State of Syrian Cities Report 

Client 

EU - European Union >


Client Type 

International Organization, Institutional Donor

Year 

2016 - 2017


Status 

Completed

Project Summary

Our team (pre-LUGARIT) was commissioned by the European Union to carry out a comprehensive research and analysis of urban conditions in Syria during the conflict. 


The project included a survey of 41 cities of different typologies, a comparative analysis, and a benchmarking metric for guiding area-based planning in the future. 


The project’s outputs encompass: 1) a comparative framework based on the City Prosperity Index (CPI) methodology, and 2) four thematic papers delving into specific urban conditions.


City Prosperity Index

The CPI methodology, adapted to Syrian conditions, used 27 indicators across six dimensions: Productivity, Infrastructure, Quality of Life, Environmental Sustainability, Equity and Social Inclusion, and Governance. This study included 41 Syrian cities, selected to represent the varied urbanization conditions in the country. The data, mainly from mid-2016, highlighted significant challenges, such as data limitations and the need to rely on various sources due to different areas of control.

Four performance-based segments were identified among the cities: Stable cities, Secondary islands of stability, Cities resisting the impact of the conflict, and Cities devastated by the conflict. The analysis revealed several trends, including the positive effect of population size on CPI scores, better performance of homogenous cities, and the negative impact of urban fragmentation.


Thematic Papers

The four thematic papers addressed critical issues like the Economy, Governance, Housing Land and Property Rights, and Gender, providing a deeper insight into the urban conditions in Syria.



Overall, the report offers a detailed baseline for monitoring progress and assessing policy impacts in Syria. It underscores the necessity for further research and dialogue to understand and address the complex urban conditions in a post-conflict scenario.

Project Team

Related Publication >

Date:  October 2017

Publisher:  Syrian Echoes, funded by the European Union 

A report analyses Syria's complex urban housing crisis, highlighting the impact of traditional land tenure systems and rapid urbanization. It emphasizes the role of property rights in the conflict and post-conflict reconstruction, underscoring the need for fair housing policies and legal reforms, especially to support vulnerable groups like women.

Read more  >

Header Photo

Aerial night view on Aleppo from east.  Photo © Hairem - Via ShutterStock.  Link >