The AFS and the SRTF coordinate recovery efforts in Darayya, Rural Damascus

The Aid Fund for Syria (AFS) and the Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF) are pleased to announce the strategic and operational coordination of their respective projects in Darayya, Rural Damascus. While independently funded and implemented, both initiatives are aligned in location and timing to support a comprehensive, multi-sector, area-based approach aimed at strengthening community recovery and resilience.

As part of its intervention, the SRTF will rehabilitate essential public infrastructure, including an elevated water tank, a public park, surrounding roads, and associated facilities. In addition, the project will provide cash-for-work opportunities to support income generation and community engagement. These activities, with a total budget of approximately US$ 0.89 million, will directly benefit an estimated 80,000 individuals and contribute to improved access to clean water, recreational spaces, local mobility, and livelihood opportunities. The project primarily targets the WASH, Roads, Early Recovery and Livelihoods sectors.

Concurrently, AFS will fund the rehabilitation of Darayya National Hospital, including its emergency, surgical, X-ray, laboratory, and physiotherapy units, alongside the provision of new medical equipment. The project will also restore three water stations, repair damaged water and sewage networks, and install solar energy systems to secure reliable access to safe water for approximately 3,840 households. In addition, upgrades to roads, pavements, street lighting, and the hospital’s main entrance will improve accessibility and safety. With a total budget of around US$ 0.91 million, this integrated intervention spans the Health, WASH, Early Recovery and Livelihoods sectors, contributing to a cohesive area-based response that reinforces essential services and community recovery in Darayya.

This coordinated approach enables both funds to operate within the same geographic area while aligning project timelines, community outreach, and sectoral interventions. The aim is to reinforce the recovery process by addressing interconnected community needs more holistically and efficiently.

Commenting on this initiative, the Executive Director of AFS, Andrea Quaden, stated:

"Our collaboration in Darayya reflects the kind of principled, locally anchored response that Syria’s transition demands. By aligning interventions across sectors and working closely with local actors, we are restoring vital services in ways that strengthen civic trust, reinforce local systems, and help pave the way for inclusive and sustainable recovery".

The Director General of the SRTF, Hani Khabbaz, added:

"This strategic coordination in Darayya represents a milestone in our approach to post-conflict recovery. By aligning efforts under a multi-sectoral, area-based model, we can achieve more cost-effective and efficient support for the Syrian people. This initial phase demonstrates how thoughtful planning, and operational coordination can lay the foundation for scalable, high-impact interventions that help communities rebuild their lives with dignity and hope".