National Coordination Associate Consultant for Syria

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) was established in December 1999 and serves as the designated focal point within the United Nations system for coordinating efforts aimed at reducing disaster risks. The organization operates with a mission to guide, monitor, analyze, and report on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-203

• UNDRR has a workforce of over 160 staff members, primarily based in its headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland, along with regional offices. The organization collaborates with UN Member States and a diverse range of partners, including civil society, the private sector, and the scientific community, to enhance global awareness and action towards disaster risk reduction. This consultancy position is specifically based in Damascus, Syria, and will support the UNDRR's Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) in Cairo, reporting to the Deputy Chief of Office or a delegated staff member.

Job Overview:
The National Coordination Associate Consultant for Syria will play a pivotal role in enhancing national coordination and visibility for disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts in Syria. The consultant will be responsible for establishing a National DRR Platform that aligns with national risk-reduction priorities. This position requires a strong focus on providing technical expertise and advisory support to the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management (MoEDM) and other relevant partners. The consultant will facilitate outreach and strategic engagement with national and international stakeholders, including UN agencies and NGOs, to foster multi-stakeholder coordination in DRR, early warning systems, and recovery frameworks. The role also involves managing workshops, training sessions, and consultations aimed at promoting risk-informed recovery and resilience frameworks, ensuring robust stakeholder engagement throughout the process. Additionally, the consultant will synchronize project deliverables with MoEDM's recovery planning processes and streamline communication channels across various departments to ensure efficient data sharing and strategic alignment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Providing technical expertise to operationalize and establish the National Multi-stakeholder DRR Platform.
• Facilitating outreach and strategic engagement led by MoEDM with national and international partners to enhance coordination in DRR efforts.
• Collaborating with the International DRR Governance Consultant to develop the National DRR and Climate Action Strategy and design the Terms of Reference for the National Multi-stakeholder DRR Platform.
• Managing the planning, execution, and post-event analysis of workshops, trainings, and consultations focused on risk-informed recovery frameworks.
• Synchronizing project deliverables with MoEDM's recovery planning processes, including milestone tracking and monitoring implementation progress.
• Streamlining communication and data-sharing channels across MoEDM departments and national counterparts.
• Advancing initiatives to embed risk-informed recovery approaches into national policies through structured stakeholder consultations.
• Overseeing recovery readiness assessments and synthesizing stakeholder inputs.
• Leading capacity-development frameworks, including technical coordination of training modules and evaluation of outcomes. 1
• Maintaining structured communication channels between MoEDM and external partners. 1
• Authoring high-level executive presentations and strategic communication materials. 1
• Documenting proceedings of MoEDM-convened meetings and tracking key policy decisions. 1
• Boosting visibility of MoEDM initiatives through high-impact content for reports and communication products. 1
• Synthesizing technical inputs for mid-term progress reports and final project evaluations in coordination with MoEDM and UNDRR directorates. The expected deliverables include a monthly progress report on deliverables.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Communications, International Relations, Public Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have at least three years of work experience in communication, stakeholder engagement, or project coordination. Proven experience in organizing high-level national workshops or multi-stakeholder consultations is required. Familiarity with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and humanitarian-development-peace collaboration is desirable, as is experience in supporting international technical experts and working within the Syrian public sector.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Communications, International Relations, Public Administration, or Social Sciences. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability to fulfill the role's responsibilities effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience in areas such as communication, stakeholder engagement, or project coordination. Experience in organizing high-level national workshops or multi-stakeholder consultations is essential. Familiarity with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and experience in the Syrian public sector are highly desirable, as they will contribute to the candidate's effectiveness in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English is required for this position, as these are the primary working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered desirable, which may include languages such as French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, or Arabic, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a diverse international environment.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position is expected to last for a duration of 12 months, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 11 months, depending on project needs and performance. The role is home-based in Damascus, Syria, and candidates should be aware that due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. Importantly, the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process.