Background
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 people’s 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.
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) 2022–2025 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 Syria’s 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.
Programme staff actively engage with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, civil society, private sector actors, and UNDP’s 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 UNDP’s 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 Syria’s 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.
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 Syria’s impact and mobilize support for its mission.
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 Syria’s 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 Syria’s diverse and complex regions.
The Risk Management Unit identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks associated with programme implementation, particularly in Syria’s complex operating environment, to safeguard resources, maintain compliance, and uphold UNDP’s 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 guidance and direct supervision of the RR, the Communications Analyst in a large Country Office participates in the implementation of the corporate communications strategy, as well as in the design, management and implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies, which are geared to influence the development agenda, promote public and media outreach, and mobilize political and financial support for UNDP.
The Communications Analyst maintains a working relationship with the Regional Communications Advisor and may supervise Communications staff. The Communications Analyst works in close collaboration with the CO Programme, Operations and project teams, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP Communications Region and HQ staff, government officials, national and international media, donors, and civil society to ensure successful implementation of UNDP’s communication strategy.
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.
Duties and Responsibilities 1.) Implement internal/external communication strategies and outreach and contribute to their development.
Prepare and conduct communications needs assessments for the country office (e.g., for projects, the country programme, and corporate change initiatives). Draft and edit the country office communications and outreach strategy based on country office strategic priorities and the UNDP External Communications Action Plan. Provide communication input during the project and programme formulation stage to integrate communication needs and strategies in all aspects of UNDP development program. Maintain increased coverage and understanding of the UNDP’s work in the country or practice area through local and global media stories as guided by the UNDP External Communications Action Plan.2.) Implement the country office publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy.
Identify and develop storylines for publications, and draft substantive articles that contribute to and generate conversations on key development issues. Coordinate and manage the country office publication activities, such as content management in line with corporate guidelines. Liaison with and maintain a database of contact details for journalists. 3.) Provide technical support to UNDP digital communications in country office that includes social media, web site, intranet, and CO web-based knowledge management system. Provide support in implementing country office digital communication strategy. Generate content for the web site and other social media platforms to ensure consistency and better outreach.
4.) Implement UNDP’s campaign initiatives to engage different stakeholders (i.e., government, donors, media and public) and increase awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals.
Promote and maintain public information campaigns on UNDP activities. Collect and package information for donor review in collaboration with programme staff and supervisor to support campaign and advocacy initiatives. Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches to engage stakeholders. Support “One UN” agenda in line with UNDP’s Campaign and Advocacy agenda. Ensure access of journalists to subject-matter experts and UNDP spokespeople; and provide newsworthy information to the national public.5.) Assist in leading the effort of country office’s knowledge management and dissemination.
Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities. Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories. Provide training, consultancy, and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external knowledge management. Maintain UNDP’s Intranet on country office activities for internal knowledge sharing; and share relevant knowledge products with external stakeholders through corporate website. Work with the Programme teams to ensure all knowledge products are captured, updated, readily available and in the right order, as and when necessary. 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: Supervise Communications staff in Country Office.Competencies Core: Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process Act with Determination LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies) Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction and Strategy System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or
system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Management CommunicationAbility to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management Digital Awareness and LiteracyAbility and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
Portfolio Management Portfolio ManagementAbility to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to
balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key
principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
Communications Multimedia writing/editingAbility to create and/or edit written content for multimedia Communications Social Media management
Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks Communications Writing and editing
Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, or related field is required, or A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, advocacy, or communications is required. Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP is required. Proven experience in drafting and editing communications products such as press releases, blogs, articles, newsletters, and social media content, ideally related to UN or development themes. A published body of work is a strong asset. Experience producing and managing content for websites and social media, with working knowledge of digital communications tools, content scheduling, and audience engagement strategies. Demonstrated ability in photography, basic video creation/editing, and graphic design for visually compelling materials such as infographics and campaign visuals. Experience using Adobe tools (e.g., Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator) is an asset. Ability to contribute to and implement communication and outreach strategies, support campaigns and events, and organize media-facing activities such as press briefings, interviews, and stakeholder events is desirable. Experience coordinating content for internal and external knowledge products, supporting intranet and online repositories, and contributing to documentation of best practices and lessons learned is an advantage. Experience in leading a team is an advantage. Previous relevant working experience in the humanitarian field with the UN, INGO’s, NGO’s is highly desirable Knowledge of another UN language is desirableLanguage requirements:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required Knowledge of another UN language is desirableEqual opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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