Back ICT Associate

I. 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 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.  

 The ICT team plays a crucial role in the Country Office (CO) as reliance on digital technology continues to increase in all office operations, projects, and programme deliveries. The team drives UNDP’s digital transformation efforts in the CO to better enable, leverage and deploy technology solutions that help the CO implement new ways of doing business to work smarter and more efficiently, and ultimately to improve the way it provides value to UNDP partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.  

II. Position Purpose 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the ICT Analyst, the ICT Associate provides ICT services, implements ICT management systems and strategies, and provides daily technical support to users of information management tools and technology infrastructure. The ICT Associate promotes a client-oriented approach. 

The ICT Associate works in close collaboration with Programme, Operations and projects teams in the CO, UNDP HQ staff, Regional Information Officer (RIO), and the Regional Bureau Information Manager (RBIM) to resolve complex ICT- related issues. 

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. 

Core  

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 improvements ​ 

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 flexible ​ 

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 relationships​ 

Enable Diversity and Inclusion 

​​LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination ​ 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies  Thematic Area Name Definition Business Management Results-based Management

Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts,

methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of  

discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting 

decision-making.

 ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework – Cross-functional Competencies (2024)

use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.

IT Customer 

Support

Capacity to translate efficiently user needs into IT requirements around human-centered design.