EcRec Coordinator (Agricultural Livelihoods & Climate- Smart Agriculture)

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been operating in Syria since 2008, initially responding to the Iraqi refugee crisis before pivoting to a full-scale response to the Syria crisis from 2011 onwards. Our work encompasses the full cycle of displacement—responding to life-saving humanitarian needs and supporting community recovery until durable solutions can be achieved. DRC Syria takes an area-based approach to supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities across our key sectors: Economic Recovery and Resilience, Protection, WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (including Humanitarian Mine Action).

With an established rapid response mechanism, DRC can rapidly respond to emerging crises and shocks to meet acute emergency needs. Recognizing the significant need for early recovery and resilience programming to ensure dignified, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for fragile communities, DRC’s programmes foster resilience for individuals and communities in situations of protracted displacement and during the initial stages of post-conflict recovery, towards a durable solution of their choice. With active portfolios in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye and Iraq, DRC offers a cross-border, regional response to the Syria crisis, through cross-border protection monitoring, advocacy, and trends analysis.

About the job

The Agricultural Livelihoods & Climate-Smart Agriculture (Economic Recovery) Coordinator provides strategic and technical leadership for DRC Syria’s agricultural livelihoods and climate-smart agriculture programming. The role focuses primarily on DRC (approximately 70%) with additional technical support to the Syria Community Consortium (30%), ensuring coherence, quality, and innovation across both.

Operating as a senior technical expert, the Coordinator works independently within a defined area of expertise to guide program design, localization of global frameworks, capacity development, and development of scalable models. The position contributes to DRC’s transition from humanitarian assistance to sustainable, market-based and climate-smart livelihoods, strengthening resilience through the agriculture sector, to enhance the food systems in Syria, food security and decent livelihoods of the Syrian population, to ultimately promote self-reliance. The technical expertise and support to the agriculture sector in Syria will encompass a market system approach, and collaboration accordingly with financial institutions, private & public sector engagement, and any relevant stakeholders.

This position is complementary to, and not overlapping with, the Economic Recovery Coordinator role. While the Economic Recovery Coordinator provides overall oversight and technical direction for DRC’s Economic Recovery programming, including on Food Security, Decent Livelihoods, Financial Inclusion, and Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA), while the Agricultural Livelihoods & Climate-Smart Agriculture (EcRec) Coordinator focuses on specialized thematic areas—agriculture and agri-food systems, climate adaptation, regenerative farming, market systems development, and specific to SCC microfinance and credit mechanisms related to agri-food and agro-enterprises. The role brings innovation, technical expertise, and knowledge transfer to strengthen national teams and consortium partners, ensuring sustainability and alignment with DRC’s long-term economic recovery and climate action strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Technical Leadership and Strategy (DRC – LoE 70%)

• Lead the design and implementation of DRC’s agriculture and climate-smart livelihoods portfolio, including regenerative farming, agroecology, drought-resilient cropping, and efficient water and land management systems.
• Translate findings from the Labour Market Assessment into actionable agriculture and value chain strategies, identifying scalable and market-driven interventions.
• Provide technical oversight on agricultural input support, smallholder farmer engagement, agribusiness incubation, cooperatives and rural enterprise development.
• Develop and promote context-appropriate training modules on improved agronomic practices, animal husbandry, and agro-enterprise management for DRC and partners.
• Support identification and collaboration with agro-dealers, cooperatives, and producer groups to enhance access to quality inputs and services.
• Support and when requested lead on DRC’s transition from humanitarian assistance to sustainable, market-based and climate-smart livelihoods, strengthening resilience through agriculture, financial institutions, and private-sector engagement.
• Contribute to resource mobilization and proposal development, particularly for donors prioritizing resilience and agricultural development (e.g. BMZ, SDC, SIDA, DANIDA, ECHO, KFW, NORAD etc.).
• Support, when requested, on environmental mainstreaming across other DRC Sectors – particularly WASH and infrastructure programming.
• Ensure integration of environmental safeguards, sustainable resource management, and gender inclusion into all agricultural and livelihood programming.
• Strengthen national team capacity and ensure localization of DRC’s global Economic Recovery and Climate Action frameworks to the Syria context.
• Collaborate with the DRC EcRec Coordinator, Grants and Partnership Manager and HoP on concept notes, fundraising efforts, and proof-of-concept initiatives that bridge humanitarian to sustainable resilience-oriented interventions.

2. Consortium Engagement and Strategic Support (SCC – LoE 30%)

• Provide targeted technical assistance to SCC members in developing agriculture and market system interventions aligned with resilience and durable solutions objectives.
• Lead SCC-wide initiatives on Market Systems Development (MSD), inclusive value chains, and agricultural finance to improve access to markets and services for smallholder farmers and MSMEs.
• Support integration of microfinance, microcredit, and savings mechanisms within SCC partners’ programming, and foster partnerships with microfinance institutions and financial service providers.
• Advise on credit and loan models supporting entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and cooperatives within SCC’s operational areas.
• Facilitate collaboration and learning between SCC members, national institutions, and the private sector to promote innovation, sustainability, and scale.
• Contribute to SCC’s fundraising and advocacy on climate-smart agriculture, food systems, and financial inclusion.
• Coordinate closely with the SCC Chief of Party to identify and develop joint initiatives that align DRC’s and SCC’s strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with the SCC Chief of Party and DRC HoP on concept notes, fundraising efforts, and proof-of-concept initiatives that bridge DRC and consortium priorities.

3. Capacity Strengthening and Learning

• Design and deliver training modules and technical workshops for DRC and SCC staff, consortium partners, and local actors on climate-smart agriculture, regenerative practices, and market-based livelihoods.
• Mentor national staff to build long-term technical capacity and ensure institutional knowledge transfer.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of agricultural and market-based interventions through collaboration with MEAL teams, ensuring data-driven program learning.
• Document lessons learned, good practices, and case studies to inform strategic planning, donor engagement, and external representation for relevant identified priority areas including climate-smart livelihoods, and resilience through agriculture, financial institutions, and private & public institutions engagement.

4. Representation, Coordination, and External Engagement

• Represent DRC and the SCC (DRC-led) in thematic and technical coordination fora related to agriculture, climate-smart livelihoods, market systems, financial inclusion, and climate action — in coordination with the DRC Economic Recovery Coordinator, to avoid duplication.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with government institutions, research centers, private sector actors, and donors to enhance collaboration and policy influence.
• Contribute to advocacy and communication efforts highlighting DRC’s and SCC’s added value in agricultural recovery, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, climate-smart and market-driven recovery

5. Other

• Raise any issues of non-compliance and assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures
• Coordinate with Comms/Advocacy and HoP and when relevant with SCC relevant focal point for success story content, communication tools
• Provide regular updates to HoP and when relevant with SCC Chief of Party
• Any other duties as agreed with HoP, and when relevant when agreed with HoP any other relevant duties assigned by SCC Chief of Party.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 6 years of experience in agricultural development, climate-smart programming, or market systems in humanitarian or development settings.
• Demonstrated experience with microfinance, credit mechanisms, and inclusive financial services.
• Proven track record designing and implementing market-based, climate-resilient agricultural programs.
• Strong understanding of Market Systems Development (MSD) and value chain approaches.
• Experience building partnerships with private sector and financial institutions.
• Demonstrated ability in proposal development, fundraising, and strategy design.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and analytical skills, with strong mentoring experience.
• Sound understanding of humanitarian architecture;
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability;
• Experience in international humanitarian work, advocacy and policy development, and cluster coordination mechanisms;
• Experience with managing teams and providing technical guidance and training
• Able to manage high workload and deadlines in an efficient and timely manner
• Able to manage stress and be flexible

Education:

Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Environmental Management Engineering, or Climate Change Adaptation, or a related technical field.

Languages:

• English – fluent (required)
• Arabic – fluent (desirable)

 In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer:

Contract length: 12 months

Level: Management – G1

Location: Damascus – Syria

Expected Start date: 01 December 2025

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position here:  

EcRec Coordinator (Agricultural Livelihoods & Climate- Smart Agriculture) - Application Form

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV-only applications will not be considered.

Applications close: 28 October 2025

Need further information?

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.org

DRC as an employer
By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of around 6500 employees in around 35 countries. We pride ourselves on our:

• Professionalism, impact & expertise
• Humanitarian approach & the work we do
• Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
• Culture, values & strong leadership
• Fair compensation & continuous development

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.


Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.