Events

The collapse of the Syrian government on 8 December 2024 was a relief for many Syrians and international actors. However, it is very uncertain to what extent the new regime in power will be a reliable partner for humanitarian, development and peace projects in the country. What is certain is that 13 years of war have led to a dire humanitarian situation of the Syrian population. Basic infrastructure has been destroyed. More than 13 million Syrians have been displaced, of which an estimated 5.7 million people are seeking refuge in Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and Europe. Around 90 per cent of the population in Syria needs humanitarian aid. Since the collapse of the government, a few thousand people have returned from neighbouring countries to Syria, while at the same time, people have fled anew. 

This roundtable exchange brought together humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors, donors, as well as experts on the region to discuss the challenges and opportunities for HDP nexus planning and implementation in Syria after the Assad regime collapsed in December 2024.  

Participants engaged in a thought-provoking discussion about the complex dynamics shaping Syria's future and how to navigate the intersection of urgent humanitarian needs, development efforts, and peacebuilding initiatives in this post-conflict era. 

Key Outcomes from the Roundtable 

1. Finding entry points for peace  

HDP nexus actors need to evaluate humanitarian aid to Syria over the past 15 years and assess the impact and effectiveness of their work to find entry points for future engagement. 

2. Incorporating the informal economy in HDP Nexus 

Humanitarian aid has only covered a small part of the Syrian population’s needs. It will be key for international donors to integrate the informal economy into an HDP nexus approach for rebuilding the country’s social and economic fabric.  

3. Building partnerships on local and national levels 

Donors and (I)NGOs need to engage with civil society organisations and state actors on various levels to build trust and ensure continuity in HDP initiatives without overburdening fragile local structures. 

4. Mainstreaming conflict-sensitivity along the HDP nexus  

HDP nexus actors should design and implement emergency responses, reconstruction, transitional justice and reconciliation efforts in a conflict-sensitive manner. The focus should be on avoiding aggravating existing conflicts. 

To learn more about the project and its findings, visit the project website. 

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