UNICEF Syria was established in 1970 and has been working with partners to help empower children to fully claim and enjoy their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
UNICEF works with partners across Syria to deliver supplies, services, and expertise in areas of Child Protection, Education, Health, Nutrition, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation for every child. UNICEF also provides humanitarian assistance when needed.
Syria continues to face one of the most complex emergencies in the world. Unprecedented humanitarian needs are compounded by displacement inside the country and across its borders, extensive destruction of civilian and social services infrastructure, devastating impacts on the economy, and most importantly, the breakdown of the social fabric that stitched the country together for decades.
Today, 90% of people in Syria live in poverty, most are unable to make ends meet or bring food to the table. Families have had their resources depleted, with limited employment opportunities, skyrocketing prices, and shortage of basic supplies. For most people, the current socio-economic challenges represent some of the harshest and most challenging circumstances they have faced since the beginning of the crisis 11 years ago.
In 2024, 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance. This is the highest number of people in need ever recorded in Syria since 2011. The education sector identifies 7.2 million children and education personnel in need of assistance. This is largely due the ongoing conflict, continued displacements, the unprecedented economic crisis, and deepening poverty. The impact of the earthquakes in 2023 and the hike in price of commodities triggered by the overall global economic situation and the impact of sanctions are further compounding the dire situation.
For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website: UNICEF Syria
For every child, Peace
The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire, especially for children. After more than fourteen years of conflict, around 7.5 million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The prolonged conflict has led to repeated mass displacement, with many families living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions. The economic crisis has exacerbated the situation, pushing more families into poverty and increasing the reliance on negative coping mechanisms such as child labour and early marriage. Additionally, the destruction of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, has severely limited access to essential services, leaving many children without education and adequate healthcare.
Following the collapse of the Syrian government on December 8, the country has experienced a mix of optimism and disorder. It is now grappling with unstable security, an escalating humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement. Amid this uncertainty, the situation in Syria remains fluid, with considerable impacts on the population. The humanitarian situation remains dire across Syria, with significant challenges in access to health, education, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and other services. UNICEF's Syria Country Office has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response, providing a range of services for women and children and has concrete plans to scale up its response further in the coming months. For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website: UNICEF Syrian Arab Republic
How can you make a difference?
Under the guidance and with a direct reporting line to the Chief Field Operations and Emergency, the Chief of Field Office (CFO) in Damascus Hub is accountable for managing and leading the programme commitment of a field office within the country programme in Syria. The CFO represents UNICEF in their Area of Responsibility (AoR), leading and overseeing various program sectors and operational service teams to ensure the delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan, and the overall vision set forth by the Representative.
Key responsibilities include:
- Effective Management of UNICEF Presence, Staff, and Assets.
- Represent UNICEF in the Governorate by participating in meetings and events, advancing the agenda for children.
- Ensure the safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets.
Knowledge Management for Programmes:
- Support area programmes through data collection and analysis, accurate reporting, and participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.
Programme Development and Management:
- Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system.
- Analyze socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
- Draft and prepare programme work plans and recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation.
Optimum Use of Programme Funds:
- Establish and supervise programme work plans, monitor progress and compliance.
- Ensure proper coordination, monitoring, and liquidation of programme funds.
Local Capacity Building and Sustainability:
- Build local capacity for sustainable programme implementation.
- Advocate for children's rights at the field, community, and family levels.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Chief Field Office NOC TA.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
- Work Experience:
- A minimum of five years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring & evaluation and reporting, project administration or another relevant area is required
- Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
- Experience in emergency settings and developing context is highly desirable
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
Desirables:
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Technical Expertise:
- In-depth knowledge of UNICEF's programs and policies, including child protection, education, health, nutrition, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
- Strong understanding of the local context, institutions, and partners
Management and Leadership Skills:
- Proven ability to lead and manage teams effectively
- Strong skills in strategic planning, decision-making, and problem-solving
Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, in English and in Arabic.
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with various stakeholders
Analytical and Monitoring Skills:
- Strong analytical skills to assess program performance and impact
- Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation techniques to ensure program effectiveness
Adaptability and Innovation:
- Ability to manage ambiguity and complexity in challenging environments
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF competencies in building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks, and acts strategically, and works collaboratively with others.
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
Builds and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, Innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others, Nurtures, lead and manage people.
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: UNICEF Competency Framework.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the
corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
For National Officer (NO) positions, only nationals of the country are eligible, except staff members who are already legally permitted to work for UNICEF in the country, who are eligible to apply.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
