Early recovery in the Syrian Arab Republic- Support for civil society

The Strategic Policy Alternatives Framework -Issue II

A lifeline under threat? Syrian household remittances in light of sanctions, financial sector de-risking, COVID-19, and regional developments

A study commissioned by the National Agenda for the Future of Syria (NAFS) Programme II at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) as part of the wider project “Syrian Remittances: Dynamics, Volume and the Future”

Syria At War: Eight Years On

The report provides data on the socioeconomic impact of the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. It documents the consequences for the economy and social fabric that pose daunting future challenges.

Area-Based Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods Programming in As-Sweida Governorate: Value Chains performance and their upgrading strategy in As-Sweida Governorate

The livelihood resilience in As-Sweida Governorate was assessed, and a strategic area-based resilience programme is proposed with the objective “To guide and structure the rehabilitation and upgrade of main selected agriculture value chains through inclusive and participatory mechanisms driven by market demands and capacities of main actors”.

Mapping Local Governance in Syria: A Baseline Study

Inter-Syrian dialogue is increasingly converging on the establishment of a form of democratic decentralization as a cornerstone of the country’s future political order.

Homs Localized Needs Assessment

Concise LNA

Ar-Raqqa Localized Needs Assessment

Concise LNA

As-Sweida Localized Needs Assessment

Concise LNA

Understanding Agricultural Livelihood Solutions Under Protracted Forced Displacement: The Case of Refugees from Homs In Lebanon

This study contextualizes and defines the characteristics and nature of agricultural livelihood programmes targeting Syrian refugees and their host communities in Lebanon, and examines their contributions to improving sustainable livelihoods and providing solutions to these populations.

Post-conflict Strategic Agriculture Livelihoods Restoration Plan in Homs Governorate/Syrian Arab Republic

The Governorate of Homs was selected as a subject for a strategic study targeting the revival of agricultural activity and the restoration of agricultural livelihoods in the post-conflict period. This study is very relevant given the vital role of the agrarian sector in Homs and the significant number of displaced persons from Homs who remain outside the country, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan.

Livelihoods Solutions for Protracted Regional Crises: Post-Conflict Agriculture Livelihoods Recovery Strategy in Homs Governorate and Livelihoods Programming for Homs' Refugees in Jordan and Lebanon

ESCWA launched an initiative that consists of three different subprojects. The first was the ‘Post-conflict agricultural livelihoods recovery strategy for Homs Governorate’. The second and third subprojects were the ‘Understanding livelihood solutions under protracted forced displacement’ case studies, which observed the livelihood situation of Homs’ refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.

Understanding Livelihoods Solutions under Protracted Forced Displacement The Case of Refugees from Homs in Jordan

The study aims to understand the characteristics of the food security and livelihoods programmes targeting Homs refugees and their host communities under the
protracted nature of displacement in Jordan, and to examine their contribution to improving sustainable livelihoods of the target population.

Preventing The Reemergence of Violent Extremism In Northeast Syria

This report examines the prevailing vulnerabilities that contribute to the threat of ISIL and other extremist groups regaining a foothold in the Northeast. It looks into what can be done by actors at the local, national, and international level to prevent a resurgence of violence or violent extremism in Northeast Syria.

Syrian Election Profile: Legal Regulatory Framework

This document is a set of laws, decisions and decrees governing the electoral process in the Syrian Arab Republic, and they have been translated into English to contribute to developing a shared lexicon for electoral terminology.

Covid-19 Increasing Food Insecurity in The Syrian Arab Republic

Food security challenges in Syria have been further exacerbated since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, adding more pressure on the country’s stability. Syria is currently witnessing an unprecedented currency devaluation that is skyrocketing food prices and diminishing Syrian household’s purchasing capacity.

Policy Gap Analysis: An Examination of The Policy-Based Gaps Hindering The Peacebuilding Process In The Syrian Arab Republic

The report on Policy Gap Analysis: An Examination of the Policy-based Gaps Hindering Syria’s Peacebuilding Process juxtaposes the 2030 vision brought forth in the SPAF document and the current status on the ground.

Travel and Tourism Sector in Syria and Peace Building

Talking about tourism in Syria’s case might be premature today. However, tourism will have to be a key element in future peace-building and peace-keeping strategies. Peace is generally seen as a precondition for the development of the tourism industry. Yet the possible reverse effect from tourism to peace could also be considered.

Social Protection (available in Arabic only)

This paper provides an overview of the Social Protection profile within the Syrian Arab Republic, before and during the conflict, including the law and legislative decrees related to social protection that have been issued over the past years.

Cultural Heritage (Available in Arabic only)

This document provides an overview of how cultural heritage in Syria has been affected by the conflict. The paper studies the impact of cultural heritage on internal and external displacement and studies the current status of cultural heritage in places of displacement and in host communities.

Transitional Justice (Available in Arabic only)

This paper aims to encourage an inclusive societal dialogue as a first step, one that revives the spirit of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, nourishes the values of tolerance and justice, and paves the way for the roadmap of transitional justice and the establishment of democratic foundations.

Judiciary (available in Arabic only)

This research paper studies the judicial sector, its role in the conflict, the impact of the conflict has had on it, and analyzes the course of the Syrian conflict from a purely legal perspective. Its aim is to highlight the challenges and opportunities and draw lessons from the above so that a general vision of the frameworks of the judicial sector in Syria in the future is developed.

Civil Documentation (Available in Arabic Only)

This paper studies the impact of the conflict on disrupting civil registry services in areas where the Syrian Government has lost control, thus denying Syrians in areas outside the control of the Syrian Government the possibility of registering their civil documents, and anyone who has been displaced or abandoned Government areas has lost this service

Telecommunication (Available in Arabic Only)

This document provides a background on the telecommunications sector before the conflict and analyzes the impact of the conflict on telecommunications and information technology. The paper also focuses on the institutional and legal framework governing the sector.

Standardizing Cross-Cutting Themes Gender Cross-Cutting as a Pilot

Syrian Identity (available in Arabic only)

This document studies the subject of identity in the Syria and illustrates definitions of national identity, sectarianism, and sectarianism.

Industry (available in Arabic only)

This paper analyzes the current situation and the policy gaps for the emergency phase nexus. It looks at voluntary return and reintegration of displaced persons, and at the impact of the conflict on the industrial sector in terms of providing services.

Disarmament in Syria

This paper will specifically focus on the challenge of Disarmament in the context of Syria, as a key condition to restoring basic safety and security for all Syrians, after a political settlement. While transitional justice is beyond the scope of this paper, Syrian policymakers ought to know that justice is the one key programmatic area that can help turn short-term safety gains into effective reconciliation and peace in the long-term.

Labor Markets

The paper provides an overview of the current labor market situation and the respective policy gaps that are in relation to the peacebuilding phase as defined in the Strategic Policy Alternatives Framework (SPAF) document. It then offers sector specific policy priorities and recommendations.

Education Sector Policy Paper

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the conflict in Syria on the Education sector by using year 2015 as a baseline and the vision of Syria 2030 as a benchmark, in order to highlight the growing educational challenges and identify the potential opportunities that can help pave the way for peacebuilding in Syria.

The Way Back Home

This document discusses the causes and phases of displacement of Syrians. It addresses the topics of return in the light of service delivery and coping mechanisms, current legal frameworks influencing return, reconciliation and social cohesion as prerequisites for return and a phased framework for return.

Laying the Foundations for Future Elections in Syria Laying the Foundations for Future Elections in Syria

This paper was developed by UN ESCWA and International IDEA with the purpose of providing Syrian and international stakeholders with key elements to be considered in future electoral processes in Syria, including necessary preconditions, appropriate timing, representation and access to elections. This paper is independent of specific national or political interests.

The Strategic Policy Alternatives Framework (SPAF) Syria Post-Conflict

The document includes an analysis of the internal structural factors that contributed to igniting the conflict and a projection of the various scenarios of how it may end. It also includes the principles that the Syrians involved in NAFS agreed upon as the foundation for a future vision for Syria post-conflict, as well as the main policy options and alternatives to achieve it.

Constitutional Options for Syria 2017

This constitutional study aims at providing support and advice to the Syrian constitutional negotiation process, in which we present constitutional options and alternatives adopted by countries that have witnessed similar conflicts and challenges currently facing Syria.

Syria at War: 5 Years On

The report is essentially focused on the socioeconomic consequences of the conflict, it goes further and provides several guiding principles and a preliminary action plan focused on the period immediately following an agreement on a political resolu - tion to the crisis. It also offers valuable prescriptions by which the international community could, in the immediate term, mitigate the human damage caused by the crisis

Political, Governance and Decentralization

The study discusses the vision, overall goal of the political governance nexus, policy recommendations and their respective timeframes. It covers decentralization's actors, enabling vehicles and challenges. It also sets options for constitutional change in the interim period.

Macroeconomic Implications and Obstacles to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

The present report draws upon data from the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics, information from a number of relevant ministries and international bodies, and various model estimates.