A question I get a lot: "Which organizations should I actually be applying to?" It's a reasonable thing to wonder. There are hundreds of NGOs operating in Syria on paper, but in practice a fairly small number account for the majority of available positions at any given time. Knowing who they are and how they recruit will save you a lot of time.
UN Agencies — the biggest employers, and the slowest to hire
UN agencies are the largest single source of humanitarian employment in Syria. The pay is good, the benefits are solid, and a UN role on your CV opens doors. The trade-off is that the hiring process is slow, heavily bureaucratic, and genuinely competitive.
The main ones to know:
- UNHCR leads the refugee and displacement response — protection, registration, community services, field operations. Apply at jobs.unhcr.org.
- UNICEF focuses on children: health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection. Career portal at unicef.org/careers.
- WFP runs the largest food security operation in Syria — supply chain, field monitoring, cash and voucher programs, nutrition. Apply at wfp.org/careers.
- WHO — health systems, disease surveillance, health information. Apply at who.int/careers.
- UNFPA — sexual and reproductive health, GBV response. Apply at unfpa.org/jobs.
- IOM — displacement tracking, shelter, camp management. Apply at iom.int/careers.
One thing worth knowing: national staff positions at UN agencies are often posted locally and processed separately from the international recruitment system. They're more accessible and move faster. Check each agency's country office pages, not just their global career portals.
The large international NGOs
These organizations run multi-sector programs across multiple locations and hire heavily at all levels. They tend to be more nimble than UN agencies on hiring timelines.
- IRC (International Rescue Committee) is one of the largest employers in Syria — health, protection, livelihoods, WASH, education. Apply through their Workday portal. They recruit constantly.
- Save the Children — strong focus on children across education, child protection, health, food security. Present in both northwest and northeast.
- NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council) — shelter, legal aid, education. Has a reputation for being one of the better organizations to work for in terms of staff care and professional development.
- Mercy Corps — food security, livelihoods, WASH, economic recovery programs. Active across multiple governorates.
- ACTED — large presence in multipurpose cash, WASH, shelter. One of the bigger employers in northwest Syria.
- DRC (Danish Refugee Council) — protection, livelihoods, shelter. Generally well-regarded by national staff.
- IMC (International Medical Corps) — health, mental health, MHPSS programs.
- GOAL — WASH, food security, health. Active in several governorates.
Syrian and local NGOs — don't overlook these
This is something I want to say clearly because I think a lot of people underestimate local organizations when they're job hunting: Syrian NGOs have become major employers in their own right.
They run programs funded by large institutional donors. They have professional HR systems. They offer real career development. And for people starting in the sector, they're often more willing to hire you than an INGO that wants three years of prior experience for an entry-level role.
Some of the most active local organizations include Watan Foundation — one of the largest Syrian organizations working across multiple sectors — ONSUR in northwest Syria, WSA (Women Support Association) with gender-focused programs, and ADRA Syria. There are many more.
Local NGOs tend to advertise through NGO Jobs Syria, their own social media pages, and word of mouth. That last one matters more than people expect — the Syrian humanitarian community is small enough that knowing the right people genuinely helps.
A few things that actually work when applying
Use multiple channels. Organization websites, NGO Jobs Syria, LinkedIn, direct referrals — they all serve different purposes and catch different openings. Relying on just one means you'll miss things.
Follow organizations on social media. Many post vacancies on Facebook and LinkedIn before or alongside their official portals. You'll sometimes know about a role before it hits the big job boards.
Don't hold out for the perfect role. Getting into an organization in a position slightly below where you want to be is often the fastest path to where you actually want to go. Internal moves are common, and people who are already inside an organization are always more visible for the next opening.
Browse everyone currently hiring at NGO Jobs Syria — Organizations.