Job description

GIZ has been operating in Syria since 1976. It has thus established valuable contacts in civil society and garnered experience that is now crucial for supporting the country. From 2013 onwards, it worked without government involvement with the assistance of local non-governmental organizations. Despite the difficult conditions, GIZ has consistently contributed to improving people’s living conditions.

In view of the developments since December 2024, which have led Syria into a decisive phase of transformation, GIZ reopens its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing 14 projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office (FFO), with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. From 2026, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by several new projects.

The Return and Reintegration project aims to support national and local actors in Syria in ensuring that return and reintegration processes are coordinated, inclusive, and responsive to identified needs, thereby contributing to socio-economic development and increased social cohesion. Adopting a multi-level approach, the project seeks to facilitate the sustainable integration of returnees, internally displaced persons, and host communities through improved access to basic services, enhanced economic reintegration opportunities, and the promotion of social cohesion. In parallel, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of national and local stakeholders in the planning, coordination, and management of return and reintegration activities.

The position will be shared between the Return and Reintegration project and the regional project for crisis response in earthquake-affected areas in Syria and Türkiye (CREA). under CREA, the advisor will contribute to the Syria component with a focus on economic recovery, livelihoods, MSMEs support and access to finance. this includes supporting partner approaches that strengthen women-led businesses, entrepreneurship, market access, financial literacy and employment-oriented measures in crisis-affected communities. The position will therefore ensure technical coherence and synergies between CREA's ongoing economic recovery interventions and the economic reintegration component of the return and reintegration project.

Your tasks

Advise programme partners, business support organisations, financial institutions and private sector networks on economic reintegration, support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and employment promotion.
Support the design and implementation of practical MSME support measures, including entrepreneurship training, business planning, accounting and costing, digitalisation, market access, occupational safety and inclusive workplace practices.
Help partners develop transparent procedures and selection criteria for financial support schemes, such as revolving loans, micro-grants, small-scale productive infrastructure and wage subsidies. This includes financial literacy, business-plan assessment, financial risk analysis, loan administration, repayment monitoring and compliance.
Strengthen cooperation between financial institutions, private sector organisations and other local economic actors to improve access to finance, employment opportunities and market linkages. Identify promising sectors based on local demand, growth potential, women’s participation, informality and supply-chain constraints.
Advise on wage-subsidy and job-matching mechanisms that reflect local labour-market conditions and employers’ needs, while preventing misuse, corruption or the subsidisation of jobs that would have been created without support.
Promote the economic participation of women, persons with disabilities, returnees, internally displaced persons and host-community members, including through practical workplace adaptations where appropriate.
Design and facilitate workshops, consultations, capacity-development activities and peer-learning events for businesses, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, community representatives and local public institutions.
Monitor activities and results, contribute technical input to reports, and document good practices and lessons learned, while consistently applying gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approaches.
Your profile

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, business administration, development studies, private sector development or a related field.
At least five years of relevant professional experience in economic recovery, MSME development, access to finance, employment promotion or private sector development, preferably in development cooperation or economic reform contexts.
Proven experience in designing and managing results-based monitoring systems, including qualitative and quantitative indicators, data-collection methods, data-quality assurance, analysis and reporting.
Strong expertise in designing, managing or advising on MSME support measures, such as business development services, financial literacy, business planning, market access and entrepreneurship support.
Sound knowledge of financial support instruments for MSMEs, including revolving loans, micro-grants, productive assets, micro-infrastructure support and wage subsidies. Experience in financial risk assessment, business-plan evaluation, selection processes, repayment monitoring and safeguards against misuse or corruption is an asset.
Experience working with microfinance institutions, banks, chambers of commerce, business service providers, private sector employers, local NGOs and international development partners. A good understanding of the Syrian economy and its market dynamics, informality, financing constraints and supply-chain challenges is highly desirable.
Proven ability to work sensitively in fragile and conflict-affected settings and to apply gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approaches. Experience promoting the economic participation of women, persons with disabilities, returnees, internally displaced persons or other vulnerable groups is an asset.
Excellent advisory, coordination, facilitation and communication skills, combined with professional fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English; knowledge of German is an asset.
The following minimum requirements for applications need to be fulfilled:

Only application documents in English will be accepted. Documents in Arabic cannot be considered during the selection process.
Mandatory documents are CV and application letter in English stating your qualifications and previous professional experiences.

Please submit your application indicating in the subject line the respective title of the position.