Five grant agreements worth over US$160,000 supporting non-governmental organizations to implement environmental projects on the community level in various governorates of Syria were signed at the United Nations Development Programme offices in Damascus on Monday, 19 September 2005.
Mr. Ali Al-Za'tari, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Syria and heads of the supported NGOs signed those agreements. The grants fall within the activities of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (SGP) that started its operation globally in 1992. The SGP is implemented by the UNDP and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services UNOPS to provide direct support to Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in developing countries towards achieving global environmental benefits while improving the livelihoods of local communities. Syria officially joined the SGP in late 2004 and launched the its national programme on 10th May 2005. The maximum SGP grant amount per project is US$50,000, but averages around US$20,000. Grants are channeled directly to CBOs and NGOs. The programme is managed by a National Coordinator and a National Steering Committee that consists of members representing the government (State Planning Commission and the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment), Syrian NGO sector, academia, private sector in addition to a number of experts.
In line with the above, a cluster of five projects will be implemented in four governorates that are Deir Ezour, Raqa, Swida and Damascus by five Syrian NGOs namely Volunteers for Environment in Deir Ezour, Fishers Association in Dalha/Raqa, Al-Wafa for People with Special Needs in Swida, Damascus Friends Association and, Fund for Integrated Rural Development Of Syria. The overall objective of these projects is the conservation of natural resources through generating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
In Deir Ezour, an Environmental Awareness Center on a segment of the Euphrates Bank will be established. It is anticipated that the benefits of this center will not be limited to locals in Deir Ezour but will include other communities in the Eastern Region. The center will be built using the traditional local architectural style and will consist of an environmental garden where indigenous and endangered plant species will be planted. The environmental garden will also include oxygen pumping unit to help increase Dissolved Oxygen concentrations in the Euphrates and will also include a demonstration site on using the solar energy in generating electricity, waste recycling unit and, handicraft production unit.
To the north in Raqa, Al-Dalha Lake which is a unique ecological system and a source of income for over fifty fishers suffers from illegal fishing practices and the over-reproduction of invasive plants. The project will revive the ecosystem through farming the lake with Grass Carp, Silver Carp and Common Carp. Project activities will also contribute to poverty alleviation through training and building the capacity of fishers while providing them with livelihoods alternatives during the fishing ban period.
To the south, biogas units will be established in order to treat animal wastes in a few farms in rural Swida. The project consists of two major components. The first component is the treatment of farming wastes which release ammonia, the negative impact of which is 12 folds as much as of that caused by CO2. Farming wastes are therefore known to their negative impacts on public health and the quality of farming products. The second component is the development of alternative sources of energy. The process of treating farming wastes will result in producing organic fertilizer as well as producing biogas as an alternative source of energy.
In Damascus, the SGP will support a project on water saving techniques using the solar energy in an environmental garden in Dummar. Project benefits will go beyond its technical objectives as it will be the manifestation of a constructive collaboration and partnership between the government and the community. The General Establishment of Water in Damascus and Damascus Friends Association will work hand in hand on establishing an environmental garden where drought resistant plants will be introduced along with water saving techniques that works on the solar energy. Project activities also include awareness campaigns for students, public and all other interested groups in water demand management tools and techniques including other local NGOs. The ultimate objective of the project is to advocate the inclusion of principles of water saving techniques into the government water resources management strategies with particular emphasis on residential areas.
Last but not least, the SGP will support the development of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development through collaborating with the Fund for Integrated Rural Development of Syria FIRDOS, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and the United Nations Environment Programme.
All above projects will include an element of environmental awareness raising for local communities. They will also include an element of capacity building of implementing NGOs, which will enable them to provide support to their local communities. Few of the above NGOs will use a revolving loan system in supporting their various activities so they can continue providing support to more activities that can serve their local communities