Planning and Monitoring Specialist (Emergency), FT, P-3, Damascus, Syria, MENA #91786

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

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For every child, Peace

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.

Syria continues to face one of the most complex emergencies in the world. Unprecedented humanitarian needs are compounded by displacement inside the country and across its borders, extensive destruction of civilian and social services infrastructure, devastating impacts on the economy, and most importantly, the breakdown of the social fabric that stitched the country together for decades.

Today, 90% of people in Syria live in poverty, most are unable to make ends meet or bring food to the table. Families have had their resources depleted, with limited employment opportunities, skyrocketing prices, and shortage of basic supplies. For most people, the current socio-economic challenges represent some of the harshest and most challenging circumstances they have faced since the beginning of the crisis in 2011.

The February 2023 earthquakes in north Syria and Türkiye have added agony to an already catastrophic situation, increasing the strain on services, causing displacement, and inflicting widespread damage. Many families lost their main breadwinner due to death or injury, at a time when the economic situation was already dire, resulting in millions of people unable to meet their basic needs.

In 2024, 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance[1]. This is the highest number of people in need ever recorded in Syria since 2011. The number of children in need – more than 6.5 million – has increased by seven per cent in the past year alone. This is largely due the ongoing conflict, continued displacements, the unprecedented economic crisis, deepening poverty, and unemployment. The COVID-19 pandemic, the hike in price of commodities triggered by the overall global economic situation and the impact of sanctions are further compounding the dire situation.For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website: UNICEF Syria  

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Field Operations, and matrix functional supervision of the Chief PME, you will support planning, monitoring, and reporting (PMR) through strengthening the linkages between field offices, programmes and the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) section, towards improving field office performance in terms of funds management, partnership management and monitoring, and the monthly result tracking of the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) and Annual Plans (AP).

You are also expected to support national sector coordinators with reporting requirement including quarterly advocacy notes and donor reporting. Lastly you are expected to work closely with PME, resources mobilization, and communication sections to employ evidence generated by field offices into fund raising, evaluation and communication products.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Ensure that the Country Office has useful, valid, and reliable information on the situation of children and women rights; the performance of programmes; including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, and in emergency contexts, their coverage, coordination, and coherence.
2. Work within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) to support its goals for delivering valid and reliable information on the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and other goals, and on the performance of UN-supported programmes.
3. Support the establishment of monitoring and evaluation tools which enhance partnership between the UNCT, government and other key players to collectively track progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments for children.
4. Support in the development of national capacities for monitoring, evaluation, and research, prioritizing the involvement and participation of government, community, and civil society stakeholders.

For full details on the key functions/accountabilities, please double click to consult the Job Description:  SJD PMR Specialist P3 #91786.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have the below requirement:

1. 1. Education:

Master’s degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, statistics, planning development, planning, programme/project management, business administration, financial management, economics, or another relevant technical field related to work described in this vacancy announcement.

2. 2. Work Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience in programme development and implementation including planning, monitoring and evaluation activities is required.
• At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming.
• Field work experience is required.
• Background or familiarity with emergency is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is an asset.
• Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.
• Experience working with the UN, UNICEF or humanitarian organizations will be an asset.
  3. Language Proficiency:

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Arabic will be advantage.