UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, hope
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 2023, 15.1 million people need humanitarian assistance. This is the highest number of people in need ever recorded in Syria since 2011. The number of children in need - more than 6.5 million – has increased by seven per cent in the past year alone. This is largely due the ongoing conflict, continued displacements, the unprecedented economic crisis, deepening poverty, and unemployment. The COVID-19 pandemic, 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
How can you make a difference?
Purpose of the Job
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief, Field Operations and on behalf of UNICEF, the Country Lead Agency for the Child Protection sub-sector, and in support of the Government, the purpose of this post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Child Protection Sub-Sector Working Group in close collaboration and coordination with the Protection and Community Sector and UNICEF’s Child Protection section.
Key End-Results:
1. Service delivery supported
1.1 A platform provided to ensure that service delivery is driven by the agreed strategic priorities
1.2. Mechanisms developed to eliminate duplication of service delivery both at central and governorate level
2. The HC/HCT and UNICEF Representative informed in humanitarian response and strategic decision-making
2.1. Needs assessment and gap analysis (across other sectors and within the sector) appropriately endorsed, approved and conducted
2.2. Analysis done to identify and address (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues.
2.3. Interventions prioritised, grounded in response analysis.
3. Planning and strategy development conducted
3.1. Sectoral plans, objectives and indicators directly support realization of the HC/HCT strategic priorities, as well as being aligned to the HRP objectives.
3.2. Application and adherence to existing standards and guidelines ensured
3.3. Funding requirements, prioritization, and sector contributions to HC’s overall humanitarian funding considerations and the Humanitarian Programme requirements (HRP,Flash Appeal, CAP, ERF/CHF, CERF)
4. Advocacy
4.1. advocacy concerns identified in order to contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action
4.2. Advocacy activities undertaken on behalf of sub sector participants and the affected population
5. implementation of the cluster strategy and results monitored and reported; corrective action recommended where necessary
6. Contingency planning/preparedness carried out for recurrent disasters whenever feasible and relevant.
Accountabilities, duties & tasks:
1. Maintain and strengthen the collective response of the Child Protection Sub-Sector Working Group for the CPIE and other appropriate response required at national level and sub national levels in close collaboration with the sector lead.
2. Ensure the CP response is evidence-based through conducting secondary data reviews and, where necessary, assessments identifying the priority child protection needs and capacities.
3. Carry out a mapping of CPIE actors to identify gaps, avoid duplication and build complementarity of partner actions.
4. Work with child protection actors to develop an inter-agency CPiE response plan, based on needs and gaps identified, that fits within the wider protection response and is captured in the overall Strategic Response Plan (SRP).
5. Ensure an effective information management system is established for sharing of information and generation of analysis, to, from and between sector participants and other stakeholders, and between national and sub-national levels.
6. Ensure coherence of information management, mapping and response planning with the General protection, GBV and MA working groups.
7. Ensure joint coordination, planning and response, as is feasible and relevant, within the Whole of Syria architecture.
8. Promote the approvals and implementation of the Minimum Standards of Child Protection in Humanitarian Action amongst Child Protection actors and non-CP actors.
9. Ensure adequate resources are mobilized and are equitably allocated for the effective functioning of the sub-sector and its response.
10. Work with child protection actors to develop an inter-agency C capacity building strategy that meets the needs and priorities.
11. Effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, including age, gender, environment and HIV/AIDs.
12. Maintain flexibility within the sub-sector to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities and participation.
13. Interact with other sectors (including through inter-sector coordination fora), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement and active contribution of operational partners.
14. Develop inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms to ensure accountability of the response to the affected population.
15. Monitor performance of the inter-agency CP response against agreed indicators and monitor the core sub-sector functions.
16. Strengthen the coordination capacity at field level in all of the governates where the UN has established response hubs.
17. Provide key advocacy papers and advice to the HC and the HCT on specific child protection concerns, and in collaboration within the broader protection sector.
18. Work with the global AOR team and in close coordination/consultation with the CLA to ensure that Syria coordination structure follows key developments within the global AOR.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: • Master’s degree in social sciences, law or other relevant technical field.
Experience: • At least eight (8) years of progressively professional work experience at national and international levels in child protection, including sub-sector coordination primarily in conflict affected countries.
Language Requirements: • Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic will be an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS). UNICEF Values
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
Builds and maintains partnerships (1), Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1), Drive to achieve results for impact (1), Innovates and embraces change (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1), Thinks and acts strategically (1), Works collaboratively with others (1).
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Other Remarks:
This is an internal and external vacancy, noting that priority will be given to staff on mobility and staff on abolished post. UNICEF Syria is non-family Duty Station, Hardship E.
This is a Fixed-Term position, with an expected duration of 2 years.
This vacancy is archived.