Review of SARC Emergency Health Response Teams Preparedness and Response Capacity and Capability - Syria (SYR2026-007)

Syria has endured over a decade of protracted conflict, resulting in a complex humanitarian crisis characterized by widespread displacement, a strained healthcare system, and recurrent emergencies, including disease outbreaks such as cholera and COVID-19, natural disasters including the devastating earthquake of February 2023 and ongoing conflict-related trauma cases and security challenges. The compounding effects of these crises have significantly weakened the national health system, creating major gaps in emergency preparedness and response capabilities and access to essential healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas. The country’s healthcare infrastructure has suffered severe damage, with many hospitals and primary health care facilities either destroyed or operating at minimal capacity due to resource constraints. The ongoing economic downturn, funding shortages, and geopolitical tensions continue to exacerbate vulnerabilities, making emergency health response systems more critical than ever. Looking ahead, Syria is likely to continue facing complex emergencies, influenced by factors such as climate and conflict, economic instability, and the evolving geopolitical landscape. Additionally, rising temperatures, droughts, and water scarcity are expected to exacerbate public health risks, including the spread of waterborne diseases. Given these ongoing and emerging challenges, there is an urgent need to invest in a robust and responsive national health system that can effectively manage emergencies and ensure continuity of care in crises. Recognizing the evolving humanitarian landscape in Syria and the increasing health needs, the Norcross seeks to commission an external review of SARC emergency health preparedness and response capacity and capability with a specific focus on strengthening standards, quality and standardization of its emergency health preparedness and response system, shifting from reactive responses to a proactive approach with an emphasis on “all hazards”. The review will focus on the following main areas including:

• GoS national emergency preparedness and response capacity and capabilities
• SARC emergency health preparedness and response capacity and capabilities
• Emergency health response coordination and interoperability (internal/SARC and external/GoS and other actors)
• Key Recommendations for Strengthening SARC’s Emergency Health Preparedness and Response System as a way forward

Consultant’s profile:

The Consultant (Consulting firm, multidiscipline group of consultants) shall have the following key qualifications:

• Master’s degree in humanitarian assistance, disaster management, public health, or a related field from an accredited academic institution
• Experience in humanitarian response essential.
• Familiarity with conflict response, public health in emergencies and/or pandemic response would be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with RC operating environment.
• Familiarity of Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Initiative.
• Experience working with representatives of the Government e.g. from the Ministry of Health preferred
• A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience and expertise in project management with proven experience in emergency health response programing and/or evaluation.
• Minimum of 5 years of monitoring and evaluation experience required.
• Proven track record with use of data collection and qualitative/quantitative data analysis (especially in the design of coding schemes)
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues of varied cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Proven ability to produce quality work accurately and concisely according to set deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize and work independently.
• Previous working experience in Syria or MENA region (added advantage)
• Previous working experience working in protracted and/or conflict contexts with security constraints and limited access (added advantage)
• Fluency in English (required), Arabic (added advantage)
• Consultant/s should posses one or more of the following expertise – emergency health preparedness, emergency response, public health in emergencies, community engagement and accountability, safe and dignified burials, infection prevention and control, psychosocial support, organizational development.

How to apply Tender documents containing invitation to tender, instructions to bidders, terms of reference, general & special conditions of the contract etc. for Review of SARC Emergency Health Response Teams Preparedness and Response Capacity and Capability - Syria can be requested electronically from [contact details removed] until 14th of September 2026. Technical and Financial offers, complete in all respects, should be received electronically and separately as per the instructions in the RFP Document by 14th of September 2026, 16:00Hr Beirut Time. Late submission will not be considered. NorCross reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the offers without assigning any reason whatsoever and is not bound to accept the lowest bid.