We are pleased to announce the commencement of a new project – an impact evaluation of the ‘Building Local Resilience in Syria (BLRS)’ project, funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the Syria Resilience Initiative (SRI). Syria continues to grapple with a multitude of socio-economic, climatic, and security challenges after 12 years of crisis, necessitating a concerted effort to enhance the resilience of vulnerable households.
The BLRS project, spanning three areas of governance in Syria, aims to empower 88,907 households through a diverse range of interventions. These include support for agricultural value chains and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), economic inclusion, and a pilot program addressing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The overarching goal is to bolster the ability of these households to withstand shocks and reduce their humanitarian needs.
To gauge the project’s short-term impact and effectiveness, FCDO has enlisted the expertise of ISDC to conduct a rigorous impact assessment for Year 2 activities from April 2023 to March 2024. The evaluation will employ experimental and quasi-experimental approaches, comparing beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, and will encompass data collection on livelihoods, food security, welfare, resilience, women’s empowerment, and gender-based violence.
This comprehensive three-phase study will provide valuable insights into the outcomes of this vital initiative, helping to inform future efforts to support vulnerable populations in Syria.
