This research paper examines the state of services in Syria immediately before the fall of the Assad regime, offering a comprehensive analysis of governance structures and service provision in the country’s seven governance models. These seven models are in areas under the control of the 1) Assad Regime, including exceptional cases like 2) Dara’a and 3) Suwayda as well as 4) Syrian Interim Government, 5) Salvation Government, and the Autonomous Administration - both 6 Areas with strong presence of Kurdish populations and 7) Arab-majority areas.

Key Findings

1. Service Disparities Across Regions and Within Each Region:

   • Services such as education, health, food, transportation, and infrastructure vary widely across regions and within each region, reflecting poor coordination of policies and weak normative governance controls. Daraa and areas under the Salvation Government often outperform others in service provision, while Suwayda consistently ranks lowest.

   • Governance types heavily influence service availability, quality, and affordability. The centralization of services is a defining feature across most regions, limiting the role of local institutions.

2. Community Perceptions:

   • Public satisfaction with services depends on both their quality and the perceived fairness of distribution. Regions like Daraa demonstrate higher satisfaction due to localized initiatives and external support.

   • The study highlights a disconnect between public needs and government responsiveness, particularly in regime-controlled areas, which may have been a contributing factor to eventual regime collapse.

3. Sectoral Insights:

   • Food services rank highest in availability but are hindered by cost, particularly in regions with low purchasing power.

   • Physical infrastructure services, especially electricity, are the weakest across all indicators, underlining the urgent need for reconstruction.

   • Education quality shows regional disparities, with Daraa leading due to community-driven support.

4. Governance Challenges:

   • Fragmented governance systems present obstacles to reintegration and equitable service distribution. Regions like the Autonomous Administration and Salvation Government rely heavily on NGOs, creating dependency and governance gaps, despite the perception of improved services.

   • The regime's centralization policies exacerbate inefficiencies and corruption, limiting resource allocation to neglected areas like Suwayda.

Recommendations

1. Adopt a decentralized approach to service provision, empowering local institutions to manage and deliver services tailored to community needs and leveraging community resources.

2. Prioritize infrastructure projects that foster inter-regional collaboration, ensuring equitable development and integration.

3. Engage Syrian expatriates in funding early recovery projects and incentivize investment in community-led initiatives.

4. Address political and security conditions alongside service provision to encourage refugee return and sustainable development.

By presenting a baseline of service indicators, the paper aims to inform policymakers, aid agencies, and stakeholders about the challenges and opportunities in rebuilding Syria’s fragmented governance and service systems.