Business For Development
MDG MONITOR
Internet users in 2007 (per 100 people): 17.41 ↑
|
The Role of UNDP Syria
The current socio-economic reform in Syria aims at effectively transforming the Syrian economy from a centrally planned economy into a social market one. The success of such a process requires the participation of all stakeholders, especially private sector organizations that can play a leading role in socio-economic development.
UNDP’s work in Syria aims at supporting the establishment of an enabling environment for pro-poor business development, tackling both the supply and demand side, including issues of labor and employability; enabling policies and institutional strengthening; and corporate social responsibility.
UNDP’s Specific Interventions in this Area
1. Alleviating Poverty
UNDP supports the Government of Syria in its pursuit for social development and poverty reduction through a number of programmes. This includes supporting :
- The implementation of socio-economic reforms stipulated in the 5 year National Development Programme, through provision of technical expertise at the policy and operational levels. The technical support that UNDP provided to the formulation of the Tenth Five-Year Plan -which promoted a paradigm shift from a centrally planned to a social market economy- is a case in point.
- National efforts to address regional disparities within the country through the formulation of socio-economic development plans that reflect the needs and views of different local stakeholders in six pilot regions.
- Enhanced access to productive assets and micro-finance opportunities. UNDP was heavily involved in supporting the Government draft the decree that regulates the work of microfinance institutions in Syria. In doing so, UNDP built on lessons learnt from pilot microfinance interventions that it has extended to poor communities in Syria.
- The implementation of the National Programme on Poverty Alleviation and Women's Empowerment that was stipulated in the National Tenth Five-Year Plan. Based on global comparative experiences, the programme adopts an innovative approach that employs women's social and economic empowerment as an entry point for poverty alleviation.
2. Strengthening Social Protection
In order to strengthen and better target social protection, UNDP supports the establishment of macroeconomic policies, debt-sustainability frameworks, and public financing strategies that promote inclusive growth for the achievements of the MDGs.
In addition, UNDP also supports the establishment of INSAF - the first Social Welfare Fund in the country.
3. Supporting the Fight Against Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs
In an effort to support MDG achievement, UNDP assists in the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Programme. This aims at improving access to Tuberculosis care particularly for poor and vulnerable populations; strengthening the health system; and enhancing the efficiency of measures to reduce and prevent further spread of tuberculosis infection in Syria -including advocacy, communication and social mobilization.
4. Enhancing Career Counseling and Career Guidance
UNDP aims at introducing the career guidance (CG) concept and services to Syrian youth focusing on job seekers, particularly women. This will increase employability and facilitate job matching of competencies to actual labour market needs, for mitigating unemployment and combating poverty. The project also involves the active participation of employers and workers’ organizations through information sharing on labour market trends.
UNDP's ongoing projects in the area of Business For Development:
|
Service Line
|
Project #
|
Project Name
|
Status
|
Management Team
|
Total Budget
|
|
A.1
|
SYR/07/015
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 100,000
|
|
A.2
|
SYR/05/014
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 1,664,813.00
|
|
A.2
|
SYR/05/022
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 970,000
|
|
2.7
|
SYR/05/023
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
US$ 11,000,000.00
|
|
A.2
|
SYR/08/001
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 1,171,695.00
|
|
A.3
|
SYR/05/013
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 1,462,622.00
|
|
A.3
|
SYR/07/011
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 573,450.00
|
| |
SYR/10/002
|
Al Ghab Development Programme |
Ongoing |
Business for Development Team |
US$ 1,717,468.00 |
|
A.3
|
SYR/02/001
|
|
Ongoing
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 2,981,082.00
|
| 2.7 |
SYR/05/019 |
Modernization of Syrian Maritime-Lattakia Port |
Ongoing |
Business for Development Team |
US$ 636,425 |
| 2.5 |
SYR/05/020 |
Modernization of Postal Services |
Ongoing |
Business for Development Team |
US$ 250,350 |
|
A.3
|
SYR/06/001
|
|
Closed
|
Business for Development Team
|
USD 243,000
|
| 2.7 |
SYR/05/003 |
Modernization of the Customs Directorate |
Closed |
Business for Development Team |
US$ 8,665,000 |
| 2.4 |
SYR/05/006 |
Towards Changing the Competitiveness Mindset |
Closed |
Business for Development Team |
US$ 642,501 |
Crisis Prevention & Recovery
The Role of UNDP Syria
The 21st Century has already been marked by escalating economic losses and human devastation caused by natural disasters. UNDP supports national counterparts to develop both a disaster risk perspective and the human, financial, technical and legislative capacity; civil society preparedness; and coordination systems required to effectively manage and reduce risk. UNDP Syria supports the Government at the central and local levels to build capacities for managing and coordinating disaster and recovery efforts and post disaster rehabilitation.
UNDP’s Specific Interventions in this Area
1. Comprehensive Disaster Reduction Programme
In support of strengthening national capacities for disaster risk management, UNDP supports the Government of Syria to develop disaster reduction capacity, to reinforce relevant institutional and legislative frameworks, and to enhance local level risk management initiatives. UNDP has assisted local authorities in such areas as implementing contingency plans; updating database of contingency plans; executing disaster risk reduction scenarios; and incorporating disaster risk related issues into education curricula.
2. Supporting an Improved Institutional System in Syria for Crisis Preparedness, Management and Recovery
Alongside its emphasis on capacity development, UNDP supports improved crisis prevention, preparedness, response coordination, management and delivery of humanitarian and recovery assistance in Syria through coordinating dialogue and understanding among key stakeholders, including, government institutions; national non-governmental organizations; and other partners to design and implement necessary structures, mechanisms and capacity building programmes and tools.
3. Supporting a Sub-regional Facility for Cooperation in Disaster Reduction among the Arab States
As Arab States share regional natural risk hazard scenarios, it is necessary to formulate adequate mechanisms across the region for coordination, research, training and information sharing to assist countries in their risk reduction strategies and capacities.
UNDP contributes to the strengthening of regional and national capacities for disaster risk reduction, through the training and information sharing among countries in the region using the sub-regional facility for Arab States.
UNDP will also address issues of livelihood creation and skills development for the Iraqi refugees in Syria, as well as Syrian hosting communities. UNDP also aims at supporting the reduction of vulnerabilities to natural disasters, especially in drought-prone areas of the country.
UNDP's ongoing projects in the area of Crisis Prevention and Recovery:
Environment and Energy
MDG MONITOR
Land covered by forest (%) in 2005: 2.5 ↑
People using improved drinking water (%) 2006: 89 ↑
CO2 emissions per capita (metric tones) in 2006: 3.5275 ↑
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The Role of UNDP Syria
Energy and environment are essential for sustainable development. The poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean affordable energy services. These issues are also global as climate change, loss of biodiversity and ozone layer depletion cannot be addressed by countries acting alone. UNDP helps countries strengthen their capacity to address these challenges at global, national and community levels, seeking out and sharing best practices, providing innovative policy advice and linking partners through pilot projects that help poor people build sustainable livelihoods.
In Syria, UNDP’s support has been instrumental in assisting the Syrian Government to implement the conventions that resulted from the first Earth Summit. UNDP has also heavily engaged in capacity building with respect to the environment, both at institutional and technical levels, through:
1. Conserving Biodiversity and Managing Protected Areas
Syria is one of the richest countries in the Middle East in terms of biodiversity. UNDP supports initiatives aimed at the conservation, and management of biodiversity, through creating a relevant enabling environment at the policy level, as well as demonstrate practical methods for effectively managing protected areas while guarding the interests of local communities.
Local communities have been involved both in project formulation and in conservation processes in three protected areas (Abou-Qubies Protectorate in central-northwestern Syria, the Al Fronloq Protectorate in the northwestern coastal region of Syria and Jebel Abdul Aziz Protectorate in northeastern Syria).
2. Addressing Climate Change
UNDP supports the Government of Syria in implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) through measures related to planning, capacity building, institutional strengthening, public participation and targeted research. UNDP also assists Syria in preparing and reporting on its Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC. Consistent with national priorities, UNDP is supporting efforts aiming at strengthening local adaptation strategies and building community resilience to climate variability and change in drought prone areas for livelihood restoration of vulnerable groups.
3. Managing Water demand
UNDP is negotiating a new initiative with the Ministry of Housing and Construction for water demand management in Rural Damascus. The project will increase awareness on issues related to water demand, encourage institutions to adopt sound water demand management projects, ensure financial sustainability to implement these projects and determine consumers’ ability to pay for the provided services.
4. Managing Solid Waste
UNDP Syria supports an initiative which aims at developing an integrated management system for olive oil wastes in order to reduce their negative environmental impact, while maintaining growth of the olive oil sector. In addition, UNDP helps national institutions in the development and implementation of local solid waste management systems that are environmentally sound.
UNDP's ongoing projects in the area of Environment and Energy:
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Democratic Governance
MDG MONITOR
Literacy rates of 15-24 years old (% both sexes): 93.7
Seats held by women in national parliament 2009 (%): 12.4 ↑
Internet users (per 100 people) 2007: 17.41 ↑
|
The Role of UNDP Syria
More countries than ever before are working to build democratic governance. Their challenge is to develop institutions and processes that are more responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens, including the poor. UNDP brings people together within nations and around the world, building partnerships and sharing ways to promote participation, accountability and effectiveness at all levels. We help countries strengthen their electoral and legislative systems, improve access to justice and public administration, and develop a greater capacity to deliver basic services to those most in need.
UNDP's Specific Interventions in this Area
With the dawn of the new millennium, the Government of Syria initiated a modernization and reform programme. A basic tenet of this programme was that furthering the development of the Syrian economy and the success of any economic reform programme is contingent upon introducing comprehensive institutional and governance reforms. UNDP, as a key trusted development partner of the Government, provides support to these governance reform issues through policy advice and technical assistance.
1. Empowering Civil Society
UNDP supports national efforts to empower civil society organizations in Syria to become more engaged in the development, planning and implementation of public policies and programmes. In this regard, UNDP supports the establishment of the first National Platform of Cooperation for development-based NGOs in Syria.
2. Supporting Judicial Reforms
UNDP supports the Government of Syria efforts for increased accountability of the judiciary towards the general public. Within this framework, UNDP supports efforts aimed at improving the administration of the judicial system and citizens’ access to justice, including through the simplification and modernizing judicial and administrative procedures, creating help desks and support clinics as well as automating case management within the court system, which are included in a demonstrative pilot project in Dara'a.
3. Improving Local Governance Services
UNDP is assisting Syrian municipalities in developing internal service-oriented modernization plans, structures and information systems. Interventions focus on simplifying and optimizing administrative procedures at the municipal level, introducing alternative work methods and facilitating the dissemination information and sharing knowledge with citizens.
4. Supporting Policy Formulation and Decision Making
In partnership with the People’s Assembly and with the aim of enhancing parliamentary capacities and performance, UNDP has established an E-Library at the Official Residence for Members of the Parliament and offered training courses to 75 MPs on communication skills, presentation skills, positive thinking and stress management.
5. Enhancing Aid Effectiveness and Coordination in Syria
Following Syria’s endorsement of the Paris Declaration in July 2007, UNDP is assisting the Government in scaling up development assistance and implementing the commitments of the Paris Declaration for increasing Aid Effectiveness and coordination. In this regard, UNDP supports the Government in putting in place aid management tools, as well as providing technical expertise for donor coordination. UNDP mainly focuses on enhancing the capacity of the State Planning Commission in its donor coordination catalytic role in view of increased aid flows to the country.
6. Support to Media Reform
UNDP supports the Syrian Ministry of Information to reform the media sector through two main initiatives, the first targeting Syria Times newspaper- the only English language daily newspaper. UNDP is also supporting the establishment of a journalist network for mobilizing journalists to take an active role in socio-economic development reforms in the country, including targeted training for journalists on development issues.
7. Capacity Development for Foreign Service Staff in Syria
UNDP provides support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop the national capacities of Foreign Service staff to meet Syria’s socio-economic reform plans, as stipulated in the 10th 5YP. In this regard, UNDP is helping in designing and implementing immediate capacity development programmes for the Syrian foreign diplomatic corps, as well as providing support to formulating the strategy for establishing the Syrian Institute for Diplomacy (SID). The project aims at supporting Syria to obtain optimal benefits from the growing multilateral development system, at the regional and global levels.
UNDP's ongoing projects in the area of Democratic Governance:
Social Development for Poverty Reduction
MDG MONITOR
Population below PPP $1 per day: N/A
Children under 5 severely underweight (2006): 1.8% ↑
Internet users in 2007 (per 100 people): 17.41 ↑
|
The Role of UNDP Syria
Developing countries are working to create their own national poverty eradication strategies based on local needs and priorities. UNDP advocates for these nationally-owned solutions and helps to make them effective by ensuring a greater voice for poor people, expanding access to productive assets and economic opportunities, and linking poverty programmes with country's international economic and financial policies. UNDP Syria supports the Government in the implementation of socio-economic reforms through the identification of a variety of economic growth and social development opportunities, working through a poverty eradication strategy that is based on both local and national needs and priorities.
UNDP's Specific Interventions in this Area
1. Alleviating Poverty
UNDP supports the Government of Syria in its pursuit for social development and poverty reduction through a number of programmes. This includes supporting:
- The implementation of socio-economic reforms stipulated in the 5 year National Development Programme, through provision of technical expertise at the policy and operational levels. The technical support that UNDP provided to the formulation of the Tenth Five-Year Plan -which promoted a paradigm shift from a centrally planned to a social market economy - is a case in point.
- National efforts to address regional disparities within the country through the formulation of socio-economic development plans that reflect the needs and views of different local stakeholders in six pilot regions.
- Enhanced access to productive assets and micro-finance opportunities. UNDP was heavily involved in supporting the Government draft the decree that regulates the work of microfinance institutions in Syria. In doing so, UNDP built on lessons learnt from pilot microfinance interventions that it has extended to poor communities in Syria.
- The implementation of the National Programme on Poverty Alleviation and Women's Empowerment that was stipulated in the National Tenth Five-Year Plan. Based on global comparative experiences, the programme adopts an innovative approach that employs women's social and economic empowerment as an entry point for poverty alleviation.
2. Strengthening Social Protection
In order to strengthen and better target social protection, UNDP supports the establishment of macroeconomic policies, debt-sustainability frameworks, and public financing strategies that promote inclusive growth for the achievements of the MDGs.
In addition, UNDP also supports the establishment of INSAF - the first Social Welfare Fund in the country.
3. Supporting the Fight Against Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs
In an effort to support MDG achievement, UNDP assists in the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Programme. This aims at improving access to Tuberculosis care particularly for poor and vulnerable populations; strengthening the health system; and enhancing the efficiency of measures to reduce and prevent further spread of tuberculosis infection in Syria -including advocacy, communication and social mobilization.
4. Enhancing Career Counseling and Career Guidance
UNDP aims at introducing the career guidance (CG) concept and services to Syrian youth focusing on job seekers, particularly women. This will increase employability and facilitate job matching of competencies to actual labour market needs, for mitigating unemployment and combating poverty. The project also involves the active participation of employers and workers’organizations through information sharing on labour market trends.
UNDP's ongoing projects in the area of Poverty Reduction:
|
Service Line
|
Project #
|
Project Name
|
Status
|
Management Team
|
Total Budget
|
|
A.1
|
SYR/08/004
|
|
Ongoing
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 1,344,198.00
|
|
A.4
|
SYR/07/013
|
|
Ongoing
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 3,164,828.00
|
|
B.1
|
SYR/09/007
|
|
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 1,732,484.00
|
|
B.2
|
SYR/07/016
|
|
Ongoing
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 296,618.00
|
|
B.5
|
SYR/08/002
|
|
Ongoing
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 195,550.00
|
| |
SYR/07/009 |
Establishment of a Pilot Career Guidance Centre in Syria |
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 585,324.00 |
| |
SYR/07/021 |
Support the National TB Programme in the Syrian Arab Republic |
Ongoing
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 8,532,550.00 |
| |
SYR/07/002 |
Establishing the National Social Aid Fund (NSAF) in Syria |
Ongoing
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 326 245 |
| |
SYR/06/008 |
Career Management Centre |
Ongoing
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 169,836.00 |
| |
SYR/07/018 |
From Protection to Awareness: Addressing Gender Based Violence in the Syrian Arab Republic |
Closed
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 105,000 |
| |
SYR/05/001 |
Support to the Enhancement of the Role of Religious Leaders in Socio-Economic Development |
Closed
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 284,000 |
| |
SYR/06/017 |
Educational Park at Al- Mazra'a Park |
Closed
|
Social Development Team |
US$ 215,000 |
| |
00045305
|
Establishment of a DevInfo (Syria MDG Monitoring Database) |
Closed
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 87550 |
|
A.4
|
SYR/06/011
|
|
Closed
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 180 000
|
|
A.4
|
SYR/02/010
|
|
Closed
|
Poverty Reduction Team
|
US$ 1,949,111
|
|
Our Work
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