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

Supports the implementation of communication outputs in the country office focusing on achievement of the following:

• Produces visual content of communications and partnerships materials.
• Focal point for communication outputs for outreach specifically signage and its clearances, powerpoints, printables, banners, workshops, and announcements materials.
• Coordinates with UNDP and partners in the field on communications audio-visual materials ensuring donor priorities and guidelines .

Support implementation of country office publications focusing on achievement of the following:

• Provides support in information for different publications, both internal and external.
• Maintains contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production and dissemination of communication outputs and publications.

Support maintenance of country office web-based knowledge management system focusing on achievement of the following:

• Assists in updating CO website in line with corporate guidelines.
• Maintains database of digital content for web sites and social media platforms.
• Prepares TORs for hiring vendors and suppliers to create content for digital communications.

Provide input to and support implementation of country office communication outputs for campaign and advocacy initiatives to increase awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals through dissemination of information and organization of public and media events focusing on achievement of the following:

• Collates information for outputs such as publications; assist with public events such as roundtable discussions, seminars, press briefings and conferences, and interviews.
• Provides logistical support to UNDP campaigns, joint UN campaigns and/or events (UNSDCF, UN Day, World AIDS Day), and to the organization of other publicity/outreach/promotional opportunities for country office programme and projects.
• Provides administrative and logistical support to the communications team for initiatives such as media workshops, project visits, and report launches.
• Gathers data and information as input to reports on progress of campaign and advocacy activities.

Assist in UNDP Syria’s in-house audio-visual productions, focusing on the following focusing on achievement of the following:

• Film and produce videos, documentaries and coverage of key events for multiple purposes and audiences, such as campaigns, digital outreach, resource mobilization, etc.
• Edit short films for use on the UNDP website, YouTube and at events.
• Compile b-roll material and photographs on UNDP priority areas of intervention.
• Undertake the archiving of audio-visual materials on UNDP Syria’s digital assets system, includes assigning filenames, pulling technical information, determining permissions, writing descriptions and cataloguing content . 

Provide support to Communications team in knowledge management and dissemination focusing on achievement of the following:

• Upload content on Internal database and website guided by the Communications Associate.
• Work with suppliers and vendors as and when necessary
• Provide any other logistic support.
• Provide support to Senior Leadership as requested.

Competencies :

Core Competencies:

• 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

Cross functional and technical competencies :

• 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 Management – Communication: 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 Literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
• Communications -Digital asset management: Ability to use digital asset management (DAM) systems to effectively store, share and organize digital assets such as images, videos and other media. 
• Communications - Multimedia writing/editing: Ability 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: 

• Secondary education is required.
• University degree (bachelor´s degree) in Communications, Journalism, Advertising, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement .

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with secondary education) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in communications, public relations and/or administration is required.
• Advanced user of computers and office and communications and graphics software packages.
• Knowledge of and experience with Adobe software solutions (Photoshop, Audition, Premiere, etc.).
• Proven experience in work and editing writing for various media outputs, including research and writing focused on UN-related thematic areas. A published body of work is a strong asset.
• Experience in managing and producing content for digital communications (social media platforms, websites, online platforms), with strong knowledge of social networking trends and tools.
• Demonstrated experience in photography, video creation/editing, graphic design, and developing visually engaging communications materials such as infographics.
• Experience organizing events and managing media relations/publicity. 
• Experience in administrative tasks, including procurement, logistics, and general office support.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply .

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the testing and interview process to ensure an equitable and comfortable experience for all candidates. Examples of accommodation may include accessible interview locations, alternative formats for written materials (such as large print or braille), or the use of assistive technology. Candidates are encouraged to inform us of any specific needs at the time of application so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Equal 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. 

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.