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.ย
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.ย
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 overall guidance of the Gender Analyst, the Gender ย Assistant provides Gender programme support services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work.
The Gender Assistant works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and project staff in the CO, and UNDP staff in HQ and Regional Hubs to exchange information and support programme delivery.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Key Duties and Accountabilities:
Support formulation of programme strategies and implementation of the Country Programme Documentsย (CPDs).
Collect, analyze and present information for preparation of CPDs and establishment of Baselines, Milestones and Targets (BMT).ย Collect information/evidence to guide future programming and identify implementation arrangements.Provide effective support to management of the Country Office Gender programme.
Create project in ERP, prepare required budget revisions, revise project status, determine unutilized funds, and ensure operational and financial closure of a project. Provide support to implementing partners on implementation of projects, and track use of financial resources.ย Assist in managing digital technology solutions in programme implementation towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDPโs digital standards. Assist in ensuring that data generated in the programme implementation is managed effectively across the data lifecycle.ย Support the follow up on programme and project performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports, and implementation of corporate results-based management mechanisms and tools. Communicate programme related bottlenecks and possible solutions. Support preparation for external and internal programme/project audits and implementation of audit recommendations. Provide administrative support to the Programme unit by maintaining internal expenditure system and performing quality assurance review of technical reports and payments that includes following up with other units and taking timely corrective actions.Contribute to implementation of the Country Office resource mobilization strategies.
Review contributions agreements and manage contributions in ERP.Provide input to knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office.
Support organization and delivery of training for relevant programme and operations personnel. Provide input to lessons learned and best practices. Contribute to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.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:ย Noneย
Requirements:
Education:
Secondary education is required. OR a university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Gender Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:
Minimum of 5 years (with high school diploma) or 2 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management experience is required at the national and/or international level. Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is required. Proven track record of ability to review and edit documents and produce meeting reports identifying key actions is desired.ย Experience on promotion of gender equality and/or social inclusion is desired. Advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desirable. Experience in handling web-based management systems andย ERP financials will be an advantage. Experience working with UNDP or another UN agency or similar international organization is an asset. Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and present programme-related data, support preparation of baselines, milestones, targets, and contribute to reporting using results-based management tools is an advantage. Demonstrated experience in supporting the coordination and delivery of events, trainings, or workshops, including logistical arrangements, preparation of materials, participant communication, and follow-up documentation is highly desirable.Language Requirements:
Fluency in Englishย and Arabic is requiredExpected Demonstration of Competencies:
Core: Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be foundย hereย ย
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvementsย
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility :
LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexibleย
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationshipsย
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationย
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Thematic Area:ย Business Development (Knowledge Generation)
Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.ย Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.Thematic Area:ย Business Management (Customer Satisfaction/Client Management)
Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. ย Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.ย Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. ย Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.Thematic Area:ย Business Management (Project Management)
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocolsย to achieve specific goalsThematic Area:ย 2030 Agenda: People (Gender)
Gender Equality StrategyThematic Area:ย Business Management (Results-based Management)
Ability to manage the implementation of strategies,ย programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.ย Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.Thematic Area:ย Finance (Budget Management)
Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.Thematic Area:ย Procurement (Contract Management)
Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.Keywords:
Development Programme Financial reporting and tracking Results based management