Overview
On 9 September 2025, Advancing Civil Society - GLOCA participated in a physical consultation meeting in Damascus organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on governance, rule of law, and peacebuilding in Syria. GLOCA was represented by Wasim Alhaj, with the participation of 30 representatives from civil society and relevant stakeholders.

Activity Focus
The consultation provided a space for dialogue between UNDP and Syrian civil society organizations on the current challenges and opportunities facing civic actors in Syria. It also explored how civil society can contribute to governance, rule of law, institutional recovery, and peacebuilding during the current phase.

Key Themes

• UNDP’s mandate and programmatic priorities in Syria.

• The current reality of civil society in Syria, including challenges and opportunities.

• The role of civil society organizations in governance, rule of law, and peacebuilding.

• Proposals to support the civil sector in the current context.

• Institutional capacity building, coordination, and long-term partnership with international actors.

Key Outputs
The meeting enabled civil society representatives to exchange perspectives on the needs of the sector and propose practical ideas for future support. GLOCA contributed to the discussion by reflecting local civil society priorities and emphasizing the importance of sustained institutional support, inclusive policy dialogue, and stronger coordination between local organizations and international partners.

Impact
GLOCA’s participation helped convey local civil society perspectives to an international platform and reinforced the importance of recognizing civil society as a core partner in governance, rule of law, and sustainable peacebuilding in Syria.

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