Enab Baladi – Zeinab Dawwa
Miriam Collaris, the regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), stated that a delegation from the association observed significant destruction during its visit to Syria, adding that it is too early to determine exactly what can be done at this time.
Collaris mentioned to Enab Baladi that the association gathered a lot of information about the needs on the ground to convey it back to the Netherlands for sharing at higher levels there.
This came during a discussion session organized by the international cooperation agency of the Dutch Municipalities Association on April 15, at the headquarters of the Madaniya organization in Damascus, which included 28 representatives from local organizations and teams. They discussed the reality of services and needs in Syria.
The association operates in 40 countries worldwide, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, and is active in various issues related to local governance and the provision of basic services, such as water management, waste management, and citizen engagement. However, this actually depends on what they see as needs on the ground, according to Collaris.
She emphasized that there are many organizations and good individuals who can do a lot in Syria.
Discussion session
During the discussion session, attendees conveyed the poor service situation in Syria and shared their experiences in empowering communities and prioritizing affected areas. They called for the activation of the constitution, achieving transitional justice, and raising their voice to the international community to lift sanctions on Syria, empower women, and improve services that have deteriorated due to the 14-year-long war.
Iman Ballan, a representative of the We Got This association (a civil society organization active in As-Suwayda, southern Syria) participating in the session, told Enab Baladi that the meeting was an opportunity to connect with Syrians from other provinces to discuss needs and activate the role of civil society in advocating for community needs alongside local councils and the government.
Ballan mentioned that she conveyed the experience of civil society in the southern region, affirming that Syrian organizations have the expertise and capacity to work and build a new Syria.
For her part, Linda Osman, the programs director at Adalaty organization, a lawyer residing in the Netherlands, stated that the goal of the meeting with the Association of Dutch Municipalities is to provide assistance in building services in the new Syria. She emphasized that the Adalaty organization is concerned with women’s issues and the necessity for them to assume leadership and effective roles in building modern Syria.
Salah al-Din Flayoun, the programs director at the Souriyat Across Borders organization, spoke about the “painful reality” in Syria regarding the continued US sanctions on the country.
He noted that Souriyat Across Borders is active in the area of emergency response to the humanitarian crisis to secure the basic needs of Syrian refugees, emphasizing the importance of communication and enhancing spaces for dialogue at this time.
Friendship between Dutch and Syrian municipalities
During the session, the idea of a friendship between municipalities in Syrian regions and cities and their Dutch counterparts was proposed to enhance cooperation and share culture as well as organizational and administrative models. This, said Flayoun, would activate global communication with the outside world.
The Association of Dutch Municipalities provides expertise in strengthening democratic local governments in developing and transitional countries, and has deep roots in local governance, in addition to managing large projects for major donors like the World Bank and the European Union.
The association benefits from a global network of partnerships and practical approaches that empower local actors, focusing on capacity building, including the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to ensure sustainable improvements for local communities.
Association of Dutch Municipalities explores job opportunities in Syria Enab Baladi.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Association of Dutch Municipalities explores job opportunities in Syria )
Also on site :
- Women Who Become Lonelier as They Get Older Usually Display These 6 Subtle Behaviors, Psychologists Say
- Fewer parties, less glam as DC readies for 'weird' Trump 2.0 Correspondents' dinner
- Neusoft Launches Three Product Portfolios for AI-Powered Intelligent Mobility at Auto Shanghai 2025