Founded in 2013, the Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF) is a multi-donor financing mechanism that channels grant funding from the international community into projects that meet the priority needs of Syrians. The SRTF is composed of 14 international donors, including the United States, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. Contributions to the SRTF enable it to finance and implement recovery and stabilization programming across four governorates in Northern Syria in critical sectors. The U.S., through USAID, is the second largest donor to the SRTF, having contributed $70 million since its inception.
Goals
Investing in Syria's Agriculture and Livelihoods
Economic crisis and extreme weather conditions affecting critical agriculture have been a primary driver of instability in Syria over the past several years. The availability of livelihoods is a key concern of displaced people – including Syrians returning from al-Hol camp – and a primary issue in communities across the area, which ISIS seeks to exploit. More than 60 percent of SRTF active investments are in food security, agriculture and livelihoods, resulting in economic opportunities and household well-being.
Improving Syrians' Access to Essential Services
Prolonged conflict and natural disasters, such as February’s deadly earthquakes, have decimated infrastructure across Syria, leaving millions without safe drinking water, electricity, shelter, waste management and health care. The SRTF works at all levels: small scale, such as household repair kits; medium scale, such as solar powered water stations and networks; and large scale, such as integrated electrical grid repair.
Rehabilitating Syrian Health Care
Most Syrians have very limited access to healthcare resulting in increased vulnerability to communicable and non-communicable diseases. SRTF’s health projects range from rehabilitation of health infrastructure to the supply of medicines and medical consumables, training of healthcare professionals, and provision of primary and specialized care.
Key Results
Funded and implemented 110 recovery projects and stabilization interventions in key sectors, benefiting the lives of around 14 million individuals.
Food Security
Strengthened the bread production cycle, ensuring that high-quality bread is available at affordable prices
Agriculture
Since 2018, the SRTF has provided essential inputs for wheat production, such as seeds, fertilizer, and machinery, to more than 43 agricultural cooperatives throughout northeast Syria. This $40 million investment has yielded over 250,000 MT of wheat valued at over $100 million, resulting in a 250% return.
Health
Established, equipped, and strengthened a number of hospitals, primary health care facilities, mobile clinics, laboratories, ambulances, and COVID-19 specialized hospitals.
Access to Finance
Establishing the first revolving credit fund, Siraj Financial Services, for northeast Syria and northern Aleppo, lending to over 3,700 small and medium-sized enterprises and farmer borrowers starting and/or expanding operations.
Electricity
To restore and improve access to electricity, the SRTF has rehabilitated power transforming centers and voltage networks, installed solar power generation units, as well as provided necessary training.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Rehabilitated pumping stations to facilitate easier access to potable water and irrigation. SRTF is also rehabilitating transformers and solid waste removal infrastructure to meet Syrian’s basic needs.
