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.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under The direct supervision of the Programme Specialist – (EE/ DRR), the Programme Finance Associate provides the Programme with financial services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of Programme financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Programme Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
The Programme/Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Project, Field and Operations teams in the Country Office (CO) to resolve complex programme financial management-related issues and information delivery.
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.
1.) Ensures administration and implementation of programme financial management strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results: Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of programme financial activities, programme financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations in respect of programme activities; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented programme financial resources management system. Implementation of cost sharing and trust fund agreements, as applicable to the programme Elaboration of conditions of contributions within the programme resource mobilization efforts. Oversee and ensure all disbursements for the programme pillar and its projects in a timely manner.2.) Provides support to programme finance management and administration of relevant budget and expenditures focusing on the achievement of the following results:
Provides support to programme finance management and administration of relevant budget and expenditures focusing on the achievement of the following results: Entry of data of new grants/contributions related to programme into Atlas in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) including relevant GMS rates and its distribution, monitoring of AWPs status. Enter project budgets (AWPs) into UNDP ERP in line with available programme financial resources in the relevant projects and established expenditures targets. Revision of award and project status and follow up on financial closure of programme or related tasks, once operationally completed, including the Project Completion Check List in coordination with the GSSU. Implementation of effective internal controls for programme budget and expenses, proper functioning of a client-oriented programme financial resources management system control mechanism through monitoring budget preparation and modifications, budgetary status versus Authorized Spending Limit (ASL), follow up on ASL for programme. Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of financial reports for programme expenses. Identification of programme financial problems, proposal of solutions. Accuracy verification of Combined Delivery Reports including F&A (GMS) amounts collected Contribution to the regular monitoring of programme delivery related to the portfolio. Contribution to the preparation of programme financial reports including donor reports Verification and reconciliation of various expenditures reports from the CO, HQ and Responsible Party. Provision of researched information for the DIM audits related to programme, implementation of audit recommendations 3.) Support to implementation of the Programme resource mobilization strategy: Following up on project finances related to the portfolio including budget, expenses, expiry of funds and reporting and compliance with the donor requirements. Inputs on the overall TOR from programme/finance associates in the unit to be sought. 4.) Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters focusing on the achievement of the following results: Guidance to responsible parties on routine implementation of activities, tracking use of financial resources. Advice on DIM reporting, in particular on budgetary issues. Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in programme and project finance. Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 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: NoneCompetencies 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
Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation,contribution, and exchange.
Business Management Working with Evidence and Data Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making Finance Accounting (General) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. Finance Budget Management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets Finance Audit Risk Management Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved. Finance Banking and Cash Management Ability to collect, handle, and manage cash, which involves assessing market liquidity, cash flow, and investmentsRequired Skills and Experience Education
Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance. University degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable. Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) required. Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is not required Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. Experience, Knowledge, and Skills Minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible Finance and Accounting experience at the national or international level is required. Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required. Experience in budget planning and management, and/or cash management is desirable. Experience in financial controlling is desirable. Experience with UN/UNDP and/or international organizations and/or development organizations is an asset. Experience in preparing or supporting financial reports for donors, verifying expenditure data, and ensuring compliance with donor agreements and audit requirements. Ability to identify financial issues and propose solutions in line with UN/UNDP financial regulations.Language Requirements
Fluency in English and Arabic is requiredEqual 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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