Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates hosted a workshop with the UN Country Team to strengthen cooperation on sustainable development planning for 2027 to 2030. Held at the Semiramis Hotel in Damascus, the meeting brought together government officials, donor countries, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations and the minister of emergency and disaster management.
Discussions focused on shaping the next cooperation framework between Syria and the UN, with an emphasis on long-term recovery and development. Officials said the effort builds on a Joint Steering Committee meeting held Feb. 15 as both sides prepare the next phase of sustainable development coordination.
Return of Displaced Syrians at the Center
Muhammad Bathish, head of the UN cooperation section in the ministry’s international cooperation department, said Syria has entered a new phase in which supporting the return of displaced citizens has become a central priority. He said the focus now is on helping Syrians return to their homes and ensuring decent living conditions.
Bathish cited President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Syria Without Camps initiative as a key part of that strategy. According to Bathish, the initiative aims to support the safe and voluntary return of displaced people from camps to their communities, while linking humanitarian relief efforts to broader recovery goals.
Government Emphasizes State-Led Recovery
Bathish said international assistance should serve as support for rebuilding the economy, infrastructure and public services rather than replacing the state’s sovereign responsibilities. He added that the government’s role at this stage is to establish the foundations for reconstruction based on efficiency, justice and self-reliance.
He also stressed the need for a governance framework that keeps international interventions aligned with national priorities and strengthens public institutions. That message underscored the government’s effort to present recovery as a state-led process, even as international partnerships remain central to financing and technical support.
UN Backs Shift From Relief to Development
Nathalie Fustier, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Syria, described the workshop as a key pillar in building the 2027-2030 cooperation framework. She said she hopes the next phase will help tell “a new story” for Syria centered on opportunity and measurable progress.
Fustier added the Syria Without Camps vision could become the immediate priority because it supports a transition from humanitarian assistance to recovery and eventually sustainable development. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said national priorities shifted sharply after years dominated by humanitarian response.
He said the government now aims to move decisively toward development and sustainability, with a goal of achieving a Syria without camps after 2027. Saleh said the plan aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and could help create conditions for the return of displaced Syrians and refugees from neighboring countries.
