The discussion centered on the crucial links between decentralization and early recovery efforts in Syria, offering a comprehensive analysis of how localized governance can drive effective and sustainable recovery in the country.

During the broadcast, our experts emphasized the potential of administrative decentralization as a catalyst for community engagement and ownership in the development process. They argued that by aligning recovery initiatives with local needs, cultural contexts, and economic realities, decentralization can make early recovery efforts more relevant and impactful.

Key Themes Explored:

• Constraints of Centralization: The experts explored the limitations imposed by Syria's highly centralized system. They discussed how this centralization has stifled local ingenuity and hindered the ability of communities to take the lead in their own recovery processes.

• Subsidiarity Principle: The conversation touched on the importance of adopting the subsidiarity principle. This principle advocates for decision-making authority to be placed as close as possible to the implementation level, ensuring that those who are directly affected by decisions are also those making them.

• Linking Administrative and Economic Decentralization: The discussion further highlighted the need to connect administrative decentralization with economic decentralization. By enabling local communities to manage their own resources, they can develop tailored investments that address specific community needs and opportunities.

• Complementarity Between Central and Local Levels: The division of labor between central and local authorities was another theme. The experts underscored the importance of a complementary relationship between these levels, where both work together to achieve shared goals.

• Decentralization as a Safe Ecosystem for Return: Lastly, the role of decentralization in creating a safe ecosystem that incentivizes the return of refugees and displaced persons was discussed.

Drawing from case studies, the experts illustrated how devolution of decision-making processes and resources has proven effective in the equitable distribution of development assets in the past. They shared examples of successful community collaboration with local authorities, even amidst ongoing conflict. In Dara’a, for instance, local resources were combined with remittances from the diaspora to provide essential services and infrastructure—an approach that has been replicated in various other regions across Syria.

The conversation also touched on the challenges posed by limited donor resources in the early recovery process. The experts argued that the focus should instead be on creating the conditions for local economies to initiate their own recovery. They called for international efforts to ease the impact of overcompliance with the sanctions’ regimes and to support the reconnection of disrupted value chains between Syrian regions, thereby fostering an environment where local agency and needs can lead the country towards healing.

This insightful discussion on Al Madina FM provided a platform for LUGARIT to share its understanding of the complexities surrounding Syria’s recovery and the role that decentralization can play in empowering local communities to shape their own futures.