Program / Department Summary
Syria continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, economic collapse, and deteriorating essential services. Over 14.5 million people are food insecure, and climate-induced shocks such as prolonged drought have further weakened resilience. While urgent humanitarian needs remain, it is critical to integrate early recovery and resilience strategies into programming to enable sustainable solutions.
Mercy Corps, leveraging its extensive operational presence in Northeast Syria, is implementing a comprehensive approach that combines food security and livelihoods (FSL), and inclusive governance. In Ar-Raqqa, the program focuses on revitalizing agricultural production and market systems through climate-smart agriculture, provision of agricultural inputs (plastic tunnels and greenhouse support), and on-farm training on water management and vegetable production. These interventions aim to restore farming capacity, strengthen value chains, and create dignified income opportunities for returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities.
The program emphasizes gender and disability inclusion, conflict-sensitive approaches, and participatory governance. Activities include systems actors mapping workshops, market linkages for agricultural producers, and the establishment and orientation of community stakeholder committees. Additional governance-focused actions involve institutional mapping and conflict analysis, joint action planning with system actors and local authorities, and training on conflict management, group dynamics, and early warning/early response systems.
To strengthen economic recovery, Mercy Corps will provide SME grants to vegetable processors, deliver business development training (covering hygiene, packaging, branding, communication, and marketing skills), and facilitate the formation of MSME networks and market linkage events for MSMEs and system actors. By integrating technical training, agricultural input provision, and market-based solutions, Mercy Corps seeks to build resilient livelihoods and foster social cohesion, laying the foundation for long-term recovery in Ar-Raqqa and across Northeast Syria.
General Position Summary
Under the supervision of the FSL Officer, the FSL Assistant is amongst the frontline implementation team for the Food Security and Livelihoods activities in Ar-Raqqa, focusing on early recovery and resilience. The role will assist in delivering a comprehensive and integrated package of interventions aimed at restoring agricultural productivity, strengthening market systems, and promoting inclusive governance.
Key responsibilities include supporting the distribution of agricultural inputs (plastic tunnels and greenhouse materials), assisting with on-farm climate-smart training on water management and vegetable production, and helping organize systems actors mapping workshops and market linkage events for agricultural producers. The Assistant will also provide logistical and administrative support for community stakeholder committee meetings, institutional mapping exercises, and joint action planning sessions with system actors and local authorities.
The position is actively involved in community mobilization and formation of all-inclusive stakeholder committees that drives locally led community needs identification, prioritization and linkages to access to support services for producers' groups and business entrepreneurs to thrive. The officer is central to safe programming by ensuring gender and disability inclusion, safeguarding compliance, and alignment with Mercy Corps’ resilience strategy.
The position requires active involvement in data collection, reporting, and monitoring to ensure quality implementation and accountability. The FSL Assistant plays a key role in supporting sustainable livelihoods interventions that promote economic recovery, social cohesion, and resilience in Ar-Raqqa.
Essential Job Responsibilities
SUPPORTING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
- Assist the FSL Officer in implementing all field-level planned activities in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations.
- Assist in the distribution of agricultural inputs (plastic tunnels, greenhouse materials) to targeted farmers.
- Assist in organizing and delivering on-farm climate-smart training sessions on water management and vegetable production.
- Provide logistical support for systems actors mapping workshops, market linkage events, and community stakeholder committee meetings.
- Help facilitate business development training for MSMEs and support SME grants for vegetable processors.
- Assist in the formation of MSME networks and coordination of market linkage events for MSMEs and system actors.
- Support the FSL Office in ensuring proper documentation of distributions, training attendance, and MSME support activities.
- Maintain close collaboration with the PaQ team to ensure monitoring forms are completed accurately and on time.
- Support community mobilization, participant registration, and sensitization sessions to promote inclusive participation.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding and protection mainstreaming in all activities.
DATA COLLECTION & REPORTING
- Collect and compile accurate data for MEL, including pre/post-training assessments and participant feedback.
- Submit timely reports to the FSL Officer and maintain organized records of all field activities.
- Assist in archiving project-related documents and adhere to confidentiality protocols.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO STAKEHOLDERS
Ensure that participant communities are adequately informed about programs, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs.
Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
Cultivate open communication channels with target communities ensuring their voices are heard to inform program design adaptation, learning and that Mercy Corps exercises ‘duty to respond’ to community feedback.
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission or put the team, assets, and mission at risk.
OTHER
Assist in any other task or duty assigned by the supervisor.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Any volunteers and extension agents
Accountability
Reports Directly To: FSL Officer
Indirect report to: FSL Program Coordinator.
Works Directly With: FSL manager, Private sector Engagement and Economic Development Specialist, Peace and Good Governance Coordinator and PaQ department.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and
development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in agriculture specialization of the vegetable value chain or other relevant fields of study is preferred.
- At least 2 years of previous related experience in agriculture early recovery and FSL.
- Previous experience working with plants, greenhouse operations, or in a related field may be beneficial. with experience in tasks such as planting, watering, pest management, and greenhouse maintenance
- Previous experience in greenhouse production and management, including experience with a variety of crops, is often required. Experience in developing and delivering training programs is also beneficial.
- A strong understanding of greenhouse technologies, irrigation systems, and plant biology is often required.
- Knowledge of delivering Farmer Field Schools and technical training in the field of vegetable production.
- Strong local context will be an added advantage (candidate residency of Der-Ezzor district will be prioritized).
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to work as a team member.
- Experience working for a humanitarian NGO is a strong advantage.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members in a cross-cultural environment is required.
- Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
- Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives.
- Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
- Good command of English (spoken and written) is strongly preferred.
- Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
- Previous experience in insecure environments
- Good problem-solving skills.
- Computer skills – Word and Excel are a must.
- Ability to conduct oneself with sensitivity and respect toward others.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Team Efficiency and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Organizations Commitment towards Safeguarding & Ethics:
The organization is committed to ensure that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to the organizations code of conduct policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct online learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Personal Consent:
The organization collects your personal data for the purposes of managing the organization’s recruitment related activities as well as for organizational planning purposes globally. Consequently, the organization may use your personal data in relation to the evaluation and selection of applicants including, for example, setting up and conducting interviews and tests, evaluating and assessing the results thereto and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment processes including the final recruitment.
The organization is an international organization consisting of multiple affiliated companies in various countries. The organization has international sites and uses resources located throughout the world. Your data may be held on secure platforms globally, including outside of the EU. All personal data whether relating to recruitment or employment, is held on a secure platform and system which is subject to regular testing and audit. Unless stated in the job description that the post involves other organizations with which the information will be shared as part of the recruitment process, your personal data will only be shared with third parties where consent is given.
The organization participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (the “Scheme”) (www.schr.info/the-misconduct-disclosure-scheme).Accordingly, we request information from a job applicant’s previous employer(s) about any investigations which found that the applicant committed sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents of misconduct under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, you confirm your consent to the organization collecting your prior employment history under the Scheme as part of the application process. Your data will be stored for up to four years.
Important Notice: Mercy Corps never charges candidates any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to make a payment for a job opportunity claiming to be from Mercy Corps, it is a scam.
All official communication from Mercy Corps will come from an @mercycorps.org email address. We do not contact candidates via Gmail, Yahoo, WhatsApp, or other unofficial channels.
If you receive a suspicious job offer, please report it to us immediately.
Interested candidates can follow the link below to fill in their information and attach CVs not later than December 08,2025:
Application Form-Food Security and Livelihood Assistant vacancy -Mercy Corps -Syria-Raqqa Office
Organization reserves the right to accept or reject any or all CV(s) without assigning any reason.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the interview.
نصيحة لحمايتك
ننصح بقراءة طريقة التقديم بعناية و التقيد بتعليمات التقدم للوظائف و المناقصات.