Senior Programme Associate (PSEA/Safeguarding), G-7, Damascus, Syria #136412, Temporary Appointment

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 protection.

UNICEF Syria was established in 1970 and has been working with partners to help empower children to fully claim and enjoy their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF works with partners across Syria to deliver supplies, services and expertise in areas of Child Protection, Education, Health, Nutrition, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation for every child. UNICEF also provides humanitarian assistance when needed.

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire, especially for children. After more than fourteen years of conflict, around 7.5 million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The prolonged conflict has led to repeated mass displacement, with many families living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions.

The economic crisis has exacerbated the situation, pushing more families into poverty and increasing the reliance on negative coping mechanisms such as child labour and early marriage. Additionally, the destruction of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, has severely limited access to essential services, leaving many children without education and adequate healthcare.

Following the collapse of the Syrian government on December 8, the country has experienced a mix of optimism and disorder. It is now grappling with unstable security, an escalating humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement. Amid this uncertainty, the situation in Syria remains fluid, with considerable impacts on the population. The humanitarian situation remains dire across Syria, with significant challenges in access to health, education, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and other services. UNICEF's Syria Country Office has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response, providing a range of services for women and children and has concrete plans to scale up its response further in the coming months.

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

UNICEF Syrian Arab Republic

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Senior Programme Associate supports the PSEA Section which is under the Office of the Representative by carrying out a range of technical, operational and administrative Programme support functions focusing but not limited to Prevention of Exploitation and Abuse (PEA), with a specific focus on strengthening these areas in Humanitarian Action including emergency response, to help develop, implement, and monitor the country Programme, ensuring effective and timely delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.

The Senior Programme Associate works in close collaboration with a range of staff in the CO, external partners, and agency counterparts in support of the PSEA section across UNICEF programming and design and delivery. The senior Programme Associate provides regular feedback on the status of projects through monitoring milestones and advises on improvements to keep activities on track.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme Planning and Coordination
2. Monitoring and Reporting
3. Data and Knowledge Management
4. Financial and Grant Management
5. Implementing Partnership Management
6. Administrative and Operational Support
7. Quality Assurance and Innovation
8. Support in Learning & Capacity Development

For full details on the key functions/accountabilities, Click ToR_Senior Programme Associate (PSEA)_TA (final).pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• Work Experience: - Minimum seven years of administrative or clerical work experience is required. - Candidates with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field related to the work of the organization may replace three (3) years of related work experience. (i.e. a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is required for relevant Bachelor’s degree holders) - A master’s degree in a relevant field related to the work of the organization, may replace two (2) additional years. (i.e. a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is required for relevant Master’s holders) - Experience working with the UN, UNICEF or humanitarian organizations will be an asset.

• Required Technical Knowledge - Candidates with experience supporting Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Prevention of Exploitation and Abuse and/or Gender-Based Violence programmes will have a strong advantage. - Work experience in emergency duty station is required. - Candidates with previous humanitarian experience volunteering or similar will have an advantage.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate.

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

Competencies required for this post are…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

Works Collaboratively with others (1)

Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)

Innovates and Embraces Change (1)

Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)

Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 females 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.

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.

“The VA is open for Internal and External candidates”

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.