Improving living conditions and resilience through life-saving aid (LIFE)

finished

The Syria crisis continues to be one of the most complex humanitarian crises across the world. Since the onset of hostilities in 2011, Syria’s economy has shrunk by more than half and the Syrian Pound exchange rate has undergone a 70-fold depreciation. These factors, combined with sharp price increases and the government’s inability to subsidize most essential commodities, have led to 97% of the population living below the poverty line. The current security situation in Syria compounded with additional pressure resulting from the recent crisis in Ukraine and the strain it has put on global supply chains. Thus, the 2022 Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview estimates that 14.6 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance.

These compounding factors mean that crisis-affected households have been struggling to restore their livelihoods. The unemployment rate has increased sharply and was estimated to be 50% among the working-age population in 2021. At the same time, the education system remains fragmented, limiting children’s access to education. At least 2.4 million children remained out of school in 2021. Those who attend school face daily challenges of over-crowded classrooms, possible learning difficulties, and a lack of essential learning materials. In addition, as coping strategies on a household level become more negative, taking children out of school and putting them to work occurs at rates as high as 30% in some areas, placing children at risk of severe protection threats.

The project aims to contribute to the protection, improved living conditions and strengthened resilience of conflict-affected communities in Syria by providing lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance through cash transfers, education and livelihoods services to a total of 16'130 Syrians that show impact beyond the 24-months project duration.

The project will contribute to the improved ability of vulnerable households to sustain their lives through a combination of cash, livelihoods, education, and protection services. Additionally, capacity building of local partners will enhance local capacity to lead and implement the process of relief and recovery.

By providing multipurpose cash transfers (incl. cash for winter) to the most vulnerable families, beneficiaries will be enabled to address their most essential basic needs, such as food, shelter, and medicine. With their basic needs covered, households will be able to prevent the recourse to negative coping mechanisms such as pulling their children out of school for work.

A combination of remedial non-formal education (NFE), accelerated learning, and exam preparation will support the reintegration of out-of-school children into the formal education system and enhance academic performance of struggling learners.

Furthermore, capacity-building in business development and vocational training will support beneficiaries to start or restore their livelihoods. With this combined approach, vulnerable Syrians receive individualised support that extends beyond the lifetime of the project. Lastly, capacity building of national partners based on a thorough assessment of their operational and technical skills will allow them to become “agents of change” for principled, inclusive humanitarian and development action.

The project is situated in the thematic area of migration and builds on lessons learned from previously implemented projects such as a livelihood assistance project. Caritas Switzerland also currently implements a project where more than 6000 households receive direct cash assistance. Co-chairing the Damascus Cash Working Group, Caritas is well interconnected in the sector to provide relief assistance through cash grants in Syria.

Linking Caritas’ specific livelihoods, education in emergencies and cash assistance expertise allows for a promising approach to provide holistic support to most vulnerable populations. The project also mainstreams capacity building efforts for national implementing partners in line with Caritas Switzerland’s localisation commitments.