Introduction

Syria continues to face a major socio-economic crisis with continued conflict in parts of the country. The UN has a large-scale humanitarian operation in Syria but faces funding short-falls and there is an increased focus on expanding early recovery and resilience assistance. This includes a focus on jobs and income to vulnerable people.

The ILO re-established a presence in Syria in early 2023, at the time Northern Syria faced a destructive earthquake.

In response the ILO has implemented an emergency employment response programme in and around Aleppo.

In parallel the ILO has engaged with the wider UN Country Team and with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and social partners to identify further areas where ILO can provide assistance.

Based on requests from constituents and responding to opportunities in the UN context, ILO is currently working on a number of limited areas, focusing on technical assistance on areas such as social protection, occupational safety and health and most importantly, private sector recovery and development

The ILO has a Syria strategy that guides its programme interventions and reflects an agreement with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and social partners on the key priorities for the ILO to engage in.

The ILO has a small team in Damascus and some staff in Aleppo to implement the agreed activities.

The position of “Syria Country Coordinator” is established in order for ILO to have a bridge head in Damascus with the capacity to engage with the Government and Social Partners, as well as with United Nations partners on implementing and further developing the ILO programme of work.

This position is based in Damascus and reports to the Deputy Regional Director in Beirut.

The incumbent coordinates work with relevant units at ILO headquarters, with the Decent Work Team, the Regional Programme Unit and the Administrative and Finance Services of the ILO’s Regional Office for Arab States.

Description of Duties

1. Serve as a primary point of contact in Syria for constituents and build their capacities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

2.

Lead on the formulation of a series of ILO interventions under a programmatic framework to be defined.

3.

Engage with development partners and donors to secure funding support for ILO’s work in Syria. Formulate and submit project proposals for funding

4. Manage ILO activities in Syria in line with ILO rules and regulations, report on successes and lessons learnt; and identify and tackle implementation bottlenecks.

5. Represent ILO in the UN Country Team.

6. Provide technical inputs on Syria (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports) and liaise with specialists from the Decent Work Team in their areas of expertise.

Description of Duties (continued)

7.

Implement a country strategy for the promotion of ILO fundamental principles and rights at work and the related ILO standards in Syria including child labour as a particular focus given previous ILO work.

Advocate for the inclusion of these principles within relevant national development and planning frameworks, sector strategies, local development initiatives and poverty reduction strategies and policies.

8. Keep abreast of the security situation, in close collaboration with UNDSS for safety of ILO staff in Syria and provide prompt advice based on UNDSS directives.

9. Provide support, assistance and backstopping to all development cooperation projects and RB-funded activities in Syria, including contacts with the authorities concerned.

10.

Establish and maintain contact with social partners involved in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of ILO activities. Establish and ensure the dissemination of information covering various economic and social subjects of interest to departments at Regional Office of Arab States and to missions to the region.

11. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Political Science or Social Science, Economics or other relevant field.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least seven years of experience, including experience at the international level, working on development and humanitarian issues, preferably in a UN context and related to ILO’s policy areas.

Languages

Excellent command of English.

A working knowledge of Arabic will be considered an advantage.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies (Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration), this position requires:

• Good knowledge of ILO wide activities and priorities;
• Ability to foster a positive working environment based on ILO core values and competencies;
• Ability to synthesize research and reach evidence-based conclusions for concrete short term and strategic policy and programme recommendations;
• Ability to contribute to or finalize reports that match ILO technical and programming standards;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relations with constituents, UN agencies, international financial institution’s, and bilateral donors, in order to foster consensus against identified policy priorities, and generate commitments and resources for the implementation of the decent work agenda;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

optional section (if needed)

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.