Women Peace and Security (WPS) Programme Coordinator

The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict. We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination. We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations. War Child currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine, and Yemen. We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

In Syria, War Child works through a partnership-based model with national and local organisations, delivering education in emergencies, child protection, mental health and psychosocial support, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and livelihoods, and emergency response, including across the north-west and north-east of the country. The country programme is funded by a range of institutional donors and pooled funds. War Child places implementing partners at the centre of design, delivery and decision-making, in line with the organisation’s localisation commitments.

Learn more about War Child and our programmes https://www.warchild.net/   

The WPS Programme Coordinator - Syria is responsible for coordinating the implementation and delivery of the WPS Programme in Syria. The role provides technical and coordination support for country-level programme im-plementation, supporting effective planning, partnership coordination, programme quality, monitoring, report-ing, budget monitoring and stakeholder engagement.

 The role is performed in a fluid political and operational environment. Syria’s transition has reopened questions of civic space, legal and policy frameworks, and the terms on which women participate in public life, while access, authorisation requirements and security conditions continue to differ markedly between areas of operation. The post-holder is expected to maintain a strong analytical read of gender, protection and conflict dynamics across the areas in which the programme operates, to exercise a high degree of independent judgement, and to adapt programming as conditions change – including through partner-led and remotely supported implementation modalities where direct access is constrained. The role also requires regular travel to Damascus to coordinate with relevant ministries, government stakeholders and other key national counterparts, ensuring effective en-gagement and alignment with programme priorities.

The role combines programme coordination, partnership support and working-level representation, and is a key interface between the Syria programme and the Regional WPS Programme Manager.

Working under the supervision of the Area Manager, and in close collaboration with the Regional WPS Pro-gramme Manager, the Coordinator ensures that programme implementation aligns with the regional WPS strat-egy, the programme’s Theory of Change, donor commitments and War Child’s policies and procedures. The Co-ordinator acts as the day-to-day operational contact point for the WPS Programme and participates in relevant coordination mechanisms at working level; formal engagement with national authorities, including the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL) and the National Action Plan (NAP) 1325 development committee, is under-taken under authority delegated by the Country Director.

Position within the Organization

The Women, Peace and Security Programme Coordinator – Syria is based in Syria, with the duty station to be confirmed. The position is open to Syrian nationals residing in any governorate, with regular travel required to Damascus for coordination with ministries, government stakeholders and other key counterparts. The post re-ports to the Area Manager

The post-holder holds a functional (technical) reporting line to the Regional WPS Programme Manager, who car-ries overall accountability for the multi-country programme. Programme standards, tools, the reporting calendar and cross-country learning processes are set at regional level. Line management, objective setting and perfor-mance review, duty of care, security management and day-to-day operational decision-making sit with the Area Manager.

Within the mission, the post-holder works closely with, and draws technical support from, the functions man-aged by the Head of Programme and Partnerships – Grants, MEAL and Localisation – and with Finance, Human Resources, and Security and Access. The post-holder coordinates on a day-to-day basis with the Programme Manager and with the Project Coordinators, to ensure that WPS activities are integrated with War Child’s wider child protection, education and MHPSS portfolio and are not delivered as a parallel structure.

The post-holder does not hold line management responsibility on appointment. Relationships with the imple-menting partners are managed through partnership agreements and joint governance mechanisms rather than through line management. The post-holder supports monitoring of the Syria WPS budget and partners’ financial reporting; budget-holding authority for the Syria WPS budget rests with the Area Manager.

Representation with national authorities, including in relation to the National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, is undertaken in coordination with, and under authority delegated by, the Country Director.

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the WPS programme in Syria, supporting timely, high-quality delivery of activities by implementing partners.
• Develop and maintain country work plans, implementation schedules and risk mitigation measures, in collaboration with implementing partners and the Regional WPS Programme Manager.
• Ensure implementation remains aligned with the programme’s Theory of Change, regional strategy and donor requirements.
• Coordinate programme implementation on a day-to-day basis, ensuring activities respond to evolving contextual needs and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with War Child policies, donor requirements and organizational procedures, including finance, procurement, safeguarding, security and documentation.
• Identify implementation challenges and risks, proposing timely mitigation measures and adaptive programming approaches.

• Monitor programme expenditure against the approved budget and flag variances to the Area Manager; support implementing partners’ financial planning, forecasting and reporting.
• Work closely with the Finance team and implementing partners to ensure accurate financial forecasting, reporting and compliance with donor and organizational requirements.
• Ensure implementing partners understand and comply with War Child financial procedures and grant management requirements.
• Monitor programme performance against approved work plans, budgets, indicators and results frameworks.
• Promote continuous programme quality improvement by identifying lessons learned and integrating evidence into programme implementation.

• Coordinate day-to-day working relationships with the five implementing partners in Syria, supporting collaborative, transparent and accountable partnerships.
• Ensure effective programme governance through regular technical coordination meetings, partner consultation and joint decision-making processes.
• Identify organisational capacity-strengthening needs among partners and coordinate technical support, mentoring and learning initiatives.
• Provide ongoing technical guidance to implementing partners on Women, Peace and Security programming, localisation, feminist programming approaches and programme quality standards.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess implementation progress, identify challenges and provide technical support.

• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning systems are implemented throughout the programme.
• Monitor progress against programme indicators, milestones, budgets and expected outcomes.
• Support the identification and application of appropriate MEAL methodologies to strengthen programme learning, accountability and evidence generation.
• Consolidate narrative and financial reports submitted by implementing partners and prepare timely country-level reports for submission to the Regional WPS Programme Manager.
• Contribute to regional learning processes by documenting lessons learned, promising practices and recommendations for programme adaptation.

• Act as the day-to-day operational contact point for the WPS programme in Syria, coordinating information flow between implementing partners and internal teams.
• Participate in relevant coordination mechanisms and technical working groups at working level, sharing information and representing the programme as delegated. Formal engagement with ministries (including the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and the National Action Plan 1325 process), donors and UN agencies is led by the Country Director, Area Manager and Head of Programme and Partnerships.
• Represent the programme in relevant coordination platforms, working groups and thematic networks, ensuring effective information sharing with implementing partners and the regional programme team.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with government institutions, civil society organisations, women’s rights organisations, UN agencies and other strategic stakeholders.
• Promote coordination and complementarity with other actors to maximise programme impact and avoid duplication.
• Contribute programming opportunities, insights and lessons from implementation to the Regional WPS Programme Manager and Area Manager to inform strategic and policy decisions.
• Support programme visibility and strategic communications in coordination with War Child communication teams and implementing partners.

• Promote and uphold War Child’s Integrity Framework, Safeguarding Policy and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards throughout programme implementation.
• Ensure implementing partners understand and comply with safeguarding and accountability requirements.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably assigned by the Area Manager or the Regional WPS Programme Manager that are consistent with the nature of the role.

• Regional WPS Programme Manager –technical & programmatic line manager; sets programme direction, standards, tools, the reporting calendar and cross-country learning, and receives country-level reporting.
• Area Manager, line manager and budget holder; responsible for objective-setting and performance management, security management and duty of care, and for integrating the WPS portfolio within the wider Area programme.
• Head of Programme and Partnerships, and the Grants, MEAL and Localisation functions reporting to that post – for grant compliance and donor reporting, monitoring and evidence systems, and partnership and localisation standards across the mission.
• Programme Manager and the Project Coordinators day-to-day coordination to align WPS activities with War Child’s child protection, education and MHPSS programming and to avoid parallel delivery structures.
• Finance and Operations, Human Resources, and Security and Access teams – financial management and procurement, staffing and consultancy processes, and access and safety across the areas of operation.
• Communications team – programme visibility and strategic communications, applying a do-no-harm approach and respecting partner and participant sensitivities.
• Regional WPS programme team (Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory) and relevant technical advisers – cross-country coherence and shared learning, and technical support on gender, protection and MHPSS.

• Implementing partners – the women’s rights and women-led organisations delivering the programme in Syria – the primary external relationship: joint planning and governance, capacity strengthening, and partner-led implementation.
• Government counterparts, including the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and the National Action Plan (NAP) 1325 process – engaged in coordination with, and under authority delegated by, the Country Director.
• UN agencies and coordination mechanisms – including UN Women and UNFPA, and the Protection and GBV coordination structures and relevant gender and WPS working groups.
• Donor(s) – in coordination with the Grants function and the Regional WPS Programme Manager.
• Other WPS, gender and protection actors, women’s rights networks and civil society organisations – for coordination, complementarity and the avoidance of duplication.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences, Gender Studies or another relevant field. A Bachelor’s degree combined with substantial relevant experience may be considered.
• At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience managing gender, women’s & human rights, peacebuilding, governance, protection or related programmes in humanitarian and/or development settings.
• Demonstrated experience working with national NGOs, women’s rights organisations and government counterparts.
• Strong understanding of conflict-sensitive programming and gender-transformative approaches.
• Experience working with institutional donors and managing donor-funded programmes.
• Experience working in Syria is essential.
• Fluency in Arabic and professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, including the UN Security Council WPS resolutions, National Action Plans, and gender-transformative programming approaches.
• Demonstrated understanding of partnership-based programming, localisation, feminist leadership principles, and working with women’s rights organisations (WROs) and civil society organisations (CSOs).
• Proven experience in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, budgeting, reporting and adaptive programme management.
• Strong understanding of results-based management, MEAL approaches and donor compliance requirements.
• Experience managing partnerships, and multi-stakeholder coordination processes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in complex and rapidly changing contexts.

Core Competencies

• Excellent coordination and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, with demonstrated ability to build trust and maintain productive partnerships.
• Excellent facilitation, negotiation, mediation, and representation skills, including experience engaging with government institutions, UN agencies, donors and civil society.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including high-quality report writing and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality, women’s rights, safeguarding, localisation and humanitarian principles.
• Ability to work effectively within a matrix management structure and collaborate across multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and accountability.

• Location: The position will be based in Syria with  refquent field visits.
• 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.