Damascus / Syria - 24 October 2021, UN-HABITAT, UNDP and FAO in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment will launch the Adaptation Fund project titled “Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions”. The Project will be launched through the inception workshop in the Eastern Ghouta in presence of the Minister of Local Administration and Environment, representatives of concerned ministries, representatives of concerned municipalities and Heads of UN Agencies.

The launch of the project addresses climate change as a dire challenge in the Syrian Arab Republic that is manifested in various climatic phenomena varied across different regions, but generally alarming are the increasing temperatures and droughts, already in the short term, and projected reduction of precipitation, mainly on the long term.

Therefore, the Adaptation Fund project will enhance the adaptive capacities of the population in Syria to climate change. The 3.5-years project targets Eastern Ghouta as one of the most populated agricultural areas in Syria and vulnerable to climate change and water scarcity.

Targeting the municipalities of Al Mleiha, Zebdine, Deir El Assafir and Marj El sultan in Rural Damascus, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of national and sub-national government institutions and communities to assess, plan and manage climate change-induced and post-crises water and land challenges in an efficient, sustainable and climate resilient way.

A water supply system that is resilient to climate change will also be established with an improved wastewater treatment since untreated wastewater is currently polluting water resources, irrigation channels, and soil. In addition, this system will be supported using highly efficient irrigation technologies, while promoting drought-tolerant crops and trees, introducing climate smart agriculture practices and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Adaptation Fund project will also foster an integrated natural resource management approach to present solutions for enhancing resilience to water scarcity (reduce water losses and contamination, improve water use efficiency meet the increased demand of water for irrigation, and protecting water and lands from pollution).

The Adaptation Fund was established to finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries that are parties to the Kyoto Protocol and are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

The United Nations is calling on people everywhere to work together to solve climate challenges and realize the commitments of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

For more information, please contact

Tamara Tamzok, UN-HABITAT Syria, Adaptation Fund Project Manager +963 940 077 765  tamara.tamzok@un.org

Tayma Mourad, UN-HABITAT Syria, Communication Assistant +963 965 044 536  taimaa.mourad@un.org

Salma Hakki, FAO Syria, Communication Officer, +963 958-002-536 salma.hakki@fao.org

Giacomo Negrotto, UNDP Syria, Partnership Development Officer, +963 99 33 38 908 giacomo.negrotto@undp.org