Syria Liaison Officer (closes 1 September)
Minority Rights Group
Posted on Aug 20, 2025
The consultant will support us in the effective delivery of its Voices of Resilience (VoR) project, which aims to protect and advance the rights of religious minorities in Syria by strengthening minority-led or minority-focused civil society organizations (CSOs). Other projects with activities in Syria may be added in due course if funding is secured.
The consultant will play a central role in implementing the project on the ground, acting as MRG’s primary focal point in Syria. They will coordinate the in-country scoping and mapping exercise, support and monitor grantees receiving capacity-building and advocacy sub-grants, ensure safe and effective communication between MRG and local partners, organise events, comment on publications and resources, and monitor project activities in a volatile and high-risk context.
This position requires a strong understanding of Syrian civil society, proven experience working with grassroots organizations, and the ability to operate sensitively and securely in a politically complex and insecure environment. The consultant will normally have the support of a part time assistant also based in Syria to whom elements of routine and logistical tasks can be delegated.
Hours: 5 days per week
Duration: the project will run until November or December 2027
Location: Syria
B: Main work areas
1. Programme Management and Activities
- Coordinate and oversee the project activities in Syria, under the guidance of the Programmes Coordinator, and with support from other team members.
- Lead the in-country scoping and mapping exercise, including identifying religious minority-led/focused CSOs, assessing needs and risks, and preparing confidential findings.
- Act as the primary point of contact between MRG and Syrian partners, maintaining regular communication and facilitating trust-based relationships.
- Support the selection process for capacity-building and advocacy grants, including translation of application materials if required.
- Provide ongoing guidance and support to grantees in project delivery, including troubleshooting challenges, mentoring, and sharing relevant resources.
- Monitor and document progress of sub-grants and other local activities, including online check-ins and in-person site visits where security permits.
- Facilitate the safe participation of Syrian civil society actors in trainings, national networking meetings, and regional advocacy events.
- Gather, analyse and report on relevant local updates and information to inform MRG’s research, advocacy, and communications outputs.
- Support grantees to design and implement advocacy and narrative-influencing initiatives that are culturally sensitive and security-aware.
2. Finance and Administration
- Provide administrative and logistical support for project activities in Syria, including workshops, meetings, and advocacy events.
- Maintain accurate project documentation, write meeting minutes, and contribute to progress reports.
- Support the MRG finance team by collecting, checking, and translating grantees’ financial reports and supporting documents.
- Liaise regularly with grantees to ensure timely reporting and compliance with donor requirements.
- Assist in the preparation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools and contribute to data collection for project and MRG wide indicators.
- Coordinate safe travel and accommodation arrangements for project participants and visitors, in compliance with MRG’s security protocols.
3. General
- Undertake other tasks as reasonably requested by the Head of MENA and the Programme Coordinator.
- Complete mandatory training, attend and contribute to relevant staff, project, and partner meetings (online or in-person).
- Contribute to the evaluation of MRG activities and publications.
- Maintain flexibility to adjust work plans in response to changing security or political conditions.
4. Confidential Information
- Handle sensitive information with the utmost discretion, including project data, partner identities, and strategic plans.
- Ensure all communications and record-keeping adhere to MRG’s confidentiality and data protection policies.
5. Degree of Supervision
- Report regularly to the Programme Coordinator, highlighting progress, challenges, and deviations from agreed work plans.
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy while ensuring alignment with project objectives and donor requirements.
6. Working Conditions
- The consultant will work remotely within Syria, with field visits as security permits.
- The role may require occasional travel to neighboring countries for meetings or training.
- The pace of work may be high at times, requiring the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a sensitive operating environment.
The selected consultant will be expected to have:
Experience and Qualifications
- University degree in human rights, political science, international relations, social sciences, development studies, or a related field.
- At least three years of experience working with civil society in Syria, including minority-led or human rights-focused organizations.
- Proven experience in project coordination, monitoring, and reporting in complex or high-risk environments.
- Strong understanding of the situation, rights and needs of religious minorities in Syria.
- Experience working with grassroots organizations and providing capacity-building support.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships.
- Ability to draft clear and concise reports and updates.
- Fluency in Arabic and excellent written and spoken English.
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles of human rights, equality, and non-discrimination.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
- Ability to gain the trust of diverse minority communities in Syria
It would be good if they also had:
- Experience in financial oversight of grants, including reviewing budgets and expenditure reports.
- Familiarity with EU-funded project requirements and compliance standards.
- Experience in advocacy, community engagement, and narrative-influencing initiatives.
- Knowledge of digital security, safe communications, and risk mitigation in hostile environments.
- Experience of operating in insecure environments, including management of risks related to travel and events.
- Experience working with displaced or marginalized communities.
- Proven experience working in a minority-led organization
Photo: A woman holds a sign reading in Arabic “Alawites are our brothers and family” during a mass demonstration in Syria’s northeastern city of Qamishli on March 11, 2025 protesting against a recent wave of sectarian violence targeting Syria’s Alawite minority in the west of the country along the Mediterranean sea coast.
(Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)