Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.
Background & Overview of SIRF
Syria was already in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis impacting the entire country as well as a number of neighboring countries, with more than 11 million people displaced from their homes and the number relying on humanitarian assistance increasing in 2024. On top of the already catastrophic situation, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey / northern Syria in February 2023 deepening the humanitarian situation for millions of affected persons. Early 2024 and with the regional context changing, Syria's humanitarian situation has worsened.
In light of the regional nature of the Syrian Crisis, and the humanitarian and political effects on neighboring countries, the Syrian INGO Regional Forum (SIRF) was formed in April 2013 to give voice to INGOs conducting humanitarian responses. Since then, SIRF has established itself as a key INGO Representation platform of the Syria Crisis with over 70 INGO members and observers, overseen by a board of 6 INGO Country Directors. SIRF is the only regional International NGO body dedicated to the Syria crisis, encompassing Syria and neighbouring Syrian refugee-hosting countries, working closely with the different NGO Coordination platforms of the region including, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Iraq and the hub level forums for Syria operations.
SIRF is a key permanent member of the most senior technical and strategic decision-making bodies of the Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan (3RP) and the ‘Whole-of-Syria’ Responses. Supported by its Policy & Advocacy Working Group (PAWG) and, in line with its agreed strategy, SIRF focuses on advocacy opportunities in order to influence international bodies, UN and donors for principled and effective humanitarian assistance in the region. SIRF’s four main work streams are:
General Position Summary
The SIRF Deputy Representative position was created mid-2023 in order to support INGO coordination across the ‘Whole of Syria’ response and regional Syria crisis with a particular focus on supporting humanitarian advocacy and policy influencing at country, regional and global levels. The Deputy Representative will have specific responsibility for coordinating the advocacy, communications and policy work of SIRF in coordination with the PAWG. This will include working closely with the PAWG co-chairs and members, as well as NGO Forums in the Syria response hubs and neighbouring countries in the region to lead advocacy efforts on priority issues for the responses. The Deputy Representative will proactively identify opportunities, and lead initiatives to use the collective voice of NGOs to improve effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and transparency of humanitarian operations across the region.
The role will work closely with the SIRF Representative who will lead overall SIRF strategy and external representation with a particular focus on operational and strategic coordination across the Whole of Syria architecture and 3RP. The Deputy Representative will also deputise for the SIRF representative when required and may be required to provide surge support to NGO Forums in the Syria hubs as well as travel between Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of the role include, in addition to other tasks that may be required:
Policy & advocacy strategy & coordination:
Advocacy products and events
Communications coordination
Representation, administration and other tasks
Surge support & emergency coordination
Accountability
Reports Directly To: SIRF Representative
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
Desirable requirements
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Amman, Jordan with individual accommodation and unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Team Members will have access to medical, electricity and water services.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.