Damascus, Feb. 17 (SANA) The joint steering committee between the Syrian government and the United Nations has convened in Damascus to discuss national recovery and development priorities.
The meeting, on Sunday, was co-chaired by Qutaiba Kadish, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and Nathalie Fustier, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria.
Participants included members of the joint steering committee, representatives of relevant ministries and national institutions, and the UN Country Team.
Discussions focused on Syria’s evolving needs, national recovery priorities, and opportunities to strengthen early recovery and development programmes in preparation for the upcoming United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the next programme cycle.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a transparent and inclusive, Syrian-led process grounded in international commitments and aligned with national recovery and development priorities.
In a statement to SANA, Kadish emphasized the government’s commitment to leading the national recovery process and strengthening state institutions. He stressed that international support should align with national priorities and be channelled through approved sovereign mechanisms to ensure unified coordination and effective implementation.
He added that the next phase requires better alignment of international partners’ programmes with national plans, as well as an approach centred on sustainability and resilience-building to achieve a Syrian-led recovery and reinforce trust between the state and society.
For her part, the UN Resident Coordinator said: “The United Nations remains committed to supporting Syria and its people and to working closely with national institutions to build a resilient and sustainably developed future.”
The meeting also outlined next steps in joint cooperation, including defining strategic priorities and developing the results framework under the UNSDCF in close partnership with national stakeholders, as well as conducting broad national consultations involving civil society, youth, women’s organizations, the private sector, and affected communities.
The joint steering committee is a high-level oversight body that provides strategic guidance for the UNSDCF and ensures its alignment with evolving national circumstances, government priorities, and international development agendas.
