Country Program Advisor

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Solidar Suisse is a Swiss NGO founded in 1936 (then known as Swiss Labour Assistance), committed to social justice and decent working conditions worldwide. Today, Solidar Suisse is active in 16 countries, implementing both development cooperation and humanitarian assistance programs.

In Syria, Solidar Suisse has been operational since 2023, primarily responding to the 2023 earthquake in Northwest Syria. The country program has focused on Protection, Shelter, WASH, and Livelihoods, managed from the Coordination Office (COOF) in Gaziantep, Türkiye.

With the evolving political and humanitarian dynamics, and new opportunities for engagement across Syria, Solidar Suisse is preparing to establish a direct presence in Damascus to support broader recovery and development efforts.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

It is against this background that Solidar Suisse is looking for a highly qualified and proactive professional who can provide both strategic direction (incl. stakeholder management/partnership building) and technical expertise, while working in close coordination with and reporting to the COOF in Türkiye and HQ in Switzerland.

The Syria Country Advisor will play a pivotal dual role:

1. Strategically, leading the establishment of Solidar Suisse’s operational presence in Syria, including positioning the organization with key stakeholders (e.g. donors, partners, clusters, etc.), and
2. Technically, acting as a sectoral expert to help shape and elevate Solidar Suisse’s programming in Syria.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSABILITIES

Strategic Program Development

• Lead the strategic expansion of Solidar Suisse’s Syria program, ensuring long-term presence and institutional credibility.
• Guide the revision of the country strategy in line with contextual developments and organizational priorities.
• Advise the Response Representative in the COOF Türkiye and HQ on strategic matters, program direction, entry points, and positioning.

Registration & Legal Setup

• Oversee the legal registration and establishment of Solidar Suisse’s operational presence in Syria, in close coordination with COOF and HQ.
• Represent the organization in official processes as needed under delegated authority.

Representation & Coordination

• Represent Solidar Suisse in Damascus/Syria vis-à-vis relevant stakeholders including UN agencies, INGOs, Syrian NGOs, and government entities.
• Participate in coordination forums such as clusters, sector working groups, and bilateral meetings (e.g. donors, partners, etc.).

Networking, Partnership Building & Donor Engagement

• Carry out donor mapping and engagement strategies.
• Engage with existing and potential donors; identify funding opportunities and promote Solidar Suisse as a reliable partner.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors and key international and local actors.
• Support the development of consortia or strategic partnerships to leverage programmatic and technical synergies.

Technical Leadership & Positioning

• Serve as a technical lead for Solidar Suisse in Syria in one or more of the following sectors: Protection, Shelter, WASH, or Livelihoods.
• Design and promote innovative and context-specific technical approaches.
• Provide high-quality inputs to program design and project development.
• Strengthen Solidar Suisse’s technical profile and positioning in Syria.
• Lead or contribute to the development of concept notes and full proposals in coordination with COOF and HQ.

Internal Coordination & Reporting

• Maintain close coordination with the COOF in Gaziantep and the Desk Officer in Zurich.
• Provide regular situation updates, technical briefs, and input to strategic planning processes.
• Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Response Representative or Desk Officer.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a discipline directly related to Protection, Shelter, WASH, or Livelihoods.
• At least 10 years of experience in the humanitarian and/or development sector, including senior technical and field-based roles.
• Proven technical expertise and leadership in at least one of these sectors: Protection, Shelter, WASH, or Livelihoods.
• Demonstrated experience in representation, partnership building, donor engagement, and fundraising.
• Excellent understanding of the Syrian context and operational environment, with strong existing networks and relationships with relevant actors.

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken).
• Excellent communication, coordination, and networking skills.
• Strong analytical, conceptual, and writing abilities.
• Ability to work independently with initiative and self-motivation.
• High level of commitment, dedication, and professional integrity.
• Strong alignment with Solidar Suisse’s vision, mission, and values.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their CVs along with a motivation letter using this link: https://my.jobalino.ch/public/job/ab9f1efbe5a826f32856285074fe574e/country-program-advisor. Due to the urgency, the position will be filled on a rolling basis.

Applications in languages other than English will not be reviewed.

Only applicants currently residing in Syria will be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.