Mission and objectives

UN Women’s engagement in Syria is guided by its global mandate to advance gender equality while adapting to the realities of a country in transition and protracted crisis. In this period, UN Women focuses on consolidating political engagement with national authorities, civil society, and international partners, while supporting Syrian women to shape their country’s recovery. The programme is anchored in four pillars: promoting women’s political participation and inclusion in governance; mobilizing women’s leadership in peace, humanitarian response, and disaster management; strengthening women’s economic empowerment and access to livelihoods; and supporting women human rights defenders in documentation, memorialization, and transitional justice. Through this mix of advocacy, programming, and partnerships, UN Women seeks not only to protect Syrian women, but to empower them as leaders and agents of change in Syria’s recovery.

Context

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works globally for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security. UN Women’s Syria Programme has been engaged in Syria for several years, supporting women’s participation in political processes and providing humanitarian assistance to women and girls through cross-border and in-country programming. Following the fall of the Assad regime, UN Women has expanded its operations inside Syria, with a strengthened presence in Damascus. The programme advances UN Women’s triple mandate—normative, operational, and coordination—in close cooperation with Syrian authorities, including line ministries, national commissions, UN agencies, and civil society. UN Women supports the leadership, protection, and meaningful participation of women-led organizations. The Syrian National Women-Led Organizations (WLO) Platform plays a critical role in amplifying the voices, leadership, and collective advocacy of women-led civil society organizations across Syria. The platform contributes to localization efforts, gender-responsive humanitarian action, peacebuilding, and accountability to women and girls affected by crisis. This UN Volunteer assignment contributes directly to strengthening the institutional capacity, coordination, visibility, partnerships, and evidence-generation of the Syrian Women Led-Organization Platform, ensuring that the rights, needs, and priorities of Syrian women and girls are reflected in national and international processes.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of WLO Platform Director or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will: 1- Secretariat and Coordination Support: • Provide day-to-day Secretariat support to the WLO Platform. • Support membership coordination, including onboarding, record-keeping, and engagement of member organizations. • Organize and coordinate meetings, including preparation of agendas, confirmation of participation, follow-up communication, and documentation. • Take accurate meeting minutes and ensure timely circulation of minutes and action points. • Support internal and external communications, including drafting emails, coordination notes, and updates. 2- Communication and Social Media Engagement: • Lead and support the development and implementation of communication and social media content for the WLO Platform. • Draft and disseminate key messages, statements, and advocacy content reflecting the voices and priorities of women-led organizations in Syria. • Support increased visibility of the platform’s work with national, regional, and international stakeholders. • Ensure communications are gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive, and contextually appropriate. 3- Gender-Sensitive Data and Knowledge Support: • Support the collection, compilation, and analysis of gender-sensitive and contextual data generated by WLO members. • Contribute to briefings, reports, position papers, and advocacy products based on platform-generated data and analysis. 4- Strengthening Localization, Funding, and Leadership: • Support initiatives that strengthen the leadership, sustainability, and collective capacity of women-led organizations. • Contribute to localization efforts by promoting equitable partnerships, access to funding, and recognition of national women’s leadership. • Support mapping of funding opportunities relevant to women-led civil society organizations. • Assist in capacity-strengthening activities related to coordination, advocacy, and organizational leadership. 5- Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement: • Support the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships between the WLO Platform and key national and international stakeholders, including UN agencies, donors, INGOs, and government counterparts. • Assist in coordinating engagement in national and inter-agency forums, consultations, and policy dialogues. • Contribute to advocacy and positioning efforts to ensure the meaningful participation of women-led organizations in decision-making spaces.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in Damascus, Syria. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions. Damascus, the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic, remains a complex duty station with evolving conditions shaped by the protracted humanitarian crisis and ongoing recovery efforts. While the overall security situation has improved compared to peak conflict years, it remains fluid and requires continuous adherence to UN security protocols and situational awareness. Access to Syria is primarily through Damascus International Airport, though travel arrangements may be subject to restrictions orperiodic disruptions due to operational and security considerations. Basic infrastructure, including electricity, water, and sanitation, has been significantly affected by years of conflict, resulting in intermittent supply and reliance on alternative solutions such as generators and water storage in many areas. Living conditions are characterized by limited availability of quality housing and services, particularly in areas impacted by damage and reconstruction constraints. Access to healthcare is available through public hospitals and private clinics; however, services remain under strain due to damaged infrastructure, shortages of medical supplies, and limited operational capacity of facilities. Banking services and access to cash can be challenging, with liquidity constraints and economic pressures affecting daily transactions. Telecommunications infrastructure is functional in urban areas, but internet connectivity may be slow and unreliable. The cost of living is relatively moderate compared to other capitals, although inflation and currency fluctuations can affect purchasing power. Damascus has a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters, occasionally experiencing cold weather conditions. The city is culturally rich with deep historical heritage, and social norms should be respected, including conservative dress codes in public spaces and limited consumption of alcohol, in line with local customs and regulations. Food supplies are generally available in markets, though affordability and variety may vary depending on supply chains and economic conditions. Across the country, many communities continue to face food insecurity and reduced access to essential goods. Despite these challenges, Damascus offers a unique operational environment for UN Volunteers to contribute meaningfully to humanitarian and recovery efforts. It provides a culturally enriching experience in one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, while also requiring a high level of resilience, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity. The duty station may involve working under constrained and unpredictable conditions, where adaptability and commitment are essential to effectively deliver on programme objectives and support affected populations. Benefits Package: • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 350 • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): USD 919.41 • Danger and Hardship Differential depending on the hardship classification and family/non-family status of the duty station. • Free access to UNV's learning and career development resources For more information on please visit the Entitlements Calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator.