Call for Syrian Experts: Protection, GBV & Child Protection (Syria)

Country: Syrian Arab Republic Organization: TRUST Consultancy & Development Closing date: 31 Oct 2026 Contract Type: Individual Consultancy; Project-Based Eligibility: Syrian nationals or non-Syrian consultants currently residing in Syria only Trust Consultancy & Development (TCD) is seeking experienced consultants to join its roster of experts in Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Child Protection (CP) and related protection programming to support upcoming evaluations, assessments, research, Third-Party Monitoring (TPM), programme design and advisory assignments in Syria. Selected consultants will be included in TCD's consultant roster and may be considered for future short-term consultancy opportunities based on their technical expertise, geographical experience, availability and the requirements of specific assignments. Primary geographic scope: Syria About the Call Trust is expanding its roster of experts with strong technical and practical experience in protection, GBV, child protection, protection monitoring, case management, safeguarding and community-based protection. We are particularly interested in experts with recent, first-hand knowledge of Syria's protection context, including protection risks affecting conflict-affected, displaced and returning populations; women and girls; children and adolescents; persons with disabilities; older persons; and other groups facing heightened protection risks or barriers to accessing services. Experts with experience in protection assessments, evaluations, research, programme quality, monitoring and Third-Party Monitoring are particularly encouraged to apply. Areas of Expertise Applicants should have strong experience in one or more of the following: • General Protection, including protection analysis, protection monitoring, identification of protection risks, vulnerability analysis, referrals and protection-sensitive programming; • Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including GBV prevention, risk mitigation, response services, survivor-centred approaches, referral pathways and community-based interventions; • Child Protection (CP), including prevention and response to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect, child protection case management, family strengthening and community-based child protection; • Protection Case Management, including identification, assessment, case planning, referrals, follow-up, case closure, supervision and quality assurance; • GBV Case Management and Referral Systems, including safe and confidential referral pathways, survivor-centred service provision and coordination among relevant service providers; • Child Protection Case Management, including best-interest procedures, referral mechanisms, family tracing/reunification where relevant, alternative care and case-management quality; • Protection Monitoring and Analysis, including monitoring protection risks and trends, community consultations, protection assessments, service mapping and evidence-based protection analysis; • Community-Based Protection, including community protection structures, community engagement, awareness raising, outreach and strengthening community capacities to identify and address protection risks; • Protection of Women and Girls, including safe spaces, women's and girls' empowerment, GBV risk mitigation, access to services and participation in community decision-making; • Protection of Children and Adolescents, including child-friendly approaches, psychosocial wellbeing, violence prevention, positive parenting, safe spaces and adolescent participation; • Protection of Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons, including disability inclusion, accessibility, age-sensitive programming and identification of barriers to services and participation; • Gender, Inclusion and Protection Mainstreaming, including gender analysis, age, gender and diversity approaches, disability inclusion and integration of protection principles across humanitarian and development programmes; • Safeguarding, PSEA and Child Safeguarding, including prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguarding systems, codes of conduct, complaints and reporting mechanisms, risk assessments and organizational capacity strengthening; • Housing, Land and Property (HLP) and Civil Documentation, including documentation-related protection barriers, tenure issues, displacement and return-related HLP risks and access to relevant services; • Mine Action-Related Protection and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, particularly where protection programming intersects with risks affecting children, displaced populations and returning communities; • Protection and MHPSS Linkages, including psychosocial support, safe referrals, community-based support and integrated approaches for individuals affected by violence, displacement and other protection risks; • Protection in Cash and Assistance Programmes, including protection risk analysis, safe and inclusive targeting, protection mainstreaming and identification of risks associated with humanitarian assistance; • Protection Coordination and Institutional Strengthening, including coordination mechanisms, referral systems, service mapping, capacity development, localization and engagement with authorities and protection actors; • Protection Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, including protection assessments, baselines/endlines, evaluations, outcome monitoring, perception surveys, qualitative research, mixed-method studies and Third-Party Monitoring; • Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), including participation, feedback and complaints mechanisms, information provision, community engagement and safe and accessible accountability systems. Qualifications & Experience Applicants should have: • Syrian nationality and current residence in Syria, or be a non-Syrian consultant currently based in Syria; • A relevant university degree in social sciences, psychology, social work, law, human rights, gender studies, development studies, international relations, public health or another relevant field; • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience; senior/lead experts should preferably have 10+ years; • Recent professional experience related to Protection, GBV and/or Child Protection in Syria, preferably within the last three years; • Demonstrated experience conducting or contributing to protection assessments, evaluations, research, programme design, monitoring, TPM or technical advisory assignments; • Strong understanding of Syria's protection context, displacement and return dynamics, vulnerable populations, service-delivery environment and key protection risks and barriers; • Experience engaging with communities, protection service providers, local organizations, authorities, NGOs, UN agencies and other relevant stakeholders; • For GBV specialists, demonstrated understanding of survivor-centred approaches, confidentiality, safe referrals, GBV risk mitigation and ethical principles for GBV-related data collection; • For Child Protection specialists, demonstrated understanding of child safeguarding, best interests of the child, child-sensitive research and ethical engagement with children and caregivers; • Strong understanding of confidentiality, informed consent, do-no-harm principles and safe data collection when working with vulnerable populations; • Strong research, analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills; • Arabic fluency; professional English is strongly preferred. International Organization & Donor Experience Previous experience with UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, IOM, UN agencies, EU/ECHO-funded programmes, international NGOs, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement actors or other organizations working on protection, GBV and Child Protection is a strong advantage. Experience with relevant international approaches and standards, including Protection Principles, GBV Minimum Standards, Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), IASC Guidelines, PSEA, safeguarding, protection mainstreaming, survivor-centred approaches and community-based protection, should be clearly highlighted. Applicants should indicate relevant assignments, including the client, assignment, year, role and main responsibilities. How to apply Please submit: • Updated CV (maximum 4 pages); • Short expression of interest highlighting: Experience in Protection, GBV and/or Child Protection; Experience in TPM, evaluations, assessments and/or research; Main thematic area(s) of expertise; • Current city/governorate of residence in Syria; • Three highly relevant assignments, indicating: Client – Assignment – Year – Role – Location; • Governorates where you have professional experience and relevant stakeholder networks; • Details of relevant experience with UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, IOM, UN agencies, donors, INGOs and/or relevant authorities and institutions; • Relevant evaluations, assessments, studies, technical guidance, research or publications you have authored or co-authored, where available; • Availability and contact details. Applications should be submitted to: join-trust@trustconsultancy.org Email subject: Syria Protection, GBV & Child Protection Expert Roster – [Full Name] Priority will be given to candidates who combine strong technical and analytical expertise with recent first-hand knowledge of Syria's protection context and demonstrated experience in Protection, GBV, Child Protection, research, evaluation and/or Third-Party Monitoring. Please note: This call is exclusively for Syrian nationals currently residing in Syria or non-Syrian consultants currently based in Syria. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate engagement; selected experts will be contacted when their profile matches a specific assignment. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.