Deputy Representative, Damascus, Syria, P-5

Organizational Context

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The Deputy Representative plays a leading role in the design and delivery of the UNFPA country programme, building alliances with governments, UN agencies, development partners, and civil society to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The role is responsible for day-to-day operations and supervising staff.

Job Purpose

In collaboration with the UNFPA Representative, the Deputy Representative leads efforts to strengthen the country's capacity to implement the ICPD Programme of Action and support national development towards the SDGs. Accountable for developing and managing an innovative Country Programme focused on population and development, and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. This includes maternal health, family planning, gender, and adolescent/youth empowerment. The role promotes UNFPA's mandate nationally, integrating SRHR into the development agenda through advocacy and effective programme delivery, including in emergency settings, demonstrating the organization's ability to achieve high-quality results.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Representative provides programme leadership by developing, managing, and monitoring the Country Programme, assessing national trends, and expanding UNFPA's portfolio. This includes establishing quality standards, overseeing monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring UNFPA's mandate is integrated into humanitarian preparedness and response plans. The role focuses on national capacity development by implementing strategies to enhance delivery of ICPD commitments, identifying capacity gaps, and providing technical assistance. It promotes the capacity of institutions to produce and use demographic data, strengthens health systems for universal SRHR access, and develops strategies for rights-based policies and laws. Partnership and advocacy involve building relationships with government partners, advocating for the ICPD agenda, representing UNFPA within the UN, liaising with donors, pursuing resource mobilization, and supporting communication efforts. Resource management includes supporting the Country Office operations, designing and implementing resource mobilization strategies, managing staff, and fostering capacity building for national staff.

Work Experience

10 years of progressive professional experience in public administration and international development, including programme design, appraisal, and management. At least 8 years must be in population and development, sexual and reproductive health, or humanitarian work at the international level. Experience in advocacy, policy dialogue, media/communication, leading teams, and field experience in developing or humanitarian contexts is essential.

Skills

Core competencies include achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, teamwork, and effective communication. Managerial competencies involve strategic focus, stakeholder engagement, leadership, and decision-making. UN Leadership Characteristics emphasize being norm-based, principled, inclusive, accountable, multi-dimensional, transformational, collaborative, and self-applied.

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