Localisation Specialist

Objective of the Role

The Localisation Specialist provides strategic oversight, quality assurance, monitoring, and institutional coordination of War Child’s localisation commitments and progress indicators across Syria and Jordan. The role does not directly lead day-to-day field implementation or operational partner management functions, which remain under programme, area management, technical, and operational teams.  The localisation Specialist The position provides strategic guidance and quality assurance to strengthen equitable partnerships, mutual accountability, partner participation, and local leadership across programming, governance, advocacy, and funding processes. The role will coordinate cross-departmental efforts to ensure localisation commitments are integrated into organisational systems, donor engagement, partnership approaches, and annual planning processes.

The role focuses on building equitable, transparent, and accountable relationships with local partners, promoting partner-led design and decision-making, and facilitating joint advocacy, funding, and the identification of new implementing& scaling partners. 

The Specialist   will serves as the focal point for localisation measurement, organisational learning, and institutional partnership strengthening, while supporting country teams and partners to operationalise localisation principles consistently across all hubs and thematic areas.

Position within the Organisation

The Localisation Specialist  is part of the Programme and Partnership Department and reports to the Head of Programme & Partnership. 

The role will have the following key relations:

• Internal: HP&P, Grant Manager, Area and Programme Managers, MEAL Team, Regional Advocacy Advisor, Regional Comms Advisor, Technical Coordinators in the three hubs (Jordan and North Syria)
• External: Implementing Partners, local NGOs & INGO’s, community networks, coordination mechanisms, Localisation WG, PAWG and relevant stakeholders.

Result Areas

• Facilitate the development, renewal, and tracking of MoUs with local/national organisations, ensuring that each includes mutual accountability and transparency clauses.
• Roll out of the localisation matrix and tracking of the partners performance against indicators.
• Oversee and track the implementation of partnership review processes, joint monitoring mechanisms, and mutual accountability practices across country programmes.
• Coordinate the institutional documentation, analysis, and follow-up of partner consultation, learning, and feedback processes to inform localisation progress and organisational learning.
• Coordinate localisation indicator tracking across departments and hubs. 
• Consolidate localisation data for annual reporting, donor reporting, and strategic reviews. 
• Develop dashboards, trackers, and analysis tools for localisation progress. 
• Coordinate and participate in the localization working group at Head office level and help in ensuring the standards/process/indicators to be reflected at Country office level.
• Conduct partners mapping and identify new implementing & scaling partners.

• Facilitate and document partner participation in institutional mechanisms, such as partners’ forums, advisory groups, steering committees, and annual planning processes.
• Track and report on local partner representation in War Child’s decision-making bodies, ensuring progress toward the 50% target of local participation.
• Facilitate coordination mechanisms that enhance local actor leadership in working groups, networks, and sector coordination platforms.
• Track and report on local partner influence in agenda-setting, working group creation, and joint advocacy outcomes.
• Support the localisation forum events and activities at the central level, as per the project workplan (subject to funding)

3. Advocacy, Visibility, and Credit Sharing

• Coordinate tracking and institutional support for joint advocacy, visibility, and partner credit-sharing initiatives.
• Track and report on the percentage of communication products co-authored or co-branded with local partners.
• Support documentation of joint policy briefs, research papers, or evidence-based advocacy initiatives where local/national partners are authors or contributors.
• Maintain a joint advocacy log in coordination with the Communications and Advocacy Leads.
• Support the development and execution of advocacy initiatives, ensuring that policy-level perspectives and contextual insights are regularly communicated to the Regional Advocacy Advisor.
• Support implementing partners to co-develop press content, and advocacy briefs that reflect local leadership and War Child’s localisation agenda.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in partnership coordination, localisation, or advocacy within INGOs or UN agencies.
• Proven experience in managing local partnerships, capacity strengthening and advocacy.
• Strong understanding of localisation agenda, CHS, and equitable partnership frameworks.
• Strong coordination and organisation skills, in addition to partnership facilitation and relationship building.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder coordination, workshops, and advocacy initiatives.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and reporting skills in Arabic and English.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on critical thinking and defining clear pathways for success. 
• Highly developed networking skills and ability to form productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with MEAL and localisation monitoring systems.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and external representation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to give and receive feedback.
• Strong cultural awareness and ability to collaborate effectively with diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to travel and work within challenging environments, this includes all the hub areas we are serving (Jordan, North Syria, etc.).
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs, including the willingness to adjust work practices and hours in emergencies, with the possibility of short notice travels  

• Location: The position will be based in Syria (Damascus), with field visits.
• Contract Type: This position is offered under a Syrian national contract.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for capacity building and growth, both within the role and through War Child’s broader network.
• Meaningful Impact: The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by conflict, contributing to long-term, sustainable change.
• Equal Opportunities: War Child is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and inclusion, respecting all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability.
• Workplace Culture: War Child is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace that prioritizes safety and fairness for all individuals. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying within our organization

Why You Should Apply 

• Make a Real Impact: Your work will directly contribute to providing quality education to children who need it most, creating lasting change in their lives.
• Career Growth: Join a dynamic organization that values your professional development and offers opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation.
• Collaborative and Mission-Driven: Work alongside passionate colleagues and partners united in a mission to protect children and help them thrive despite adversity.
  

• Only applications received via our website are processed.
• If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
• It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.