DG NEAR hosts 17th meeting of the Core Donors Group in response to the Syrian crisis on 16/02/2022

© European Union, 2018/Johanna de Tessières

On Wednesday 16 February, DG NEAR hosted the 17^th edition of the Core Group on donor coordination for recovery, resilience and development responses to the Syrian crisis. This bi-annual meeting was chaired by NEAR B Director a.i. Henrike Trautmann and NEAR B.1 Head of Unit Armelle Lidou. It brought together representatives from 13 key donor countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States), international organisations (UN, World Bank), financial institutions and regional funds (the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, EIB, Syria Recovery Trust Fund), and the relevant EU services (NEAR, EEAS, ECHO, FPI, INTPA and JRC).

The Core Donors Group meeting deliberated on the pressing issue of violence against women and girls in Syria, including a presentation on the Euromed Feminist Initiative Common Agenda, developed through a year-long consultation process with over 250 Syrian activists, gender, and legal experts, as part of an EU-funded programme. The Core Donors Group also heard from UNHCR on the Regional Durable Solutions Working Group and discussed the need for continued support to Syrian refugees displaced in the broader region, particularly in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Donors exchanged views on early recovery in the Syrian context, including contributions by the US, several UN agencies, and the World Bank on their Syria damage assessment.

The active participation and large attendance of international donors underlined the strategic role of the EU as a key donor, and coordinator of non-humanitarian assistance as part of the international response to the Syria crisis.

For further information: DG NEAR.B.1, Joanna [dot] ATHLINec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Joanna Athlin Villa)