Damascus, 17 December 2024 – The Government of Finland announced a new contribution of Euro 6.45 million to the United Nations Development Programme to strengthen the resilience and overall well-being of communities in Syria through the active involvement and contributions of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in development and peacebuilding.

The project will follow a comprehensive approach integrating community-led initiatives with social protection, capacity building and inclusive policy advocacy. This multifaceted approach, focusing on immediate and sustained impacts at both individual and community levels, will ensure that PWDs are not merely recipients of aid but active contributors to their communities. 

"Persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable members of society and must not be forgotten in efforts to rebuild and strengthen communities. The Government of Finland is committed to ensuring that they are not just recipients of aid, but active participants in shaping their futures. Through our partnership with UNDP, we aim to foster resilience and inclusivity, providing persons with disabilities the opportunities, support, and respect they deserve”.

Under the social protection services for households with PWDs component, interventions will focus on protecting the financial and human capital of the targeted households through short-term income provision, distribution of assistive products, psychosocial support (PSS), skills development, and long-term job opportunities. This is anticipated to benefit approximately 3,266 people. 

“Disability inclusion is an imperative. The Government of Finland is a strategic partner of UNDP. Their contributions since 2018 enabled UNDP to create a transformative environment where PWDs are protected, and socially and economically empowered to lead and actively participate in their community development”, said UNDP Resident Representative, Sudipto Mukerjee. “Approximately 28 per cent of the Syrian population lives with some form of disability. This new contribution will support the creation of a just, equitable, and inclusive society in Syria where PWDs enjoy equal rights and opportunities”, he added. 

In addition, the project will address the systemic inequalities as one of the root causes of exclusion and vulnerabilities of PWDs in Syria. This will be done by enhancing the capacities of stakeholders at the national, subnational, and community levels, deepening their understanding of disability rights and international frameworks, and learning how to implement inclusive policies and practices within their organisations. Ten local NGOs, CBOs and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities will be targeted in addition to 150 individuals who will be trained. 

UNDP will also leverage the potential leadership role of PWDs to spearhead community initiatives that aim at strengthening social capital. The primary objective is to build role models from PWDs’ groups and empower them to lead and drive change within their communities, inspiring others to follow their lead.

It is worth noting that persons with disabilities in Syria face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, education, employment, and social protection, in addition to a systemic exclusion that exacerbates their socio-economic vulnerabilities, limiting their ability to contribute to and benefit from community life and development initiatives.

The Government of Finland has provided more than Euro 10 million to UNDP since 2018 in support of disability inclusion in Syria.  Over 4,000 PWDs were equipped with high-quality assistive devices, including 30 per cent of women, around 1,500 jobs were created, and 300 people had their capacities developed on inclusive policies and programme design. In addition, the support provided enabled the establishment of a network of hundreds of PWDs and fostered foundational relationships with multiple stakeholders.

For further information, please contact:

Dania Darwish, Communications Specialist, Tel: 00963 (11) 6129811 | Mobile: 00963 989857937 – e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org. For more information on UNDP – Syria see http://www.undp.org/Syria