of problem for others professionally or personally, talk to the people that you’ve made friends with. Another piece of advice is that peacekeeping missions are like train stations in many respects. People are coming and going. So the friends that you make, they’re almost like brothers or sisters in arms. They’ve been there, done that with you. Be mindful as well, they will move on, before you know it. And so you always have to be creating new friends and getting to know people.
You mentioned that these types of environments can be addictive. What do you mean by that — addictive?
Well, the importance of the work. You know, when you’re in roles where lives can depend on actions that you take, or actions that you don’t take, it really concentrates the mind. Also, when you’re dealing with information that is highly confidential, you realize there’s a huge responsibility that comes with that. So you’ve got responsibility for people that are falling under POC — “protection of civilians,” and then also, information that needs to be released, could hamper or jeopardize the mission, the operations, the mandate, or the reputation. Addictive because you realize there’s a lot on the line. And addictive also because, well, if you are not careful in your actions, and what you say and do that may jeopardize your life or that of your team, or others. So it’s… I would say as a friend of mine says it’s a life less ordinary, in many respects. And in your daily life you’re not having to be confronted with that level of responsibility.
Sounds like a lot of things are heightened the level of challenge and work the level of excitement because there’s new things that you’re learning and new people that you’re meeting and you’re in a completely different country or, you know, environment to the to the one that you grew up in.
That’s right. And essentially what is happening is that you end up unbeknownst to you becoming addicted with learning. Because you are constantly growing and developing. The tricky part is so that when you come back and you touch base with family or friends, or with environments that you maybe were raised in or spent a lot of time, then what happens is that it’s almost like Buzz Aldrin returning from back to USA. That’s…yeah. People may not understand what you’ve experienced. Because in many respects, it’s beyond their realm of experience.
Did you ever met imagine as a child in Ireland, that you would grow up and be serving in different peacekeeping missions in Africa and South America?
No, all I knew when I was growing up was that I would have a non-typical life. And all I knew back then was and I couldn’t fathom it — was I knew, as a child, for some reason that I would have an extraordinary life in some ways. And so far, that has been the case. Going back to the original question, my journey so far has been mind-blowing for me. And it’s been astonishing and an adventure and I feel very, very privileged that I’ve had this opportunity.
And my final question for you, then, what’s next for you and your career journey?
What’s next? Well, these days, the world is moving so quickly. I sort of try to concentrate on the here. and now. I would say, given the experience that I’ve had to date, I will continue working for the United Nations. There’s a lot of scope as well. There are a variety of roles…there are specialized agencies. So I think in the future, I can see myself probably working at a UN headquarters, and then sort of translating from my experiences from the field back into work that’s being done at the headquarter level. Because, again, these are like planets in many respects. You have policy that comes from New York, but what happens in the field and the realities there…it’s almost like different galaxies. So I think that I would be very happy at some point in the future, to work at a headquarters and to understand the nature of working there as well.
Well, if you’re ever in the galaxy of the headquarters of New York, let me know, and we can continue the conversation. Thank you so much, Kian. It was really great to talk to you today to get a real sense of what life in a peacekeeping mission is like, especially in the Congo.
Well, thank you very much Kate. It’s been a real pleasure. And I hope that the listeners can pick up some ideas or inspiration. And if anybody who does listen wants to reach out to me, feel free to do so. We all need to help each other. Thank you very much.
