The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Civil Society Organizations Working Group convened a workshop on Thursday in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, with the participation of 39 Syrian civil society organizations. The aim was to explore avenues for cooperation, coordination, and the development of a joint action plan for the advancement of northern Syria.
Titled “The Joint National Plan to Develop Northern Syria – Integration of Roles,” the workshop focused on discussing the necessary regulations to control relationships, integration requirements, and the assessment of geographical sectors in terms of influence and humanitarian competence. Additionally, discussions centered on local resources and strategies to address shortcomings.
The workshop yielded several recommendations across six sectors: governance, economic empowerment, infrastructure and housing, education, health, and the rule of law. It was agreed that each workshop table would be represented by a colleague tasked with facilitating communication between the six sectors and the SOC. Moreover, these representatives would prepare a report serving as the foundation of the forthcoming national plan.
Firas al-Masri, a member of the SOC and the Civil Society Organizations Working Group, highlighted the constructive and significant nature of the discussions across various sectors. He emphasized the importance of following up on the workshop’s recommendations to formulate and finalize them as the basis for cooperation to advance northern Syria.
The SOC previously held the inaugural coordination meeting of the Working Group in Gaziantep on December 13, 2023. SOC’s President Hadi Al-Bahra stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive national plan with the collective contribution of institutions, organizations, associations, and individuals possessing expertise, in an organized manner, to achieve tangible progress.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
