National Agenda for the Future of Syria Programme

In 2012, as part of its mandate to promote human development and a democratic transition in the region, ESCWA developed the National Agenda for the Future of Syria (NAFS), which established a platform for technical dialogue for Syrian experts from different backgrounds to discuss reconciliation and peacebuilding in post-conflict Syria.

With the combined work of the NAFS team, Syrian experts and stakeholders, international stakeholders, and the NAFS network of partners, the programme analysed the root causes of the conflict and developed policy choices for the future of the country, while reflecting the voices of as many Syrians as possible.

NAFS believes that the path to sustainable peace must be inclusive and participatory, and that governing Syria is solely the right of its people, which is why the process of formulating scenarios is participatory and diversified.

To understand the complex nature of the conflict, NAFS addresses the most significant social, economic and governance factors that led to the conflict. Its system-based approach was designed to consider the complexity of the conflict, and to reflect its guiding principles in the policy options suggested to tackle the challenges in post-conflict Syria.

Our approach

To better capture the interlinkages and interdependencies, and go beyond a sector-by-sector approach, NAFS developed a nexus-based approach inspired by the 2030 Agenda. The nine nexuses have been tailored to meet the requirements of the conflict, and sequenced according to key priorities for the peacebuilding and State-building phases. The nexuses reflect the direct link between peace and security, on the one hand, and economic and social development, on the other. This approach has allowed NAFS to design different policy options in a chronological yet overlapping order.

Our partners

Carnegie Corporation of New York, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Center of International Cooperation, The Carter Center, University of St. Andrews, Emergency Academic Support – Global Platform for Syrian Students, Universidade do Minho, Universita IUAV di Venezia, British Council, HiiL, IDEA, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Our activities

We produce publications, policy briefs, newsletters, and video messages.

We also bring together Syrians from all over Syria and from different walks of life to engage in its Syrian-Syrian technical dialogue events.