Overview
On 3 February 2026, Advancing Civil Society - GLOCA held a physical focus group discussion in Aleppo titled “Community Challenges, Governance, and the Role of Civil Society in Strengthening Community Safety in Syria,” in cooperation with Sarkhat Watan Initiative. The session was delivered and facilitated by Wasim Alhaj, with the participation of 15 local actors and community representatives.

Session Focus
The session opened a space for critical and constructive dialogue on community challenges, governance practices, decision-making processes, and their impact on community safety in Syria. It also explored the role of civil society as a stabilizing actor that can support reform, accountability, and social cohesion.

Key Themes

• Community challenges in the Syrian context and their impact on community safety.

• Good governance, decision-making mechanisms, and public trust.

• Public frustration toward unilateral or poorly studied decisions.

• The role of civil society as a “safety valve” for social stability.

• Weak legal consultation mechanisms and their impact on decision quality.

• Freedom of expression, civic participation, and reform-oriented initiatives.

• Community dialogue as a tool for understanding challenges and building shared solutions.

Key Outputs
The session documented key concerns related to governance, weak consultation mechanisms, and the social impact of administrative decisions. It also highlighted civil society’s role in promoting stability, encouraging reform-oriented thinking, and creating safe spaces for dialogue on sensitive public issues.

Impact
The discussion reinforced the importance of civic dialogue in addressing governance-related challenges and transforming public frustration into constructive participation. It also emphasized the need to link dialogue outcomes with practical recommendations, policy papers, and future civic initiatives.

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