Background and Organizational Context:
The Assad regime has ended with extraordinary speed and having endured seemingly perpetual suffering loss and oppression, the Syrian people now face the prospect of a new future. Over the last 14 years Syrians have suffered catastrophic losses; the displacement of 14 million citizens from their homes; a collective grief for the half a million lives lost in conflict; despair for those who were detained or imprisoned for their political opposition. Syrians have lived through the severity of protracted crisis with no real signs of a political process or solution, existing within a complete lack of accountability for the suffering endured.
For the first time in more than a decade the prospect of peace exists, albeit a precarious possibility that is complicated by the tolls and divisions endemic to protracted crisis conditions. The end of the Assad regime now presents the opportunity for a new Syria that Syrians themselves must be supported to determine.
It is paramount that UNDP together with the wider UN family, supports the Syrian people on a path towards peace and stability. The gains made to counter risks of further dissolution and to safeguard basic services and civil space in the transitional period, will determine much for the prospects of a peaceful transition to a new government of the Syrian peopleโs own choosing. The actions of UNDP to identify and respond to these immediate and critical needs of the Syrian people, appropriate to the conditions on the ground, will offer a vital channel of support to the collective efforts of the UN to protect and uphold a route towards peace.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and disasters. Working with our vast network of experts and partners in over 170 countries, we help nations to create integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet.ย
UNDP Syria operates in a highly complex and challenging environment, shaped by over a decade of conflict, widespread displacement, economic instability, and recurrent natural disasters. The Syria Country Programme focuses on three critical areas: 1) Promoting socio-economic recovery and social cohesion; 2) Strengthening local governance and basic social services; and 3) Supporting climate change adaptation and natural resource management. The programme emphasizes an area-based approach to tailor interventions to the specific needs of local communities and supports the vision of sustainable peace and recovery for all Syrians.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022โ2025 are fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. They prioritize resilience-building efforts while addressing the pressing humanitarian-development nexus. UNDP Syria aims to bridge immediate recovery needs with long-term development goals, focusing on inclusive governance, equitable access to basic services, sustainable livelihoods, and climate action. Similarly, the next CPD (2026-2030) will take the above priorities and the changing context into account.
The Programme Team is responsible for the design, oversight, and quality assurance of all projects and programmes, ensuring full alignment with the priorities set out in the Country Programme Document (CPD) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The team plays a central role in advancing UNDP Syriaโs three programmatic pillars: socio-economic recovery and social cohesion; local governance and social basic services; and energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction. By providing technical expertise and high-level advice, the team ensures that all programme outcomes contribute to the strategic objectives of UNDP and the broader UN system.ย
Programme staff actively engage with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, civil society, private sector actors, and UNDPโs regional and headquarters offices, to foster partnerships, share knowledge, and catalyze innovative solutions. The team leads resource mobilization efforts, develops strategic partnerships, and identifies opportunities for new initiatives, including joint programming. Throughout the programme cycle, the team adheres to UNDPโs quality standards and policies, ensuring the effective implementation of activities that align with the strategic direction of the Country Office and the broader UN cooperation framework. By maintaining strong partnerships with governments, development institutions, UN agencies, and donors, the Programme Team plays a pivotal role in addressing Syriaโs recovery and resilience needs.
Within the Syria Country Office (CO), the Operations Team provides essential backbone support services, including finance, programme finance management, procurement, human resources, digital services, logistics. The team also ensures compliance with corporate policies and provides demand-driven common services to other UN agencies in Syria. Administrative support, including protocol, visa facilitation, and travel, is provided to UNDP staff and project personnel.ย
The Management Support Unit supports corporate alignment, and quality assurance. It collaborates with programme teams on results monitoring and reporting while providing strategic guidance to ensure high standards of delivery.
The Security Unit advise on the protection of, and minimizing the risk to, UNDP staff, eligible dependents, property and operations in all locations and at the same time enabling UNDP programme delivery throughout the country.
The Strategic Communications Team supports all programme interventions by managing public outreach, knowledge sharing, and advocacy efforts to highlight UNDP Syriaโs impact and mobilize support for its mission.ย
The Partnerships & Reporting unit spearheads resource mobilization, manages donor relations, and develops strategic partnerships while ensuring transparent reporting and communication on programme outcomes to donors and stakeholders.
The Strategic Policy unit provides high-level guidance and ensures alignment of UNDP Syriaโs programmes with corporate priorities, international frameworks, and the evolving needs of the Syrian context, focusing on resilience, recovery, and sustainable development.
The Area-Based Programme unit tailors interventions to local needs through decentralized planning and implementation, prioritizing community-driven recovery, resilience-building, and sustainable development across Syriaโs diverse and complex regions.ย
The Risk Management Unit identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks associated with programme implementation, particularly in Syriaโs complex operating environment, to safeguard resources, maintain compliance, and uphold UNDPโs integrity and accountability.
The Joint Programme Unit coordinates collaborative initiatives with UN agencies and partners, ensuring alignment with the broader UN strategic framework and maximizing the impact of multi-agency programmes in Syria.
Position Purpose:
Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Strategic Policy Unit (SPU), the Economist will be responsible to advise UNDP County Office management, programme teams and area offices on macroeconomic and microeconomic trends, policies and relevant linkages to UNDP programmes with a strong focus on gender. The Economist provides analysis and technical advice to the head of SPU, with a view to enhancing the policy impact of UNDP projects and programmes, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. S/he monitors economic trends at the national and local level as well as economic policy developments, undertakes in-depth analysis and research, produces key briefings and reports and contributes to UNDPโs dialogue with partners and stakeholders.ย
The Economist will work in close collaboration with Programme, Operations, Area Offices, other CO units, and the UNCT and should contribute to inter-agency analysis and work on economics, poverty, the SDGs and other relevant topics.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response.
Key Duties and Accountabilities:
Provides analysis and advice to UNDP management on programmes and projects focusing on achievement of the following results:
Facilitation of knowledge building and sharingย focusing on achievement of the following results: Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing on economic issues across the Country Office as well as with key partners, including UN agencies, donors, civil society, and the private sector. Raise awareness on inclusive recovery based on gender, disability, and youth focused analysis.ย Advice on policy options, particularly from pro-poor perspectives, on macroeconomic and early recovery issues based on analysis and projection of the political economic situation in the country. Facilitation of knowledge building and development of policy options on green economic recovery for the country, mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation.ย Capture best practices and lessons learnt on economic recovery programmes from the Syrian context and other relevant contexts. Keeping abreast of past and new country macro-economic policies and provision of up-to-date analysis on their impact on both macroeconomics and microeconomics such as poverty reduction, employment, growth, equity, etc. Support the design of assessment tools that consider the needs of communities with strong gender lens.ย Training and capacity building and development support for UNDP staff on economic and basic statistical issues.Participates in the building and fostering strategic partnershipsย focusing on achievement of the following results:
Support partnerships with the UN Agencies, national and local counterparts, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society on UNDP goals, peopleโs needs and donor priorities. Production of periodic updates and briefs on country economic and development situation to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ. Facilitate and contribute to selected studies/research on emerging development concerns that feed into government/development partners processes. Active membership within Country-level interagency working groups on poverty, SDGs and economics. Explore new partnerships with national and international think-tanks, universities to jointly conduct research, analyses, and knowledge products and events on economic issues.Participate in the advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDPโs mandate and missionย focusing on achievement of the following results:
Policy advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals, economic recovery, and leaving no one behind by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings. Support the production of high-quality research papers for UNDP presentation at national and international workshops and conferences. Support to monitoring progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Participate in events and publications on economic issues, including annual Global Human Development Reports launches in the country, advocacy of the main Reports findings among relevant stakeholders and partners.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
Requirements:
Education
Advanced university degree (Masterโs degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Studies or a related area is required. ย OR A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degreeย A PhD in Economics or related field is desirable.ย Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
A minimum of 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with Bachelorโs degree) of progressively professional experience in the field of economics, international development, sustainable development, and socio-economic development, early recovery and resilience programmes isย required. Knowledge and experience of research and economic policy-level analysis isย required. Experience in the design, monitoring and evaluation of economic policy and programming in development and/or early recovery projects isย required.ย Experience in economic data analysis isย highly desired. Proven track record in program monitoring and/or management support isย highly desired. Experience of working in crisis or conflict country isย highly desired. Experience of working with large multi-disciplinary and regional teams isย highly desired. Experience from previous UN agencies and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be anย asset. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experience in the handling of web based management systems is requiredย Fluency in Arabic and English isย required.Expected Demonstration of Competencies:
Core
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย ย
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility :
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsย
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaborationย
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area:ย Business Direction & Strategy (Strategic Thinking)
Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDPโs mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresightยThematic Area:ย Business Direction & Strategy (System Thinking).
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process orย system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the systemThematic Area: Business Management (Portfolio Management)
Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacityย Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment.ย Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.Thematic Area:ย Business Management (Working with Evidence and Data)
Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.Thematic Area:ย 2030 Agenda: Prosperity (Inclusive Growth)
SDGs/National Development Strategy, Planning and BudgetingThematic Area:ย 2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectivenessย (SDG Integration)
Economy-wide analysisThematic Area:ย 2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectivenessย (SDG Integration)
Economic forecastingKeywords:
Economics, Programme Management, Development Policy, Early Recovery, Research, Analysis, SDGs