Deputy Representative

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Representative, the Deputy Representative plays the leading role in the formulation and delivery of the UNFPA country programme and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Country Office.  The Deputy Representative post at this level is located in a highly complex operating environment. 

The crisis in Syria is now entering its seventh year. The Humanitarian conditions in Syria continue to worsen, including extensive damage in the various economic and social sectors.  As of end of 2016, 13.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance, around 25% of them are women of reproductive age and 30% youth including female adolescents.  According to the 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 4.1 million women of reproductive age, and 360,000 pregnant women are in need of critical humanitarian support. Around 5.1 million people are living in 153 hard-to-reach and besieged areas, facing impediments in having proper hygiene conditions in besiegement, in shelters or other displacement areas. They are also facing critical challenges in accessing basic health services, especially specialized and much-needed RH services including Emergency Obstetric Care.

Syria continues to be classified as a Level 3 Emergency and subjected to extensive military activities on the ground and in several of the operational areas, which continue to provide challenges to field operations.

UNFPA has expanded its programme to 10 governorates with field presence in Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Hassakeh. Partnerships with government institutions at the central and decentralized levels and non-governmental organizations have increased substantively, requiring close monitoring to ensure quality assurance in terms of program and financial management and other operations related activities.

The Deputy Representative will also supervise international (at P3 and P4 levels) and National officer staff.

Education: 

Advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities, including programme designing, appraising and management.
• Solid experience in humanitarian settings a must.
• Demonstrated experience on gender, peace and security (SCR 1325) a distinct advantage.
• A strong communicator and networker, with demonstrated experience in interacting with complex humanitarian coordination structures
• Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to the needs on the ground.  
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country.
• Strong interest in humanitarian and development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations; and,
• Field experience is a strong asset.  

 Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Written and spoken Arabic would be an asset.