National Project Officer

Introduction

The garment sector in Syria, concentrated in Aleppo and Damascus and traditionally cotton based, employed some half a million people before the crisis that lasted for 14 years starting from 2011, with current estimate stands below 100,000 people. The garment sector supply chains in Syria have significant potential for creating decent job opportunities. The political change that occurred since 8th December 2024, coupled with the resilience of the sector paves the way for the revitalisation of the garment and textile sectors. Manufacturers face systemic challenges, including high energy costs, outdated machinery, market dumping from low-cost imports, and a lack of access to international markets due to sanctions. Despite these challenges, the industrial sector is determined to revive and promote the recovery of the country.

Against this backdrop, Weaving Hope is a collaborative intervention by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aiming to enhance the competitiveness and proper job creation potential of the garment supply chain. This intervention targets the entire supply chain, from production to export, through comprehensive measures that integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions. The initiative leverages UNIDO's technical support for infrastructure and technology improvements to incentivize factories to improve labour practices, as well as ILO’s expertise in promoting sustainable enterprises while promoting decent work, thus ensuring both productivity and livelihoods enhancement and adherence to decent work standards.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the ILO Syria Country Coordinator, with technical backstopping support from the ILO Employers Activities Specialist, the Enterprises Specialist at the Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) in Beirut, and the Better Work Jordan Coordinator the position will be based in the ILO project office in Damascus and the incumbent will perform the following tasks with at national level.

Description of Duties

Programme

1. Organize a range of activities (e.g. preparing work plans, coordinating meetings and correspondences), to ensure effective implementation of project objectives, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with the ILO programming guidelines and administrative and financial procedures.

2. Collaborate with the ROAS and its country-level technical specialists, as well as national partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities.

3. Prepare technical progress reports, new project documents, ILO outcome-based work plan reporting in collaboration with the Country Coordinator.

4. Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings, prepare and present project materials and relevant documents.

5. Assist in the programming and control of resources of the project, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. Identify problems and propose solutions and actions.

6. Prepare Terms of reference and manage contracts with consultants, service providers and implementing partners.

7. Liaise and follow up with relevant agencies, constituents, and other organizations to expedite activities and ensure targets are met.

Description of Duties (continued)

Technical

1. Coordinate studies and analysis as well as support or undertake enterprise assessment of labour standards and management systems at the enterprise level.

2. Support in coordination with garment, productivity and HR experts’ specific enterprises analysis in English in close coordination with ILO and UNIDO experts.

3. Design capacity building programmes in different aspects including OSH, child labour, gender equality, skills programmes, social dialogue, etc. to improve enterprise performance and compliance, and assist in coaching, facilitating management and evaluation, using the ILO tools and standards.

4. Provide technical advisory services and conduct classroom-based training.

5. Support data collection, monitoring and evaluation of training and advisory programmes and other provided services.

6. Adapt and apply ILO tools to address the specific needs of garment sector enterprises, ensuring they are contextually relevant and practical.

7. Engage with stakeholders to identify needs, strengthen advocacy and service delivery, and support initiatives to improve sector performance, including business development and market access.

Description of Duties (continued)

Communication

1. Serve as the project’s Communication Focal Point, supporting the ACTEMP specialist in liaising with Chambers of Industry and coordinating with the Country Coordinator and ROAS communication team to prepare timely, on-brand content. This includes developing stories, newsletters, reports, and producing public information materials such as print, promotional items, social media content, and audiovisual materials.

2. Manage the communication aspects of seminars, workshops and special projects and initiatives, including drafting press releases and articles in close coordination with the Country Coordinator.

3. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in business administration, economics, or other related fields. An advanced degree would be a strong advantage.

Experience

At least one year of professional experience at the national level in the area of project management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation M Proven Experience in the garment sector and in socioeconomic and HR management topics (particularly in the field of labour standards compliance and remediation) within the private sector.

Technical requirements: Good knowledge of in industrial relations and social dialogue between the management and worker representatives at the workplace will be a strong advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:

• Good knowledge of the Syrian labour-related laws and regulations.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution and good drafting skills.
• Good group facilitation, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills and capacity to deliver classroom training.
• Understanding of enterprise level human resources, production and quality systems.
• Good understanding of corporate social responsibility and labour compliance issues in the garment supply chains.
• Ability to monitor the effectiveness of training and capacity building initiatives undertaken by partner organizations / consultants.

Competencies (continued)

• Good understanding of principles of gender equality and principles of equal opportunity and how these can be promoted as part of the responsibility of the position.
• Self-motivated and ability to work independently in an outcomes-based work culture as well as contributing to the work of a team.
• Capacity to sensitively liaise and network with a range of stakeholders including staff, donors, constituents, management, trade unions and NGOs.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures related to the various components of the project area.
• Knowledge of the office’s financial rules and regulations.
• Ability to organize own work with minimum supervision.

Competencies (continued)

• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation.
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely and take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to deal with people with tact diplomacy.

optional section (if needed)

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.