FAO in the Syrian Arab Republic is closely aligned with the main national strategic plans, the United Nations (UN) Strategic Framework and the FAO Strategic Framework. Interventions are prioritized in close consultation with national authorities, development partners and other stakeholders, to achieve:

• Supporting local smallholders to produce crops and breed livestock with production kits and training on good agriculture practices.
• Restoring and sustaining the use of natural resources through rehabilitation of damaged water infrastructure and adaptation of innovative techniques.
• Restoring, enhancing or establishing sustainable agriculture-related livelihood opportunities through development of diverse food and agriculture-related micro-enterprises in rural areas

FAO’s early recovery and resilience strategy 2024-2027

FAO relies on four fundamental strategies to design its projects and programmes that would strengthening the resilience of vulnerable farming families in need for solutions towards better access to sustainable food production activities and livelihoods.

Natural resources assessment: to understand the situation of available resources in an area and methods of improvement by either proposing constructional rehabilitation works, or support decision makers with accurate information and studies, or involve local communities to manage their resources by enhancing their skills with capacity building sessions.

Markets assessment: to identify the food production value chain’s challenges– including farmers, processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and consumers – from contributing to sustainable food systems. They can highlight opportunities for enhancing livelihoods, increasing employment prospects, and improving environmental protection.

Community Consultation: building two-way relations/discussions with stakeholders and local communities to deeply involve into the challenges, needs and ideas exchange. This strategy contributes to develop beneficial interventions that meet the community’s expectations towards improvement of food production and living situation.   

Context Analysis: Understand the pressing inter-linked challenges that impacts the agricultural sector.

Emergency and Resilience 2026-2028

The Emergency and Resilience Plan (ERP) 2026–2028 outlines an integrated and adaptive programme to support crisis-affected populations in the Syrian Arab Republic. Grounded in the humanitarian– development–peace nexus and building on the strong presence of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the country, the ERP links time-critical agricultural recovery with longer‑term, climate‑resilient livelihoods. It draws on lessons learned from early recovery programmes and proven models to strengthen social cohesion, reduce aid dependency and contribute to stability and peace.

The ERP’s four outcomes aim to rapidly restore food production and safeguard essential assets while laying the foundations for inclusive agrifood system rehabilitation.

Outcome 1: Evidence and coordination

Timely, quality evidence and analysis to inform policy makers and design programmes and projects based on evidence.

Outcome 2: Emergency Agricultural Support

Rapid improvements in food security and nutrition through emergency agricultural interventions.

Outcome 3: Livelihood Resilience

Strengthened resilience and incomes for smallholders, including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities, with particular focus on women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Outcome 4: Agrifood Systems Recovery

Putting foundations for inclusive, sustainable and climate‐resilient farming systems.