National Project Coordinator - Social Protection

Introduction

Rights-based social protection can serve as a cornerstone for rebuilding the Syrian social contract, reinforcing the relationship between citizens and the state. To this end, national dialogue, assessments, and policy reforms are essential to expand both contributory and non-contributory systems for all Syrians. Transitional authorities are conducting a national consultative dialogue, where comprehensive and sustainable social security must be prioritized.

Given Syria's fragmented society following the 14-year crisis since 2011, a renewed social protection system must be grounded in rights-based principles and international labour standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to diverse societal needs. Integrated approaches that align contributory and non-contributory schemes with employment and decent work interventions will be critical to economic and social recovery. Regional dialogue is also necessary to ensure social protection does not hinder the return of displaced populations.

Following recent political developments since December 8, 2024, and based on internal consultations at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL), capacity building across government institutions is vital to enable effective leadership and service delivery. Coordinated efforts with HDPN actors, under a unified national vision, will support sustainable transitions to development and peace.

Introduction (continued)

Aligned with its mandate, the ILO will continue supporting social security and assistance reforms, strengthen capacities, foster social dialogue among tripartite partners, and promote integration of humanitarian and development instruments. It will also raise public awareness and assist in designing practical frameworks for financing, implementing, and administering social protection.

In this context, the ILO is developing a Programme of Support and plans to implement multiple projects to enhance social protection systems, policies, and programmes. These will be funded through diverse sources and carried out in close collaboration with other UN agencies.

To support the delivery of these outcomes, the ILO is seeking to recruit a National Officer based in Damascus for a 12-month, full-time assignment. The selected candidate will work closely with MOSAL, the National Social Security Institution (NSSI), social partners, UN agencies, and civil society to follow up on all technical activities related to Social Protection, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and contribute to policy dialogue. This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping Syria’s Social Contract at a critical moment in the country’s transition.

Reporting Lines

The National Officer will be based in Damascus and will report to the ILO Syria Country Coordinator and will receive technical guidance and backstopping from the Social Protection specialist in DWT Beirut, the Social Protection, Nexus and Climate Change Technical Officer in Amman and the Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) in Geneva as required.

Description of Duties

Under the overall supervision of the Syria Country Coordinator, the incumbent will:

A. Support to Social Protection activities in Syria

1. Contribute to timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ILO activities through management functions, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to project teams and consultants in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the final project documents and work plans.

2. Contribute to the refinement, implementation and review of ILO’s PoS for Syria, with a particular focus on social protection components (and their integration with employment interventions). Conduct resource mobilisation efforts under this area to further support and expand the ILO’s work in Syria.

3. Support project staff and national partners with identifying, analysing, interpreting and making recommendations on the Programme of Support and project activities, in coordination with MoSAL, social partners, participating UN organizations (PUNOs), Decent Work Team (DWT) specialists in Beirut, INGOs and NGOs, as well as relevant technical units at ILO-HQ including but not limited to SOCPRO.

4. Contribute to programme/project development, including with respect to budget proposals, project proposals, programme background, and project reviews and evaluation. Monitor progress of ILO social protection portfolio in Syria, by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

Description of Duties (continued)

5. Provide policy, technical advice, building capacity to MoSAL and social partners on issues related to the effective implementation of different social protection projects and national social protection reforms, including social assistance and social insurance, in line with ILO’s international social security standards (ISSS), in particular Social Security Convention No.102 and Social Protection Floors (SPFs) Recommendation, No. 202.

6. Contribute to the ILO’s work on the nexus in social protection, including working to strengthen coordination between humanitarian and development actors.

7. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers' and workers' organizations, UN agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), humanitarian organizations, and CSOs in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.

8. Undertake research and prepare technical inputs for country and regional analyses, reports and publications related to the social protection system in Syria, including contributory and non-contributory schemes. Ensure the delivery of quality technical inputs, including qualitative and quantitative research in line with ILO core conventions on social protection.

9. Organize and assess needs for social protection training programmes and awareness raising activities to improve understanding of concepts of social security and universal SPFs.

10. Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO DWT-Beirut, and other colleagues in the field and HQ, on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions.

Description of Duties (continued)

B. Coordination and Advocacy

1. Represent ILO in inter-agency coordination meetings and contribute to joint planning efforts under the UN Early Recovery Strategy, Transitional Action Plan (TAP), PoS and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

2. Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects or donors to expand impact under social protection activities.

C. Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting

1. Prepare regular progress updates, background notes, and inputs to donor reports and maintain documentation and records of meetings, events, and technical activities.

2. Contribute to monitoring frameworks and ensure integration of gender and inclusion indicators.

3. Document activities and related promotional materials that target policy makers, programme managers, the public and the beneficiaries.

Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor

Required qualifications

Education

• First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in social sciences, a discipline related to development, public administration, economics, and social protection or similar with demonstrated expertise in the relevant technical field and strong knowledge of development issues is required.
• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher Diploma) in the field of social protection or related fields would be an advantage.

Experience

• At least three years of professional experience in the field of social protection and public administration, project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant/cooperative agreement requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to the project donor.
• Technical Requirements: Good knowledge of social protection, ISSS, poverty reduction, and social policies is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience with UN agencies or international development agencies, INGOs and NGOs in post conflict, emergency responses or humanitarian contexts is highly desirable.
• Experience in supporting tripartite dialogue within the area of social protection reforms is a strong asset.

Languages

Excellent knowledge and command of English and Arabic.

Competencies

• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures and of the mandate and structure of social protection and labour market institutions in Syria.
• Good knowledge of the context and challenges of the social protection system in Syria.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution and good drafting skills.
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyse problems with implementation.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and ability to clarify information.
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure, deliver quality outputs and to meet the deadlines under pressure in a conflict-sensitive context.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Web browsers and database applications.

Competencies (continued)

(continued, duties)

• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders and public officials.
• Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.
• Ability to conduct action-oriented research and write analytical technical reports in English.
• Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.
• Ability to train and advise policy-makers and civil servants on social protection systems.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and human rights-based programming.

Competencies (continued)

• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies.
• Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation.
• Ability to provide technical support to senior specialists, carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Ability to communicate effectively on sensitive topics and resist undue political pressure in decision-making.
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.

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Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.