Our focus

Syria and UNDP in action

The protracted humanitarian crisis has inflicted severe social, economic and environmental damage and has adversely impacted human development in the Syrian Arab Republic. The twelve years of crisis have resulted in widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, economic collapse, and large-scale migration and displacement. The damage and destruction of the basic services infrastructure has severely impacted equitable access to essential services, disproportionately effecting vulnerable populations. The destruction of livelihoods has impoverished large segments of the population, particularly the most vulnerable, including women, youth and persons with disabilities.


In 2023, 15.3 million people will need humanitarian assistance. The cumulative impact of the humanitarian crisis was also exacerbated by negative growth, reduced fiscal space, high rates of inflation and currency depreciation, the financial crisis in Lebanon, the Ukraine crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering effects of a drought.

Today’s development challenges are dynamic, complex and multidimensional in nature, requiring systemic solutions. Multilateral cooperation is vital in addressing these shared challenges that cross boundaries of geography and time.

UNDP's Strategic Plan (2022-2025) describes how UNDP intends to work with partners to deliver what’s required of us in these extraordinary times. This bold, ambitious Plan is structured around “3x6x3” – 3 directions of change, 6 signature solutions and 3 enablers – a clear framework for the future we aspire to and how to get there. Over the next four years, we will work with countries to expand people’s choices for a fairer, more sustainable future; helping to get us back on track to deliver on the SDGs.

 

Our work

The overarching goal of UNDP is to strengthen the foundations for future sustainable peace and development to improve the quality of life of all Syrians, especially those currently left furthest behind.

UNDP Syria’s programme is anchored in the United Nations Strategic Framework (UNSF) 2022-2024, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP operates in line with the current “Parameters and Principles of UN Assistance in Syria”. To address socio-economic challenges and promote life-saving and life-sustaining solutions, UNDP applies an integrated cross-sectoral approach, building complementarities between United Nations agencies and acting as a connector around resilience and early recovery in the Humanitarian Response Plan. UNDP leverages innovative solutions to strengthen the provision of basic services and the formulation and implementation of community resilience and recovery plans, all while localizing the Sustainable Development Goals.


UNDP in Syria works in coordination with relevant Government authorities at various stages and levels of action in the implementation of the country programme, involving when relevant private sector and non-governmental national and international organizations in the implementation of activities in accordance with Syrian procedures and UN rules and regulations. UNDP also leverages its forged partnerships with local administrative units to strengthen sustainability, local ownership and coordination of interventions.