Programme Coordinator - Temporary, P4

This position is located in Damascus, Syria under the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Cairo, Egypt. The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa and the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative of ROMENA. The incumbent will also liaise and cooperate closely with relevant colleagues at ROMENA, other field offices and relevant substantive Sections at UNODC Headquarters. For more information on UNODC, please visit www.unodc.org

Following the change of Government in December 2024, the Office has identified immediate temporary needs to strengthen UNODC’s positioning in Syria and establish critically missing capacity on the ground, in an effort to promote UNODC mandates in key contexts. As part of this surge capacity, the Programme Coordinator position in Syria will strengthen UNODC’s engagement with national counterparts, the international community and within the UN Country Team, as well as coordination with the Office of the Resident Coordinator, and other UN partners. Within delegated authority, the Programme Coordinator, will perform the following specific duties: Advocacy: • Position UNODC with the national counterparts, in the UN Country Team (UNCT), and among key donors through promoting a better understanding of the importance of core-mandate areas. Encourage increased priority attention to all aspects of the related mandates and advocate the inclusion of these issues in government planning documents as well as in relevant programmes of other bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental organizations. • Provide advice to the UN Resident Coordinator as well as other senior UN officials on matters related to UNODC mandate areas. • Represent UNODC’s position and interests in the country and promote solid partnerships with governmental institutions, civil society, national and international stakeholders and financial institutions, parliamentarians and the media. • Provide advice to the government on the development of national, regional and inter-regional long-term capacity-building initiatives in drug control and crime prevention, in order to promote adherence to and ensure consistency with the terms of the United Nations conventions, drug control treaties, the Conventions against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and Corruption (UNCAC) and the international instruments to counter terrorism, as well as with the outcomes of the UN Special Session of the General Assembly on Drugs. • Promote the use of UNODC research, manuals, handbooks, guides and criminal justice related standards and norms. • Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Programme Development and Resource Mobilization • Ensure the strategic direction and management of all UNODC activities in Syria and contribute significantly to resource mobilization efforts, including within the context of the UN Country Team (UNCT) and joint UN programming opportunities. • Identify key programmatic priorities for UNODC engagement with a view to maximizing impact and underlining UNODC’s added value within the wider UN response in Syria. • Coordinate and create synergies with other UN entities and missions present in Syria for programme/project development; represent UNODC in the UN Country Team (UNCT); build synergies and incorporate global UNODC initiatives when elaborating country assessments, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) or other UN-wide programmes. • Keep abreast of developments regarding UNODC mandate areas in the context of the process of rebuilding and strengthening the Syria drug control and criminal justice system. • Develop a strategic plan for ensuring the sustainability of UNODC’s presence in Syria, including a resource mobilization strategy that promotes longer term involvement including financial and in-kind support and resources by the governments, international, public and private sector donors to the work of UNODC. • Identify and explore funding opportunities for the different mandates UNODC areas Programme Implementation • Coordinate drug control, crime prevention, criminal justice and terrorism prevention initiatives and activities with a view to ensuring an integrated approach to development and carry out strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of projects in Syria. • Ensure effective financial management and reporting of the projects in Syria, meet related reporting obligations and coordinate timely project reviews and revisions as required. • Prepare and draft a variety of high quality and timely written outputs, such as concept papers, correspondence with governments, working papers, mission reports, presentations, policy proposals and ad hoc reports and organize and attend policymaking, expert group and programme/project related meetings, workshops, discussions, etc. make presentations and represent UNODC at those meetings.

• Professionalism: Has knowledge of policies and practices in international drug control and crime prevention, as well as the mandates, major developments and challenges in functional and substantive areas covered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Has excellent networking skills as well as resource mobilization and coordination capabilities. Has ability to ensure adequate preparation of reports and papers on UNODC related strategic and technical issues as well as rationale with respect to key technical assistance decisions. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political or social sciences, international relations, economics, law, public or business administration is required. A first-level university degree in a related area in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional work experience in international cooperation in preventing and countering organized crimes, rule-of-law based criminal justice responses or related area is required. Work experience in technical cooperation, programme management and resource mobilization is required. Relevant work experience in a field environment is desirable. Relevant work experience in United Nations inter-agency cooperation is desirable. Relevant work experience in crisis, conflict, or post-conflict settings is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

This position is temporarily available for nine months. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may be administered as a temporary assignment at the staff member's personal level. Payment of Special Post Allowance to the post level may be considered, if applicable. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Syria is classified in the E category (non-family duty station). Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.