A new research report on Syrian women’s and men’s perspectives (2022–2025)

After more than a decade of conflict, Syrian women are carrying a double burden: sustaining their families economically while continuing to shoulder most care and domestic responsibilities. At the same time, prevailing social norms and security constraints still limit their presence in public, leadership and political spaces.

Against this backdrop, the Organisation for the Advancing Civil Society (GLOCA), in partnership with the Noor al-Hayat Charitable Association (NHCA), has produced a new research report: “Women’s Empowerment in Syria between Recovery and Development: A Comparative Study of Men’s and Women’s Views between 2022 and 2025.” The report offers an in-depth, field-based reading of how women and men understand empowerment, what barriers women face in practice, and which types of support they consider most effective.

About the study

The report adopts a mixed-methods approach that combines:

• A survey of 46 women and a parallel survey of 28 men in 2025,

• Two women’s dialogue sessions held in 2022 and 2025,

• A selective review of local and international literature on women’s empowerment in contexts of conflict and recovery.

Participants were drawn mainly from Aleppo, Idlib and other governorates, including both residents and returnees, with a predominance of urban and relatively educated groups engaged to varying degrees in civic or economic life. The findings do not claim to represent all Syrian women and men; rather, they provide indicative insights into the priorities and experiences of specific segments that are highly relevant for programme design.

The analysis is guided by the gender and development (GAD) approach and empowerment theory (resources–agency–achievements), and is read in light of international frameworks such as CEDAW, SDG 5 and the women, peace and security agenda.

What Syrian women and men told us

The data point to a clear gap between the private and public spheres. Many women report that they play an influential role in decision-making within the family, yet far fewer feel that their voices are heard in the local community or within political and representative structures.

Men, for their part, express broad initial support for women’s right to education, work and economic participation. However, this support drops noticeably when it comes to women assuming leadership or political roles and sharing power within institutions—revealing a pattern of “conditional acceptance” of empowerment.

Women and men converge in identifying a cluster of interlocking barriers:

• Social norms and traditions that restrict women’s public presence,

• Weak or ambivalent family support,

• Fear of stigma, criticism or even violence,

• Heavy unpaid care and household responsibilities.

Women also emphasise psychological barriers, particularly low self-confidence and the difficulty of moving from a “family role” to a visible public or political role.

Across the responses, economic empowerment emerges as a top priority for women. They place particular emphasis on:

• Microfinance for small projects,

• Specialised vocational training,

• Accessible and affordable childcare,

• Legal and marketing support for their work and products.

At the same time, women face practical constraints such as limited finance, difficulties in mobility (especially in distant or insecure areas), family opposition, and weak demand for their products.

A difference in priority-setting also appears: women tend to view empowerment as an integrated package—finance, training, supportive services and participation in public life—whereas many men focus first on awareness-raising and training, and only then on finance.

The comparison between 2022 and 2025 suggests a gradual shift: growing awareness among women of the importance of leadership roles and participation in public affairs, and increasing reliance on digital platforms for expression and influence. Yet these openings come with persistent risks of online targeting and reputational attacks.

From findings to programming

Based on these insights, the report proposes a multi-level intervention approach that donors and partners can build on, working in parallel at the levels of:

• Individual:

  Capacity-building for women in life skills, leadership, negotiation and entrepreneurship; joint training for women and men on equality and shared roles; psychosocial support and peer support groups to strengthen confidence and public voice.

• Family:

  Dialogue and awareness sessions for couples and families on how women’s participation can support family stability and wellbeing; supportive services such as community nurseries linked to training and employment centres; and safe, affordable transport options for women.

• Community:

  Establishing or supporting gender-responsive community centres; funding women-led or mixed initiatives in social cohesion, peacebuilding and local economic empowerment; and implementing media and community campaigns to dismantle stereotypes and highlight success stories, including through digital platforms.

• Institutions and legislation:

  Supporting civil society organisations to mainstream a gender perspective across their planning, programming and monitoring cycles; adopting gender-sensitive internal policies; strengthening networks and coalitions concerned with women’s rights; and backing initiatives to review legislation related to work, property and political participation, as well as local policy dialogues to enhance women’s representation and facilitate their economic ventures.

Why this matters for donors and partners

The report confirms that women’s empowerment in Syria is not a “side issue” but a structural requirement for any serious pathway towards recovery, development and sustainable peace. Women are already carrying much of the social and economic burden; the question is whether programmes, policies and funding streams will recognise this reality and translate it into concrete, multi-level support.

By linking field-based evidence with practical funding pathways, this research aims to serve as a programming tool for donors and implementing partners. It invites them to:

• Invest in integrated interventions rather than isolated training activities,

• Treat microfinance and childcare as core components, not add-ons,

• Engage men and young people as partners in change,

• Harness digital platforms for safe and meaningful women’s participation,

• Prioritise the most affected areas and female-headed households.

The full report, “Women’s Empowerment in Syria between Recovery and Development”, provides detailed data, analysis and entry points for designing medium- and long-term programmes that translate international commitments into context-sensitive interventions aligned with Syrian women’s and men’s expressed priorities.