SCNP and We Exist!
Fragmented advocacy and communication between rights-based Syrian organizations can dilute the reach of civil society messages on the global stage. To address this, IMPACT initiated the We Exist! Advocacy Alliance which became a member and host of the Syrian Civil Society Networks Platform (SCNP). The SCNP serves as a coordination space for nine network members, allowing them to join forces in pursuit of greater attention from international stakeholders.
The SCNP was established in 2017 as a means of bridging the gap between diaspora-based civil society initiatives and their counterparts within Syria. Grounded in its mission of facilitating cooperation, the SCNP serves as a cross-country, cross-sector, and cross-network platform allowing initiatives to retain their autonomy while formulating a unified and coherent, rights-based Syrian message in international forums. This approach ensures that Syrian voices remain central to discussions about the political future of their homeland, by building dialogue between internal and external stakeholders.
The platform’s mission is grounded in four core thematic priorities:
- Addressing the humanitarian situation inside Syria
- Advocating for the rights of refugees
- Pursuing justice and accountability
- Shaping the future of Syria.
Three strategic pillars help to implement these priorities:
The SCNP web is remarkably diverse, comprising nine networks that include 127 organizations across Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Key member networks include the American Relief Coalition for Syria (ARCS), the Syrian NGO Alliance (SNA) (Turkey), and the Union of German-Syrian Organizations (VDSH). By leveraging a broad geographic reach and a range of expertise the platform substantially reshaped Syrian civil society by transforming dispersed individual efforts into strategic collective engagement. SCNP provided a common space for member networks to identify shared advocacy priorities, develop aligned messages, and engage relevant stakeholders with a stronger and more unified message. The collective efforts yielded greater international engagement through Brussels Conferences on the future of Syria and the region, UN- Human Rights Council initiatives, and advocacy tours involving international actors and policy-makers. The platform also supported the development of joint-position statements, allowing civil society actors to consolidate messaging about major issues affecting Syrians. The development of institutionally recognized perspectives on humanitarian access, refugee rights, accountability, justice, and future Syrian public policy served to strengthen the visibility, credibility, and influence of Syrian civil society. These efforts revealed that coordinated public positioning holds greater strategic weight than fragmented individual initiatives.
A prominent part of this ecosystem is the We Exist! (WE) network, a Syrian-led alliance dedicated to challenging dominant narratives of the Syrian conflict. While SCNP focuses on broad cross-sector coordination, We Exist! specifically targets the marginalization of Syrian voices by crafting international narratives based on the direct expertise of its 18 member organizations. Hosted by IMPACT for financial and logistical support, the alliance advocates for a democratic and inclusive Syria while promoting the values of rule of law and accountability. Its achievements include the creation of a strategic database of European opinion leaders and coordinated interventions promoting civic participation at international conferences discussing the future of Syria.
As international interest in the Syrian conflict begins to wane, these platforms shift their focus to sustainability and strategic resilience. IMPACT and its network partners are currently engaged in scenario planning to address the reduction in international funding by exploring self-funding models, including membership fees and crowdfunding. Future goals also include horizontal expansion into other conflict contexts similar to Syria, facilitating cross-country coordination and support.
IMPACT’s aim was empowering these alliances to challenge dominant narratives and promote an inclusive, democratic future for Syria, IMPACT hosting went beyond mere administrative and logistical support, by offering connections, research capacity and most importantly the UN ECOSOC consultative status that allows IMPACT and partners to access UN venues and interact with its agencies directly.
Future work aims to expand regional networks and bolster influence on European foreign policy.
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