New York – The Government of Japan and the Regional Bureau for Arab States of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement today worth approximately US$ 8.6 million (JPY 990,000,000) to support early recovery and resilience work in Syria by strengthening livelihood opportunities and enhancing food security and agricultural productivity in Ar-Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zour governorates in the northeast of the country. The support to be provided through this agreement aims to directly improve the livelihoods of more than 40,000 people and indirectly support more than 275,000.

Japan’s contribution comes on the eve of the 11-year mark of the crisis in Syria which has resulted in deteriorating socio-economic conditions and widespread poverty, estimated at some 90 per cent of the population. The situation has been worsened by the fallout of COVID-19 and the growing impact of climate change which has fuelled food insecurity throughout the country.

“Japan remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance to support crisis-affected population on the ground in Syria, especially vulnerable groups including women, youth and persons with disabilities. We sincerely hope that our support will help alleviate suffering for as many Syrians as possible and help them to weather the multiple and deepening challenges they are facing,” said Mr. Akira Endo, Special Coordinator for Syria and Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Syria.

A key component of the project is to improve water flow for communities by rehabilitating damaged irrigation networks. Additionally, local farmers will receive equipment and training, enabling them to increase their productivity and grow staple crops. This intervention will help alleviate poverty by creating employment opportunities among vulnerable groups within local communities such as impoverished farmers, women, youth, and persons with disabilities and boosting food security in rural areas. The project will also enhance community safety and access to land by raising awareness about the risks of unexploded ordnance.

"The project will be implemented under the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan and is designed to strengthen the resilience of communities affected by the crisis in Syria and reduce their dependence on aid," said Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of UNDP Syria. "The crisis has severely impacted people’s ability to sustain a living, and to access basic and social services and infrastructure; it has also further undermined social cohesion. Most people in Ar-Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zour are heavily dependent on farming, and it is critical to scale up interventions in the agricultural sector. We thank the Government of Japan for partnering with UNDP to restore the livelihoods of the most vulnerable in those areas.”

Within the two-year project, UNDP will also support socio-economic empowerment of the vulnerable groups by helping entrepreneurs develop their group-based social businesses. This will be complemented by enhancing agricultural processing and marketing, diversifying income sources, and vocational training around agribusiness to equip the families, particularly women, youth and persons with disabilities with the skills and tools needed to earn an income and secure sustainable employment.

The project is a critical contribution to UNDP's support to local communities and the request by the United Nations Secretary-General that the UN strengthen its early recovery and resilience activities in the country as part of bolstering the international response.

For more information on UNDP Syria see https://www.sy.undp.org.