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.

And we never give up.

For every child, health

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 11 years ago.

In 2023, 15.3 million people need humanitarian assistance. This is the highest number of people in need ever recorded in Syria since 2011. The number of children in need, 7 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.

At Unicef-Syria, WASH sector has achieved a universal, high-quality services to Syrians who has been suffering over the past 12 years as a result of a protracted crisis. UNICEF has not been looking only into an emergency kind of response but looking forward into an era of early recovery and development in a region that is known for its scarce water resources and hardly hit by climate change. Being part of the WASH team and rising to the different challenges avail a lifetime professional opportunity to learn and contribute to the wellbeing of Syrian children and population at large.

Find out how UNICEF programmes drive change for children and young people every day in Syria by visiting: www.unicef.org/syria

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the WASH Specialist, you will provide professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process, through the application of theoretical and practical technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development, implementation and monitoring of the WASH output results of the Country Programme in Qamishli.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme development and planning.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation.
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response.
5. Networking and partnership building.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

To view the full job description, double-click on the following link:  WASH Officer Level 1.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have the below requirement:

Education:

• University degree in one of the following fields is required:  engineering, public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, or another relevant technical field.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• Previous experience with UN or relevant NGOs in Syria is an asset.
• Candidates with relevant experience in the northeast of Syria will have an advantage.

Language Proficiency:

Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Required Technical Knowledge

• Basic knowledge of at least four components of the eight mentioned below.

1. Rural water supply for low- and middle-income countries - including water safety, sustainability
2. Rural sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability; applying CATS principles
3. Urban sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability.
4. Handwashing with soap.
5. WASH-in-Schools and Health Centers.
6. Menstrual hygiene management.
7. National government WASH policies, plans and strategies
8. Analysis of national budgets and expenditure for basic WASH, and related advocacy

• Basic knowledge of at least two of the below four components.

1. Programme/project management
2. Capacity development
3. Knowledge management
4. Monitoring and evaluation

• Basic knowledge of both below components

1. Human rights and WASH
2. Gender equality and WASH

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter Here

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

1. Builds and maintains partnerships. (1)
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness. (1)
3. Drive to achieve results for impact. (1)
4. Innovates and embraces change. (1)
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity. (1)
6. Thinks and acts strategically. (1)
7. Works collaboratively with others. (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: Here

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. A diverse and inclusive workforce is part of UNICEF’s DNA

| UNICEF Careers, irrespective of their race\ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a Compensation, benefits and wellbeing | UNICEF Careers including parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation for job candidates and personnel with disabilities | UNICEF Careers, UNCIEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.”.

Remarks:

Only Syrian Nationals can apply for this post.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

“The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)”

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.