Primary Health Care Advisor

Assignment period: 01.05.2026 - 30.04.2027Location: DamascusType of contract: National contract based on Syrian labour lawType of employment: FulltimeGIZ 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 organisations. 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 plans to reopen its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing several projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office, with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. Throughout this year, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by additional new projects.The BMZ-funded project “Rebuilding the Health Sector in Syria” seeks to contribute to the development of a resilient, inclusive and sustainable health system able to provide quality-assured, inclusive and gender-responsive health services to the Syrian population. It supports the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its institutions through technical cooperation, training and targeted research to develop fair fee structures, unified quality standards and gender-specific health approaches. The project particularly prioritises vulnerable groups, including low-income population, women, children and people with disabilities, aiming to enable and enhance the Ministry’s capacities to deliver health services across Syria, while upholding sustainability and system-wide quality improvements.Your tasks* Providing technical advisory support to the MoH in updating and publishing a comprehensive national standard service package for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) as an integral component of primary health care * Advising the MoH on the revision and alignment of evidence-based national clinical guidelines for RMNCH in accordance with WHO standards including the integration of gender-based violence, mental health conditions, and climate-related health risks, within the broader primary health care framework * Providing technical and process advisory support for the formal endorsement, dissemination, and institutional anchoring of the updated standard service package and clinical guidelines within the MoH and its subordinate institutions * Developing and supporting the implementation of a structured training plan for technical and managerial staff of the MoH and its subordinate institutions to ensure effective application of the updated RMNCH standards within primary health care services * Providing technical advice on the development of practical implementation tools, job aids, and supervision instruments to facilitate the standardised delivery of RMNCH services at primary health care level * Providing ongoing technical backstopping to ensure that RMNCH services are systematically standardised and embedded within the broader basic health care system * Identifying needs for short-term expertise for all points above, preparing Terms of Reference, technically supervising assignments, and conducting quality assurance of deliverables to ensure coherence and technical quality * Supporting the management in monitoring progress against agreed indicators, documenting results, and preparing technical reports and recommendations for adaptive management * Where appropriate and reasonable, performing additional tasks upon request of the managementYour profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)* Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in public health, medicine, maternal and child health, or a related field * Minimum 7 years of professional experience in RMNCH programming within primary health care systems with strong knowledge of antenatal, postnatal, newborn care, family planning, and referral systems within primary health care settings * Demonstrated experience in developing or revising national clinical guidelines and standard service packages aligned with WHO standards and including gender-based violence, mental health, and climate-sensitive health risks * Experience designing and implementing training programmes for health professionals and health administrators * Strong policy advisory and stakeholder coordination skills in governmental settings * In-depth knowledge of the Syrian health system and health networks, and experience providing technical advisory support to government institutions and other stakeholders at national and subnational levels * Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, respect for different cultural, diversity and gender backgrounds * Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic, knowledge of German is an assetHOW TO APPLYThe following minimum requirements for applications need to be fulfilled:1. Only application documents in English will be accepted. Documents in Arabic cannot be considered during the selection process. 2. Mandatory documents are CV and application letter in English stating your qualifications and previous professional experiences.The deadline for application is 31.03.2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.GIZ is committed to diversity and gender balance. It is encouraging persons with disabilities to apply for the position.Please submit your application to [email protected] indicating in the subject line the respective title of the position.