Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
NORCAP is an organization dedicated to improving aid to better protect and empower individuals affected by crises and climate change. Established with a mission to provide expertise and solutions to humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding partners, NORCAP believes that collaboration is essential to reducing needs, risks, and vulnerabilities over time. The organization operates globally, working with various partners to enhance aid effectiveness and create opportunities for vulnerable populations. NORCAP aims not only to address immediate needs but also to foster long-term solutions through targeted expertise and collaborative efforts.

Job Overview:
The AAP Specialist role is pivotal to NORCAP's commitment to enhancing accountability, participation, and community-centered approaches within humanitarian and development responses. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is expanding its operations in Syria to address evolving humanitarian and recovery needs. This position offers a unique opportunity to integrate Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) into humanitarian, development, and nexus programming from the outset. The AAP Specialist will work closely with IOM Syria and its partners to strengthen accountability, participation, feedback mechanisms, and community engagement throughout the response. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing sustainable systems and practices that embed AAP principles into design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design, implementation, monitoring, and coordination structures, while also supporting capacity development across the mission and the broader response.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As the AAP Specialist, your responsibilities will include: developing and institutionalizing mission-wide AAP systems, procedures, and operational guidance to ensure consistent and high-quality programming; embedding AAP principles across humanitarian, development, and nexus programming to facilitate meaningful participation and accountability; co-chairing the national AAP Working Group to enhance collaboration among UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, local authorities, and community-based actors; promoting collective approaches and best practices that bolster accountability and community engagement across the Syria response; supporting the design, development, and implementation of a sustainable, data-driven collective complaints and feedback mechanism (CFM); analyzing feedback, perception, and referral data to inform program quality, decision-making, and accountability outcomes; building the capacity of IOM personnel and partners through mentoring, training, and technical support on AAP approaches and tools; and contributing to succession planning by strengthening national capacity and supporting the development of sustainable AAP leadership and systems within IOM Syria.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess an advanced university degree in social sciences, international development, humanitarian affairs, public policy, community engagement, communications, or a related field. They must have demonstrated experience in designing and implementing AAP frameworks, community engagement approaches, and feedback mechanisms in humanitarian and/or development contexts. A strong understanding of interagency coordination processes and experience working collaboratively with UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, and government counterparts is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience in establishing or strengthening complaints and feedback mechanisms, data-driven accountability systems, and organizational change processes. Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement, capacity-building, communication, and relationship-management skills are also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as social sciences, international development, humanitarian affairs, public policy, community engagement, or communications. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of humanitarian and development work and for effectively implementing AAP frameworks and community engagement strategies.

Experience:
Candidates should have substantial experience in the humanitarian or development sectors, particularly in designing and implementing AAP frameworks and community engagement approaches. Experience working with interagency coordination processes and collaborating with various stakeholders, including UN agencies and NGOs, is highly valued. The role requires a proven track record in establishing complaints and feedback mechanisms and data-driven accountability systems, as well as experience in organizational change processes.

Languages:
Professional fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in Arabic is also required. These language skills are essential for effective communication and engagement with diverse stakeholders in the humanitarian and development sectors.

Additional Notes:
This position is open exclusively to Syrian nationals and is based in Damascus, Syria, with a contract duration until the end of the year, with the possibility of extension. The role is full-time, and candidates must be prepared to undergo a full background check as part of the recruitment process. An approved health certificate will be required prior to the commencement of the contract. Feedback will be provided to all applicants within four weeks after the closing date of this advertisement.