UNDP Syria

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: