Syria Resource Group (SRG) brain trust

Syria Resource Group

For several years, IFIT provided independent advice and training to key actors seeking a negotiated settlement to Syria’s armed conflict. Starting in 2019, IFIT established the Syria Resource Group (SRG): a multidisciplinary brain trust of Syrian civic leaders and experts dedicated to the development of a local vision of national recovery and reconstruction.

The SRG consists of 12 Syrian experts—located both inside the country and across the diaspora—dedicated to finding realistic, principled solutions for Syria’s peaceful recovery and future financing. By generating locally conceived proposals and on-the-ground assessments, the group ensures that international aid is Syrian-led rather than donor-driven. The work prioritises inclusive assistance that accounts for the complex demographic, political, economic, and security landscape of the country.

SRG Policy Framework

To address the manipulation, politicization, and diversion of international aid in Syria, the SRG has established an overarching policy framework to ensure more equitable and realistic parameters for future assistance. Leveraging these recommendations, the Group maintains regular dialogues with donors and policymakers to safeguard recovery and reconstruction efforts. It offers a practical roadmap through five interconnected principles: avoiding compromised channels, prioritizing local-level increments, employing trusted intermediaries, ensuring effective monitoring, and engaging the private sector.

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Policy Recommendations

Recommendations produced by the SRG and its coalition of Syrian civil society partners and platforms, as presented on the sidelines of the Brussels VII Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region.

Publication

Towards More Principled International Support to Syria: Doing no Harm and Contributing to Syria's Rehabilitation and Recovery

This documents outlines recommendations for providing principled international support to Syria and guaranteeing no harm is done in Syria's rehabilitation and future recovery. Within the current political context and in the wake of the recent earthquake, it is vital to ensure an effective and sustainable response that meets the minimum needs of the Syrian people and facilitates local communities to lead their own recovery.

Highlights

Video: Bridging Transitions – A Cross-Learning Exchange for Afghan and Syrian Civil Society

The Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) and the Hamrah Initiative organised an exchange workshop that convened Afghan and Syrian civil society leaders and experts for two days of intensive discussions. Participants explored strategies for navigating political transitions, advancing inclusive governance, and engaging effectively with international actors to influence global diplomatic and policy discussions. The ideas continue to resonate in our ongoing work in Syria.

Video: SRG Brussels VI Conference Side event: Advancing the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus

Highlights from the discussion between IFIT Syria Resource Group (SRG), UN-Habitat Syria, and the Centre for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR)

Virtual Convening: Towards More Principled International Support

A Dialogue between Syrians and the International Community

Thursday 31 March, 2022

Check the agenda and the speakers here. You can also read the press release here.

The Convening coalition:
Baytna Syria, Hamzet Wasl, IFIT Syria Resource Group (SRG), IMPACT, Shaml, Syrian Centre for Policy Research (SCPR), Syrian International Business Association (SIBA), Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP), The Syrian British Council (SBC), The Syrian Women’s Political Movement (SWPM), Union Of Medical Care And Relief Organizations (UOSSM), We Exist, and Workgroup for Building Free Syria

The Convening Conclusions and Recommendations

Publications

POLICY RECOMMENDATION

Towards More Principled International Support to Syria: Convening Conclusions and Recommendations

This document outlines the recommendations from the Towards More Principled International Support convening conducted by the IFIT Syria Resource Group and its 12 Syrian civil society partners. The event called for the international community to rethink its approach to providing support to Syria, to ensure an effective and sustainable response that meets the minimum needs of the Syrian people and facilitates local communities to lead their own recovery.

العربية – توصيات سياساتية

نحو دعم دولي قائم على المبادئ: النتائج والتوصيات من اللقاء (آذار ٢٠٢٢)

INFOGRAPHIC

International Assistance for All in Syria (Infographic)

This infographic presents the SRG’s framework for principled international support to Syria and summarises how it can be operationalised.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION (1/3)

International Assistance for All in Syria: Choosing the Right Channels

This publication showcases experiences of working with uncompromised channels inside Syria to deliver international assistance. Emphasising the need for innovation, legitimate payment mechanisms, and independent monitoring, it offers reflections on how these examples can be replicated and scaled up, these in order to help improve the lives of all Syrians.

(العربية – توصيات سياساتية (٣/١

المساعدات الدولية للجميع في سوريا: اختيار القنوات غير الإشكالية (تشرين الأول ٢٠٢١)

POLICY RECOMMENDATION (2/3)

International Assistance for All in Syria: Going Local, Small and Incremental

A local, incremental approach to international support to Syria will facilitate the provision of fair and non-discriminatory access to aid for all Syrians. Working locally with smaller organisations reduces the risk of corruption and bypasses compromised channels of aid delivery.

(العربية – توصيات سياساتية (٣/٢

المساعدات الدولية للجميع في سوريا: العمل على نطاق محلّي وصغير ومن ثم التدرج (تشرين الأول ٢٠٢١

POLICY RECOMMENDATION (3/3)

International Assistance for All in Syria: Using Trusted Syrian Intermediaries

Working with trusted Syrian intermediaries can bridge the divide between donors and local communities and facilitate more efficient, sustainable support. In the absence of confidence in established authorities, appropriate Syrian intermediaries could assume coordination of projects, thereby reducing costs and resolving problems of aid diversion.

(العربية – توصيات سياساتية (٣/٣

المساعدات الدولية للجميع في سوريا: العمل من خلال جهات وسيطة سوريّة موثوقة (تشرين الأول ٢٠٢١)

SRG Updates and Events

events / 27 June 2023

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