Organization Mission

The primary role of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to support country-led efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work of UNDP in 170 countries around the world is anchored in diverse and effective partnerships, which are vital to our two critical roles at country level: (a) as an integrator across policy, programmatic and organizational silos; and (b) as an operational backbone for the United Nations and other partners.

In Syria, UNDP has adopted a highly principled approach to the delivery of its mandate in providing critical support to crisis-affected communities. Acknowledging the sensitivities of the operational context, UNDP’s activities in Syria are further informed by bespoke measures to mainstream a do-no-harm approach based on a thorough context analysis, to ensure effective safeguarding measures are applied across all areas of operation in response to the challenges of the Syrian context.

Context

UNDP Syria’s Gender Programme Unit is implementing a range of initiatives at the intersection of gender equality, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and social cohesion. One of the flagship components is MHOSS (Mental Health, Outreach, Solidarity, and Support), including the “Fadafda” initiative, a community-led psychosocial support model. The Unit is also finalizing a guidance note for MHPSS in Women Safe Centers and regularly produces knowledge products and reports.
To support these efforts, the Gender Unit is seeking the support of an Online UN Volunteer to assist with research, documentation, and editorial tasks over a three-month period.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Gender Analyst and in coordination with programme staff, the Online UNV will:
– Support the review and editing of the MHPSS Guidance Note for Women Safe Centers.
– Assist in drafting documentation and communication materials related to the Fadafda MHPSS model (proposals, concept notes, case stories, activity summaries).
– Conduct light literature reviews and desk research on MHPSS, gender-responsive recovery, and social cohesion models relevant to the Syrian context.
– Provide language support (English/French) as needed for documentation and reporting.
– Support the review and editing of research papers and reports, including formatting and citation checks.
Attend selected internal coordination or learning sessions and assist with notetaking or summary drafting.Expected Outputs:
– Revised draft of the MHPSS Guidance Note
– 2–3 edited reports or knowledge products
– 1–2 short summaries or briefs for internal use
– Summary notes from coordination or technical meetings (if assigned)

Required Skills and Experience

– Background in Psychology, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or related fields (undergraduate or graduate level)
– Strong written and verbal communication skills in English (French is a strong asset)
– Demonstrated interest in gender equality, mental health, and community development
– Ability to work independently and meet agreed deadlines
Familiarity with academic writing, editing, and desk research