Damascus, Dec.4 (SANA) The three-day conference “Humanitarian Action and Recovery for Syria – Local Solutions for Sustainable Impact” concluded Wednesday at the Royal Semiramis Hotel in Damascus. The event was organized by the German organization Help, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.
Participants said in their final recommendations that establishing a national registry and transparent classification for civil society organizations is essential, noting that the process should be developed in cooperation with local actors across all Syrian geographies. They also urged digitizing licensing and reporting procedures, strengthening government cadres working with civil society, and introducing tax incentives for private-sector entities supporting social and humanitarian work.
The participants also highlighted the importance of creating a government knowledge platform to consolidate laws, regulations, and procedures related to civil and social work. They also called for updated educational and training curricula in humanitarian and social work, and for a comprehensive national needs-and-response plan grounded in reliable data. They emphasized enabling access to financing through secure and transparent channels and adopting participatory approaches based on trust, clarity, and independence.
Speakers urged diversified and renewed local partnerships, fair opportunities for emerging and small organizations, and long-term funding that strengthens sustainability and local capacity. They underscored the need to respect Syria’s geographic and cultural diversity, invest in local knowledge production, and support locally led pooled funds accessible to small and medium-sized Syrian humanitarian actors.
Participants then stressed improving internal governance and transparency, adopting clear human-resources and financial-management policies, and reducing harmful competition by building sector- and area-based alliances. They encouraged a stronger culture of evaluation, continuous learning, and strategic planning, particularly for potential funding interruptions.
Speaking to SANA at the conference on Wednesday, Bahjat Hajjar, the representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, said: “The conference provided an opportunity to enhance dialogue between civil society organizations, government institutions, and donors regarding the future of humanitarian work, contributing to a clearer vision for Syria’s future and demonstrating that civil society can be a partner in government efforts.”
Rula Al-Aghbar, Director of NGOs at the ministry, noted that the sessions covered the quality of partnerships between international and local organizations, resource mobilization, community participation, empowerment, and knowledge-sharing. She underlined civil society’s ability to design programs that meet local needs and contribute to development.
