From 1 to 3 December 2025, Syrian civil society actors and the international humanitarian aid organisation Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe were hosting the first Syrian Humanitarian Action & Recovery Conference in Damascus by the Syrian civil society.
For the first time, leading actors from Syrian civil society came together with local and international stakeholders to discuss challenges and solutions in the field of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Syria. The program for the three days of the conference and the results and demands from the conference are attached.
When: 1-3 December 2025
Where: Damascus, Syria
December 1: Opening, High-Level Kick-Off & Reception
11:00 p.m.: Registration & Morning Coffee
12:00 p.m.: Welcome & Housekeeping Rules
- Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
12:10 p.m.: Opening Remarks
- Bahjat Hajjar, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor of the Syrian Arab Republic
- Reem Alabali Radovan, German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (Video message)
- Saria Akkad, Coordinator, Syrian NGO Alliance
- Mirna Abboud, Country Director Syria, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
12:45 p.m.: Joint Lunch & Networking
2:00 p.m.: Opening Panel: Challenges & Expectations of Syrian NGOs / Presentation of pre-conference survey results
- Moderator: Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
- Eman Ismal abu Muhm’d, MENA Regional Engagement Coordinator, ICVA
- Haitham Saltaji, Board Member, Union of Charitable Associations in Damascus & Rural Damascus (UOCA)
- Marwa Ehlamed, Interim Deputy Director, Syria NGO Forum
- Ronaz Al Ali, Platform Coordinator, NES NGO Platform
3:30 p.m.: Coffee break
4:00 p.m.: High-Level Panel: Role of civil society for humanitarian action and recovery in Syria
- Anna Stege, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy in Damascus (TBC)
- Bahjat Hajjar, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor of the Syrian Arab Republic
- Saad Baroud, Director of International Organisations and Conferences Department, Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Tareq Alikhwan, Board Member, Syria NGO Forum
5:30p.m.: Concluding Remarks & Outlook
- Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
5:45 p.m.: Reception & Networking
December 2: Workshop Day for Syrian humanitarian & recovery actors
09:30 a.m.: Welcome & Kick-Off for Workshops
- Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
- Workshop Room Facilitators
10:00 a.m.: 1st round of workshops in 4 parallel rooms
11:30 a.m.: Coffee break
12:00 a.m.: 2nd round of workshops in 4 parallel rooms
1:30 p.m.: Joint lunch & Networking
3:00 p.m.: 3rd round of workshops in 4 parallel rooms
4:30 p.m.: Coffee break
5:00 p.m.: Wrap-Up of workshop results
- Workshop Room Facilitators
6:00 p.m.: Concluding Remarks & Outlook
- Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
December 3 (Media Day): Conclusion, Joint Communiqué and Handover of Recommendations
09:30 a.m.: Welcome & Re-Cap & Interactive Participant Feedback
- Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
10:00 a.m.: Civil Society Keynote Speech
- Dr. Hassan Maghrebia, Chair of Steering Committee, Syrian Networks League
10:15 a.m.: Presentation of Joint Communiqué
10:45 a.m.: Handover of Recommendations to Political Decision Makers
- Moderator: Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
- Saad Baroud, Director of International Organisations and Conferences Department, Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Bahjat Hajjar, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor of the Syrian Arab Republic
- Anna Stege, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy in Damascus
11:15 a.m.: Closing Remarks
- Zedoun Alzoubi, Conference Moderator
- Mirna Abboud, Country Director Syria, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
11:30 a.m.: Coffee Break & Press Interviews
- Open Exchange between Civil Society and Political Decision Makers
- Press Interviews
1:00 p.m.: Joint Lunch & Networking
