The conflict that erupted in Syria in 2011 has resulted in what is now the largest refugee crisis in the world. More than 5.6 million Syrian refugees are registered in neighbouring countries, primarily Turkey (3 million), Lebanon (1 million), Jordan (650,000), and Iraq (250,000). Aside from being a humanitarian disaster, the refugee crisis puts heavy weight on the communities in which refugees reside. From service delivery to housing, infrastructure, waste management or local economies, the mass influx of refugees presents many challenges to communities. Local or subnational governments are often the actors responsible for responding to these challenges. This is why MASAR for Local Governments seeks to strengthen the long-term resilience of subnational governments and their host, refugee and IDP populations to deal with displacement. Financed by the EU’s Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (“MADAD”), the project targets those areas most heavily affected by the Syrian refugee crisis. By focusing on improving service delivery, area-based planning and facilitating better access to municipal investment, the project seeks to help local and subnational governments develop sustainable long-term solutions to the challenges they face.
MASAR for Local Governments consists of two relatively autonomous programmes in Lebanon (Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel, and the coastal plain north of Tripoli) and Iraq (Dohuk in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the Ninewah plain in Federal Iraq), each with their own specific activities. Amongst others, activities focus on the development of emergency scenarios, strategic planning, capacity development in the areas of procurement and service delivery, technical assistance to help local governments attract municipal investment projects, as well as other activities focused on improving service delivery and creating economic opportunities for host, refugee and IDP populations.