HDP Nexus in Syria: LUGARIT Joins BICC Roundtable

18 February 2025 - Cologne, Germany

On 18 February 2025, LUGARIT’s Partner Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj joined a roundtable discussion organized by the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies (BICC) on the Challenges and Opportunities for HDP Nexus Programming in Syria. The event, held in Cologne, Germany, convened experts and actors to assess Syria’s shifting landscape in the wake of the December 2024 regime collapse and explore pathways for humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding (HDP Nexus) in the country.  Mr. Hallaj participated remotely, offering critical insights into Syria’s entrenched structural problems and the immediate and long-term challenges facing stabilization and recovery efforts. 

Key Insights from Mr. Hallaj’s Presentation

• Enduring Structural Problems: Syria’s governance and economic crises predate the war, with systemic dysfunctions exacerbating territorial fragmentation, poverty, and institutional collapse.

• Entrenched Territorial Divisions: Despite the political transition, Syria remains deeply divided, with fragmented governance structures, failing state institutions, and disrupted local economies.

• The Limits of Humanitarian Aid: While aid remains crucial, it addresses less than 20% of actual needs and often becomes a political tool rather than an effective response mechanism. Overcompliance with sanctions, corruption, and weak governance further hinder recovery efforts.

• Immediate Challenges: The new authorities in Syria face legitimacy challenges, divergent governance visions and priorities, inflation risks, and the urgent need to restore basic services while preserving state institutions and ensuring security.

• Long-Term Considerations: A sustainable recovery hinges on inclusive governance, economic reforms, social peace, and addressing displaced populations' return. Issues related to housing, land, and property (HLP), as well as local economic revitalization, require coordinated and pragmatic approaches.

Key Questions Explored During the Roundtable

The discussion engaged participants in addressing critical uncertainties surrounding Syria’s post-conflict trajectory. Key questions explored included:

• Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction – What are the main challenges and opportunities in delivering urgent humanitarian aid and rebuilding essential infrastructure? Can the new Syrian government be a reliable partner for humanitarian, development, and peace projects?

• Peacebuilding and Reconciliation – How can peacebuilding organizations support political transition and reconciliation among competing armed factions? How can they address the grievances and trauma of war-affected communities?

• Collaboration Across the HDP Nexus – Is joint planning and implementation between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors feasible? What mechanisms are needed to create more coherent, sustainable recovery strategies?

LUGARIT remains committed to engaging in forward-thinking discussions that contribute to pragmatic solutions for Syria’s future.

Header Photo

A snapshot from Atma refugee camp, north of Idlib near the Syrian Turkish border.  14 March 2018.  Photo © quetions123 - via ShutterStock.  Link >

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