Re-advertisement Gender Programme Specialist, (NO-3), FT, #136380, Damascus, Syria, MENA

This is a re-advertisement of the position. Those who applied to the previous advertisement do not need to re-apply; they are still being considered

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to an Advocate

UNICEF Syria Country Office has strategically integrated the Gender portfolio under the Social and Behavior Change (SBC) section to lead these cross-sectoral programmes. This integration aims to leverage the complementary strengths of both disciplines to amplify the impact of community engagement (CE) initiatives and mainstream gender in all sectoral and cross-sectoral programmes to foster more inclusive and effective programming. The synergy between cross-sectoral programmes enables the design of interventions that not only promote positive social norms but also empower families and caretakers, adolescents and youth to actively shape their environments and promote gender equality. Through meaningful participation, young people and adolescents, especially girls, are encouraged to become agents of change, contributing to sustainable development and resilience within their communities.

For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website:

UNICEF Syrian Arab Republic

How can you make a difference?

The Gender Specialist reports to the Chief of Social and Behavior Change, and you will serve as the primary gender expert in the Country Office.

The position of Gender Specialist will serve as the primary gender expert in the Syria Country Office and will be primarily technical and programmatic, with normative advocacy and coordination roles serving as a secondary function. You will provide technical guidance and operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the Gender Action Plan. You will support the development, implementation, and monitoring of high‑quality gender programming across sectors in alignment with the Gender Action Plan, focusing on:
• You will closely work with programme colleagues of the Country Office to advance one or more of the four Targeted Gender Priorities in the Gender Action Plan. You will also play a role in working with all sectors to mainstream gender by prioritizing key gender results within sectors with strong gender relevance.
• You will lead cross‑sectoral collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies, and efficient utilization of resources to deliver results.
• You will coordinate with programme colleagues and management to ensure that gender results are effectively defined, measured, and reported, and that high‑quality assessments, research, evidence generation, and evaluations on gender programming are undertaken and utilized, including through the application of effective theories of change.
• You will ensure effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender.
• You will assess and identify gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and you will provide gender‑relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming.

The position of Gender Programme Specialist reports to the Chief of Social and Behavior Change. By joining our team, you will serve as the primary gender expert in the Syria Country Office and serves is primarily technical and programmatic, with the normative advocacy and coordination roles serving as a secondary function. You provide technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the Gender Action Plan. You support the development, implementation, and monitoring of high-quality gender programming across sectors in alignment with the Gender Action Plan focusing on:
• Closely working with programme colleagues of the Country Office to advance one or more of the four Targeted Gender Priorities in the Gender Action Plan. You also play a role in working with all sectors to mainstream gender by prioritizing key gender results within the sector(s) with a strong gender relevance.
• Leading cross-sectional collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results.
• Coordinating with programme colleagues and management so that gender results are effectively defined, measured, and reported, and high quality assessment, research, evidence generation and evaluation on gender programming is undertaken and utilized, including through the application of effective theories of change.
• Effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender.
• Assessment and identification of gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and provides gender relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and delivery of gender programmes
2. Program development and planning
3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Coordination and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Gender Programme Specialist, (NO-3), FT, #136380, Damascus, Syria, MENA (1).pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social Science, Sociology, Public Health, International Development, Social Policy and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Gender Development, Gender equality, Programme management, Monitoring and evaluation, Humanitarian response. and any other related fields.
• Skills: Programme management, Technical coordination, Gender analysis, Results monitoring, Strategic planning, Professional communication..
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Emergency response, Gender credentials, GBV coordination, Inter‑agency experience, Joint programmes, Gender monitoring
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [female candidates] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.