Civic spaces in Northeastern and Northwestern Syria remain fragile, with ongoing security restrictions and rising regulatory barriers threatening the autonomy of local actors. Launched in 2021 as a 4 year program, the Empowered Civil Society as Resilient Ambassadors project aimed to reclaim civic space by supporting 32 nascent organizations. With an emphasis on fostering partnerships between actors in Northeastern and Northwestern Syria, regions that have long been divided by conflict and opposing ideological structures, the program aimed to equip local actors with the tools required for collective human rights and social cohesion advocacy. Sustainable advocacy requires participation from a broad spectrum of Syrian actors both within the country and in the greater diaspora.
The initiative provided training, coaching, and small grants to help groups monitor and counter physical and digital security threats. A cornerstone of the program’s success was the establishment of a Peer Support Platform designed to foster a circle of collaboration and individual wellbeing among activists working in high-risk environments.
Partners and Donors
This project was funded by the U.S. Department of State (DRL) and implemented by a consortium that included IMPACT, Baytna, and 11.11.11. It has successfully enabled grassroots initiatives to launch advocacy campaigns that alert international policymakers to human rights concerns in hard-to-reach areas.
