Emergency Response Consultant – Syria/Damascus
About Mines Advisory Group (MAG):
Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a humanitarian disarmament organization established in 1989. Since then, MAG has worked in more than 70 countries globally, including in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, Southern, Western, and Eastern Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. In line with humanitarian disarmament principles, MAG aims to address and prevent the harmful effects of conventional weapons on people’s and communities’ lives and livelihood, including those caused by landmine, cluster munition, and explosive remnants of war contaminations, unplanned explosions at munition sites, and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.
About the Consultancy:
The Emergency Response Consultant’s role is to coordinate MAG’s Syria emergency response. This role involves supporting rapid assessments, response coordination, monitoring, and reporting. The consultant will also be responsible for registering the organisation with the relevant authorities and staying informed about contextual changes for effective emergency deployments in Syria. Additionally, the role involves stakeholder representation, deploying an assessment team, and supporting MAG’s efforts in resource mobilisation to ensure sustained operational success through collaboration with local authorities and partner organisations.
About you:
MAG will be looking for candidates who can independently stay in Damascus with strong experience in a similar professional capacity with proven track record in developing and implementing emergency response plans in collaboration with local authorities, partner organisations, UN Agencies, and communities. You will be an excellent communicator with interpersonal skills for effective collaboration at all levels internally and externally. You will also have the ability to represent MAG and willingness to work with uncertainty independently and demonstrate good judgement. In addition to that, you should have a comprehensive understanding of legal requirements for establishing and registering organizations in Syria with a proven ability to ensure adherence to local laws and regulations.
About the Syria programme:
MAG has been responding to the Syria crisis since 2013, working to support the development of conflict by finding and destroying the explosive remnants of war so that communities can raise their families and pursue their livelihoods in a safe and secure environment, free from fear of death or injury.
Additional Information
- The consultancy will be for an initial period of three months.
- This consultancy will be based in Damascus, and MAG expects that the consultant will be currently present in Damascus, or will relocate there to perform the terms of the consultancy. MAG will not provide support related to entry into Syria, travel to Damascus or accommodation/living costs in Damascus. Any costs related to this should be included in the expected fee that the consultant proposes, per the below section on budget /application process.
- During this period, MAG expects that the consultant will be available throughout and will not be undertaking any other substantive assignments. Where the consultant would also be engaged with any other organisation for paid work or consultancy services, MAG would require that this is declared within the expression of interest.
- MAG will provide accident/incident insurance to the postholder. Further information will be provided as part of the selection process.
- All consultancy findings and information will remain the property of MAG.
- MAG expects that the consultant will provide their own IT equipment and telephone. MAG will provide an organisational email address.
Available Budget
- MAG is willing to consider expressions of interest up to a total value of $7,500 USD for the three month period, including any and all costs related to the work.
How to apply
For further details about this opportunity, you can find the Terms of Reference and application instructions here.
Application is by submission of the following documents to humanresources@maginternational.org by the closing date of 12th January 2025:
- Up to date CV
- Covering letter setting out how you meet the requirements of this terms of reference. The letter should also confirm the following:
- Current location – if an application is not currently based in Damascus, confirmation should also be provided that they are able to travel to Damascus and be based there for the duration of this consultancy.
- Availability to start the consultancy project
- Expected fee. This should be set out on either a per month basis. MAG will accept invoices from the consultant on a monthly basis. Where the consultant’s fee includes consideration for other costs (e.g., transport, communications etc., this should be clearly broken down within the expression of interest).
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are not able to respond to every application. If you have not heard back from us within 3 weeks of applying, it means that your application has not been successful.
Please note that as part of MAG's commitment to safeguarding, this post is subject to background checks before an offer of consultancy is confirmed. For more information on MAG’s approach to safeguarding here and background checks here.
MAG is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. If you think you would be suited to one of our roles we would welcome your application regardless of your background. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all who work for MAG feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential.
