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UNFPA-Communications Specialist-P3-Gaziantep, Turkiye (frequent travel to Aleppo)
Gaziantep, TurkiyePosition Title: Communications Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3
Location: Gaziantep, Turkiye (with frequent travel to Aleppo)
Duration: 3 months
Language: English is required, Arabic is an asset
Humanitarian needs in Syria continue to rise inexorably, driven by escalating violence, which has led to further displacement and suffering. The socio-economic situation has continued to deteriorate, exacerbated by the February 2023 earthquakes, tensions and conflicts in the region, have negatively impacted social cohesion and amplified vulnerabilities. In 2024, 16.7 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance, the largest number since the beginning of the crisis in 2011. The effects of the rapid economic deterioration and lack of livelihood opportunities further expose vulnerable people to protection risks and threats, including enhanced risk of sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of gender-based violence for women and children as they explore feasible means to meet their day-to-day basic needs.
The Syrian conflict has been a complex and protracted crisis that has continued to shape the geopolitical landscape of the region. The security situation in northwest Syria has evolved significantly in recent weeks in the area of operations of Northwest and the entire Syrian territory. Intense fighting which was launched by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied armed groups quickly displaced the former government forces, gaining control of most of the country and ousting the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus.
The HTS offensive was allegedly prompted by intense airstrikes and artillery shelling from the former government of Syria armed forces backed by Russian warplanes which mostly impacted civilian infrastructure in Idleb and western Aleppo governorate. The humanitarian impact of the recent military hostilities is severe, with disrupted services, overwhelmed hospitals, and restricted access to essential supplies such as water and food. In Aleppo, critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water supplies has been heavily affected. There are no more artillery shelling, drones and Airstrikes in northwest Syria for the first time in many years. Since the overthrow of the former regime, no public protests have been reported in northwest Syria, with the general population excited and celebrating the ouster of President Bashar Asad. There is relative calm in the region.
The Syrian Interim Government (SIG) maintains governance in northern Aleppo while the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) has evolved to assume the new transitional institutions of the central government in Damascus. While active military hostilities have stopped in northwest Aleppo, the risk of criminal and anti HTS actions in the region remains. The security risk level ranges from medium to high. The residual risk after the implementation of prevention and mitigation measures in the SRMM remains High."
Role Description
Under the exceptional political circumstances in Syria at the moment, it is necessary to prioritize the transition planning to a Damascus-led operation and as such, this position will be working to support the representation of the response in the north west and the gradual integration under Syria Country Office. Close collaboration with the Damascus team will be required.
Under the overall and direct supervision of the UNFPA Humanitarian Coordinator / Head of Office and in close collaboration with the Gaziantep programme team, The Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) Communication Specialist, and the communications team based in Damascus, the incumbent will be responsible for advising the Gaziantep Head of Office and UNFPA Representative on all aspects of external and internal communication. This includes responsibility for helping to enhance the information flow and visibility of UNFPA emergency assistance to the crisis in northwest Syria while highlighting sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender-based violence, and adolescents and youth in humanitarian response. More specifically, the incumbent will ensure public visibility of UNFPA issues and activities through media engagement, production of visual assets, donor reports, national and local communication campaigns; contributions to internal communication activities including SitReps and country updates (consolidated with the Damascus office); and support activities for communicating with communities and affected populations.
The incumbent will also carry out the following duties:
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure high-quality reporting of programmatic activities and support donor relations
Capacity Development
Any Other Duties
Qualifications and Skills required.
Other required skills:
Values
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3
Location: Gaziantep, Turkiye (with frequent travel to Aleppo)
Duration: 3 months
Language: English is required, Arabic is an asset
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request
Northwest Syria continues to endure a severe humanitarian crisis, with escalating violence, economic instability, and deteriorating living conditions profoundly affecting the population. As of March 2024, approximately 16.7 million Syrians nationwide require humanitarian assistance, with 14.9 million in need of health services.
The recent intensification of hostilities, particularly in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama, has exacerbated the humanitarian situation. Since late November 2024, over 280,000 individuals have been displaced due to conflict.
The rapid escalation of violence has placed immense strain on the already fragile healthcare system. Prior to the latest crisis, only 58% of hospitals and 36% of primary healthcare facilities were fully operational. Recent reports indicate that nearly 64% of primary and 42% of secondary care health facilities are now either partially functioning or nonfunctional. Since November 27, 2024, over 30 health facilities supported by cross-border partners in northwest Syria have ceased activities, further limiting access to essential health services.
In northwest Syria, where 5.1 million people reside, including 1.9 million in displacement camps and 4.2 are people in need.
Given the complexity in terms of the current crises affecting already pre-existing protracted crises of Syria, effective communication coordination and product development are critical to support the UNFPA Whole of northwest Syria fundraising, partnership and visibility activities in addressing this emergency.
The recent intensification of hostilities, particularly in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama, has exacerbated the humanitarian situation. Since late November 2024, over 280,000 individuals have been displaced due to conflict.
The rapid escalation of violence has placed immense strain on the already fragile healthcare system. Prior to the latest crisis, only 58% of hospitals and 36% of primary healthcare facilities were fully operational. Recent reports indicate that nearly 64% of primary and 42% of secondary care health facilities are now either partially functioning or nonfunctional. Since November 27, 2024, over 30 health facilities supported by cross-border partners in northwest Syria have ceased activities, further limiting access to essential health services.
In northwest Syria, where 5.1 million people reside, including 1.9 million in displacement camps and 4.2 are people in need.
Given the complexity in terms of the current crises affecting already pre-existing protracted crises of Syria, effective communication coordination and product development are critical to support the UNFPA Whole of northwest Syria fundraising, partnership and visibility activities in addressing this emergency.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats
Humanitarian needs in Syria continue to rise inexorably, driven by escalating violence, which has led to further displacement and suffering. The socio-economic situation has continued to deteriorate, exacerbated by the February 2023 earthquakes, tensions and conflicts in the region, have negatively impacted social cohesion and amplified vulnerabilities. In 2024, 16.7 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance, the largest number since the beginning of the crisis in 2011. The effects of the rapid economic deterioration and lack of livelihood opportunities further expose vulnerable people to protection risks and threats, including enhanced risk of sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of gender-based violence for women and children as they explore feasible means to meet their day-to-day basic needs.
The HTS offensive was allegedly prompted by intense airstrikes and artillery shelling from the former government of Syria armed forces backed by Russian warplanes which mostly impacted civilian infrastructure in Idleb and western Aleppo governorate. The humanitarian impact of the recent military hostilities is severe, with disrupted services, overwhelmed hospitals, and restricted access to essential supplies such as water and food. In Aleppo, critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water supplies has been heavily affected. There are no more artillery shelling, drones and Airstrikes in northwest Syria for the first time in many years. Since the overthrow of the former regime, no public protests have been reported in northwest Syria, with the general population excited and celebrating the ouster of President Bashar Asad. There is relative calm in the region.
The Syrian Interim Government (SIG) maintains governance in northern Aleppo while the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) has evolved to assume the new transitional institutions of the central government in Damascus. While active military hostilities have stopped in northwest Aleppo, the risk of criminal and anti HTS actions in the region remains. The security risk level ranges from medium to high. The residual risk after the implementation of prevention and mitigation measures in the SRMM remains High."
Role Description
Under the exceptional political circumstances in Syria at the moment, it is necessary to prioritize the transition planning to a Damascus-led operation and as such, this position will be working to support the representation of the response in the north west and the gradual integration under Syria Country Office. Close collaboration with the Damascus team will be required.
Under the overall and direct supervision of the UNFPA Humanitarian Coordinator / Head of Office and in close collaboration with the Gaziantep programme team, The Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) Communication Specialist, and the communications team based in Damascus, the incumbent will be responsible for advising the Gaziantep Head of Office and UNFPA Representative on all aspects of external and internal communication. This includes responsibility for helping to enhance the information flow and visibility of UNFPA emergency assistance to the crisis in northwest Syria while highlighting sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender-based violence, and adolescents and youth in humanitarian response. More specifically, the incumbent will ensure public visibility of UNFPA issues and activities through media engagement, production of visual assets, donor reports, national and local communication campaigns; contributions to internal communication activities including SitReps and country updates (consolidated with the Damascus office); and support activities for communicating with communities and affected populations.
The incumbent will also carry out the following duties:
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support on the development and implementation of the UNFPA Syria communication strategy:
- Lead on gathering inputs and information from the north west required to produce relevant advocacy products, including online and digital products, as well as coordinate dissemination of these products through the Syria Country Office.
- Identification of storylines and drafting of substantive articles on UNFPA’s humanitarian activities in Syria.
- Ensure a smooth flow of humanitarian success/human interest stories and communication materials to feed into situation reports, updates, newsletters, websites and other communication channels from the north west perspective.
- Support the development of video segments under the ECHO project, in coordination with the Syria Country Office.
- Build the capacity of UNFPA staff and implementing partners to communicate effectively about UNFPA’s work.
Engage with local, regional and international media sources to raise UNFPA visibility
- Provide UNFPA’s regional and country social media platforms with relevant updates and work closely with the Headquarters social media teams to integrate the humanitarian response into UNFPA’s social media outreach. Draft press releases, fact sheets and other rapid response information materials for use by UNFPA Headquarters and Regional and Country Offices, as needed.
- Assist in UNFPA advocacy activities, including providing support to public events, coordinating visits of senior UN officials, including field visits and participating in other UN /UNFPA advocacy initiatives.
Provide Public Information Support to Country Office
- Assist the Gaziantep Head of Office, Syria Country Office communications focal point and Representative, and Regional Communication Adviser in preparing written materials, including talking points, articles, press releases, responses to coverage about UNFPA in the media, etc.
- Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with local, regional and global media and other relevant partners and identify opportunities for advocacy and communication partnerships.
Ensure high-quality reporting of programmatic activities and support donor relations
- Support the cross border office in the implementation of a reporting plan, including date and required templates to facilitate effective project/programme progress reporting;
- In coordination with the programme team, GERT, ASRO and HRD, support the development of sitreps and oversee their dissemination
- Support partnerships by contributing to donor visibility in the field, and accompanying program / M&E staff, senior UNFPA management, and potentially donors on missions to the north west.
- Provide high quality editing and formatting for reports and donor proposals as well as other related documents for external audience
Capacity Development
- Coach and build communications capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to emergency/humanitarian crises, as needed.
Any Other Duties
- Perform any other duties as required by the supervisor, the Gaziantep head of Office and SCO Representative.
Qualifications and Skills required.
- Advanced degree in communications, public relations, journalism, advertising or related field.
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy; preferably some experience with public relations or information campaigns.
- Experience in or familiarity with a humanitarian setting is a major asset.
- Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is helpful.
- Excellent media contacts and proven success pitching stories to media outlets.
- Excellent research and writing skills, with experience writing reports, newsletters and program updates, video production and developing web content.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully and effectively liaise with teams across a wide range of functions within a multicultural environment.
- Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is an advantage.
Other required skills:
Values
- Demonstrate integrity.
- Demonstrate a commitment to UNFPA and the United Nations System
- Sensitivity to diversity
- Demonstrate adaptability to change.
- Have a culture of results and accountability.
- Have a sense of responsibility.
- Acquire and demonstrate professional expertise.
- Demonstrate a spirit of analysis and synthesis.
- Have analytical and strategic thinking.
- Work in a team / self-manage and manage relationships.
- Communicate with impact.
- Innovation and marketing of new approaches
- Leveraging the resources of partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Advocacy/ advancing a policy-oriented agenda.
- Internal and external communication and advocacy for resource mobilization
- Results-based programme development and management
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.