**Post Title:** Rehab Expert

**Duty station:** Damascus

**Starting date:** ASAP

## 1.INTRODUCTION

### About Expertise France

Expertise France is France’s public agency and interministerial actor in charge of international technical cooperation, the second-largest in Europe. As a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Expertise France works in key areas of development: governance, security, climate change, health, education, and more. Alongside its partners, it contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within its Peace, Stability and Security Department, the Stabilization & Resilience Unit delivers multi-sectoral recovery programs in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through an integrated territorial approach that bridges emergency response and long-term resilience. In particular, EF has developed a strong track record in stabilizing essential services, including health systems, in crisis-affected regions through tailored, locally grounded solutions.

## 2. CONTEXT

### Syrian conflict

Fourteen years of protracted conflict in Syria have devastated the health system, leaving millions of people without access to essential and life-saving care. The cumulative impact of widespread displacement, recurrent hostilities, deteriorating infrastructure, sanctions, and the collapse of the economy has severely undermined health service delivery across the country. In spite of the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the establishment of a transitional government, that initiated a multi-phase recovery strategy to remedy decades of underinvestment, the sector suffers from significant weaknesses. Health facilities remain damaged or non-functional, supply chains are disrupted, and qualified health personnel who migrated or left the sector in large numbers have not returned on a large scale. As a result, communities face significant barriers to accessing affordable, quality health services, with the most vulnerable—women, children, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions—bearing the heaviest burden.

Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, critical gaps persist. The health system suffers from insufficient coverage, fragmented governance, and an overreliance on external aid. Preventive and primary health care services are limited, maternal and child health indicators continue to deteriorate, and the lack of rehabilitated, equipped, and functional health facilities hampers both emergency and routine care. Human resources are deeply imbalanced, with shortages of trained nurses and midwives weakening the overall quality of care. Moreover, public institutions lack the financial and operational capacity to sustain services, making humanitarian and development actors indispensable in ensuring continuity of care.

## 3. EXPERTISE FRANCE IN SYRIA:

Since 2013, Expertise France has been implementing stabilization programs in non-regime-held areas across Syria, through local Syrian NGOs and CSOs with whom it built strong partnerships. Expertise France’s fields of intervention covered the following sectors: health, livelihoods, early recovery, and capacity development.

**Syria Health Recovery and Reconstruction Effort (SHeRE):**

Expertise France (EF) developed the "Health Recovery in Northeast Syria" (HERNES) program that was funded jointly by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (French MoEFA) and the European Union (EU). The program was delivered in 4 phases from 2019 and is expected to continue until 2026. Transitioning from HERNES, EF developed the SHERE project to cover all of Syria. This program aims to support an inclusive and sustainable recovery of the health system in Syria by improving access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH) services. Through targeted rehabilitation of health facilities, provision of essential equipment, capacity strengthening of health personnel, and technical support at national and sub-national levels, the project seeks to enhance service availability, strengthen health system functions, and improve health outcomes for conflict-affected populations. Working closely with national authorities, implementing partners, and community stakeholders, SHERE promotes harmonized standards, evidence-based practices, and coordinated sector-wide approaches to contribute to long-term resilience and better health for women, children, and vulnerable groups across Syria.

## 4. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY / ASSIGNMENT:

EF is seeking the expertise of a qualified Civil Engineer with extensive experience to **plan, establish, supervise and review the construction and/or rehabilitation activities** of Syrian health facilities. The incumbent will monitor and ensure the implementation of the construction and/or rehabilitation activities under SHERE project, ensuring compliance to national and international standards, protocols and procedures, and reporting to the Project Manager on the development of the ongoing and planned construction and/or rehabilitation works.

## 5. DELIVERABLES AND ACTIVITIES

The incumbent shall complete the below deliverables and activities. Payment will be on completion and sign off of deliverables.

The deliverables are set out below:

**Deliverable/Activity**

**Details**

**Construction/rehabilitation design and development**

- Participate to needs and feasibility assessments
- Technical evaluations and elaboration of technical solutions
- Review technical drawings and specifications and suggest improvements if necessary
- Review and validate bill of quantities as well as other technical materials to ensure endorsement by the ministry of health

**Coordination, planning and reporting**

- Participate in internal and external meetings as requested by direct supervisor and as needed
- Develop and review work schedules, work plans, progress reports, activity reports and other written materials
- Supervise construction/rehabilitation activities and propose priorities plan
- Ensure quality and proper storage of documentation of the project activities and results achieved

**Procurement process**

- Support the project manager in the selection process of implementing partner(s) through the revision of concept notes
- Support the implementing partner for technical analysis of the offers
- Support the implementing partner in technical aspects during drafting of agreements with contractors
- Support the implementing partner on the reception stage to ensure the relevancy, quantity and quality of material delivered and works done
- Provide relevant information when requested that ensures adherence to EF internal procedures and regulations in all activities and actions

**Supervision of construction/rehabilitation works**

- Oversee and monitor the timely and quality implementation of all aspects of the rehabilitation activities, ensuring they meet the required standards
- Monitor the implementation of activities to ensure they follow the approved proposals and are in line with nationally and internationally recognized rules and regulations
- Follow up the required approvals from the ministry of health.
- Oversee in proper handover of the construction site(s) to the contractor in frames of relevant projects
- Oversee rehabilitation works on the selected sites along with the implementing partner and in close collaboration with the contracted company and/or representatives of ministry of health and local authorities
- Surveillance of project sites to ensure planned progress and required quality of works, conduct field visits and prepare field visit reports
- Adhere to the security rules at large and remains aware of social and political dynamics in the field at all times, and provides timely information to the direct supervisor
- Report to the Project Manager on any challenges, setbacks or risks that may occur providing advice on needed solutions or actions
- Conduct quality control of standard building materials and equipment used in construction
- Participate in the final acceptance of works from contractor and handover process to the ministry of health.

## 6. TECHNICAL SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

- Civil engineering degree
- Strong knowledge in comprehensive rehabilitation
- Experience in building constructions or rehabilitation including planning/designing (at least 4 years)
- Proven experience in implementation of project activities
- Proven ability in coordination of work involving diverse external actors
- Experience in rehabilitation works of health facilities
- Previous work with international agencies or national/international NGOs
- Strong command of computer and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
- Skilled in design techniques and working with drawings and models, as well as Computer Assisted Design software.
- Integrity and demonstrated adherence to values and ethical standards
- Excellent organizational and planning skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Team spirit
- Ability to take initiative
- Knowledge of national construction quality standards and health sector-specific regulations
- Knowledge in site safety procedures
- Knowledge of suppliers market in Syria
- Fluent in written and spoken English and Arabic
- Effective communication and reporting skills in English and Arabic
- Willingness and ability to travel within Syria as needed.

## 7. DUTY STATION AND TRAVEL

The position is based in Syria, with a focus on Damascus and Rural Damascus. Valid legal documentation and No Travelling Restrictions within Syria are a pre-requisite for this position. Sound knowledge of the security situation and the main cities in Syria, ability to travel in all governorates and possibility to stay “on the road” for days at a time.