Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025

This International Women’s Day, the Aid Fund for Syria (AFS) recognises the vital role that women have to play in Syria’s future. The inclusion and participation of women and girls will be crucial to the unlocking economic prosperity, social cohesion, and political inclusivity essential to Syria’s transition. AFS reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that all Syrian women’s perspectives and aspirations–in all their diversity–are heard and integrated into our work. AFS is proud to have supported 2 million women and girls since establishment of the fund in 2022 - these include Baraa and Khadija, whose stories we share below.

We continuously strive to ensure that gender sensitivity remains a core consideration in every aspect of the Fund and its work, including our governance, programming, and strategic vision. As part of our support to partners, AFS provides tailored GESI organisational guidelines to each partner with practical recommendations on how they can promote GESI within their operations. Peer-to-peer sessions are also held with partners to share knowledge on initiatives and best practices. Most recently under Regular Allocation 3, AFS has also instituted a mandatory Gender Action Plan for each project, which all partners must report against. As we move forward into the next strategic phase of AFS, we will continue to improve, enhance, and refine our GESI approaches, in close partnership with our communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Strengthening women’s inclusion through childcare support

In March 2024, Syrian NGO SARD used part of their US$ 1,393,650 grant from AFS under the Second Regular Allocation (RA2) to launch a cash-for-work programme for vulnerable individuals, including women and Persons with Disabilities. Recognising that many women, who often bear the sole responsibility for childcare, would not be able to participate in the programming due to the need to take care of the children, SARD provided free childcare for 18 women, to join the project.

One woman who benefitted from the programme was Baraa from Killi in Idleb. As a mother of four, including a child with a medical condition and the primary breadwinner in her household, she struggled to secure a stable income to cover medical expenses amid rising costs and limited job opportunities, particularly for women.

While Baraa’s three children attended the daycare centre where they received developmental support and a safe place to play, Baraa was able to join the cash-for-work initiative where she was responsible for cleaning and maintaining markets and schools. Her US$ 150 monthly income helped her cover her child’s medication and support household expenses. “With my children in safe care, receiving educational support and recreational activities, I could finally focus on work without worry. It made my job easier and gave me peace of mind”, Baraa notes.

Supporting women’s livelihoods in Idleb: Khadouj’s story

Khadouj is a farmer and the primary breadwinner for her three sons and two daughters, following the death of her husband eight years ago.

The Fund awarded a US$ 954,000 grant to the Syrian NGO ONSUR under its first Regular Allocation to support an innovative project that supported wheat farmers, flour millers, and bakeries, across the wheat value chain to provide bread to IDPs in Idleb, with a focus on female farmers and businesses. The design of the project considered the gendered dynamics of economic insecurity and included women-headed households, divorcees, and survivors of gender-based violence amongst its beneficiaries.

Khadouj was one of 153 women from whom ONSUR purchased wheat for onward distribution to flour millers and bakers. Khadouj used the US$ 405 she earned from selling one ton of wheat to meet immediate expenses and invest in essential materials for the next harvest. “I am deeply grateful for this project. It has allowed us to return to cultivating our land,” Khadouj notes.

ONSUR then distributed bread, made from wheat harvested by Khadouj and others to 35,492 beneficiaries in IDP camps, 17,524 (or 49%) of whom were women and girls.

Empowering Women-Led Organisations to address gender-based violence

As part the Fund’s first Regular Allocation, AFS issued at US$ 500,000 grant to the Syrian NGO Women Support Association (WSA) to address gender-based violence (GBV) in Idleb, which disproportionally affects women and girls.

Using the grant funding, WSA was able to operate a Women and Girls Safe Space in Hazano, Idleb. The space offers training and support to GBV survivors, including psychosocial and financial support, protection services, and livelihoods opportunities. The space also raises awareness of GBV and other key issues through community-level awareness sessions targeting girls, boys, men and women.

As part of the project, WSA also supported 10 Women-Led Organisations operating in greater Idleb, including rural areas, by training them to combat GBV in their local communities. WSA’s team provided practical coaching on how case management, prevention and response activities, advocacy campaigns, and safety audits and worked with the WLO to create a joint plan of action on tackling GBV.