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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, an advocate.

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 in 2011.

The February 2023 earthquakes in north Syria and Türkiye have added agony to an already catastrophic situation, increasing the strain on services, causing displacement, and inflicting widespread damage. Many families lost their main breadwinner due to death or injury, at a time when the economic situation was already dire, resulting in millions of people unable to meet their basic needs.

In 2024, 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance[1]. This is the highest number of people in need ever recorded in Syria since 2011. The number of children in need - more than 6.5 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.

For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website: UNICEF Syria  

Background on the Assignment:

After 13 years of crisis, Syria is grappling with new emergencies adding to existing crisis and taking a heavy toll on the Syrian population. Protracted displacement, economic decline, global inflation, escalation of hostilities and the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck south-eastern Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023 are some of the biggest challenges Syrians currently face^[2]. Moreover, the ongoing hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon have also its effect on Syria with mass cross-border influx population. Importantly, the recent and rapid development of the situation in Syria with the collapse of Al Assad government on 8 December 2024 resulting in the formation of a transitional Government – ‘caretakers’ authorities’ until a new Government is elected (planned for a three-month duration) presents a new but uncertain situation and challenges for Syria's transitional phase.

As per Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2024, the prolonged crisis has resulted in over 16.7 million people, including 7.5 million children, in need of assistance due to multiple complexities including security and displacement, economic crisis, and reduction in emergency food aid. Post-earthquake recovery is stalled by economic challenges and lack of funding, jeopardizing essential services and infrastructure repairs. Continued worsened vulnerabilities increase risks for women and children driving them to harmful coping strategies.

The last Situation Analysis (SitAn) for children was done in 2019 to inform the current Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022-2024 (extended until 2025 but might also be extended until 2026). As UNICEF Syria Country Office (SCO) plans to start preparing and discussing the priorities of new Country Programme cycle, there is a critical need to update the analysis that was done in 2019 and provide UNICEF and its partners with new and robust evidence on the situation of children and adolescents in the country, particularly the most vulnerable. The SitAn will primarily aim to inform programme decisions and guide policy advocacy and partnership efforts, as well as to track progress of child rights implementation. The SitAn will also inform the Common Country Analysis (CCA), Third Voluntary National Report (VNR), and national SDG progress report.

In view of the above, UNICEF SCO is seeking the services of an individual consultant to update the 2019 SitAn using available evidence, reflecting the new global SitAn guidance, while paying due consideration to the latest recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, UNICEF Strategic Plan, UNICEF Gender Action Plan, and National development priorities. The analysis should also consider the possible set of scenarios that might occur in Syria for the next 2-5 years and should also consider data about the Syrian refugees in neighboring counties and their potential specific needs for returnees in the coming years.

How can you make a difference? 

The primary purpose of the consultancy is to collect, analyse, and report the situation of children and adolescents in Syria, with respect to their rights and critical issues affecting their realization as outlined in the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The objectives of the Situation analysis are to:

1. Develop a deep understanding of the situation of children and adolescents by analysing policies and strategies, social and economic trends affecting them (data disaggregated by age, gender, urban/rural, ethnicity, socio-economic status and other relevant factors), including the causes of and linkages between deprivations experienced, as well as the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent children and adolescents especially the most disadvantaged and their families from benefiting from social services across sectors and enjoying their rights.
2.  Capture new or emerging area of concerns regarding children and adolescents, such as political, environmental issues affecting them, mental health issues and others as relevant.
3.  Shape the planning and national priorities, informing transformational and lasting change, related to children and adolescents, and their families and communities, especially the priorities of UNICEF Syria country programme beyond 2025, the national development strategies, to accelerate achievement of the SDGs with equity considering the new political change/situation in Syria.
4. Complement the common country analysis (CCA) that will be conducted by Resident Coordinator’s Office for the new UNSF in Syria.
5. Identify critical data gaps and contribute to the generation of evidence that can improve the monitoring of the rights of children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable groups.
6. Assess the humanitarian risks; including risk related to exploitation and abuse and the likelihood of their occurrence, the underlying vulnerabilities and the capacities and coping mechanisms of families, communities and local and national institutions. 
7. Analyse to what extent there is an enabling environment for the realisation of the rights of all children and adolescents, and analyse how evidence-based interventions and services needed to address deprivations are prioritised in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and budgets

To the extent possible, the exercise will engage policy makers, partners, and communities in a collective analysis of deprivations and disparities and their causes, and how to reduce inequities in child outcomes and better fulfill children and women’s rights.

The main audience of the SitAn are UNICEF SCO, MENA Regional Office and Headquarters, Line Ministries, partners including donors, and other UN agencies in Syria.

If you would like to know more about this assignment, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:

 TOR for Situation analysis SCO Feb 2025_VA.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

I. Academic qualifications:

• Advanced degree (minimum Master’s) in international development, public policy, social sciences, economics or statistics or a related field to the assignment;
  
  

II. Work experience / Technical competencies:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience on social research;
• Experience in leading a previous UNICEF Situation Analysis of children is required.
• Demonstrated experience in leading multi-disciplinary studies;
• Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, policy (and finance) analysis (including experience in the consistent use of age and sex disaggregated and gender sensitive data) and report preparation;
• Proven experience in writing analytical papers or reports on children’s issues;
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s mandate and scope of work, child rights, gender and equity;
• Knowledge of human rights-based approach to programming;
• Good knowledge of humanitarian/emergency context;
• Familiarity with current national humanitarian and development priorities and challenges in Syria and the region will be an asset.
• Excellent communication and interview skills;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines;
• Knowledge about geo-spatial analysis and artificial intelligence methods for analysis is an advantage.
  
  

III. Language requirement:

• Fluency in English language is required, fluency in Arabic language (speaking and reading) is an advantage;

IV. Competencies:

For every Child, you demonstrate..

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Applications through UNICEF’s Talent Management System (TMS)
2. Cover Letter
3. CV
4. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees only
5. At least 3 Referees from Direct Supervisors

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for further technical assessment. Final recommendation will be made based on “best value for money”, i.e. the hiring section/office shall normally select the individual who quoted the lowest fee from among the candidates who are assessed as suitable for achieving all tasks on time, as per the criteria stipulated in this ToR, and based on the outcome of the evaluation/assessment conducted.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

General Remarks:

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.