Org. Setting and Reporting

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

Responsibilities

Following the change of Government in December 2024, the Office has identified immediate temporary needs to strengthen UNODCs 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 UNODCs 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 UNODCs 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 UNODCs 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 UNODCs 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. Competencies
• 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. Education An advanced university degree (Masters 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. Job – Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience 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…