In September 2025, SPARK conducted a scoping mission to Damascus to explore both the scale of Syria’s challenges and the untapped opportunities for economic recovery. During the mission, we spoke with entrepreneurs, business-support organisations, ministries, investors, UN agencies, donors, INGOs, and local NGOs. Stakeholders consistently highlighted one key insight: economic empowerment, especially for young Syrians, is not a luxury to be deferred until after political stability — it is the pathway toward it.

The following 10 recommendations outline how the international community can support Syria’s recovery by empowering its people and strengthening local economic systems.

1. Invest now, not later

Delaying engagement until “the country stabilises” risks deepening fragility. Supporting youth, entrepreneurs, and SMEs now will create jobs, reduce tensions, and help rebuild trust in local institutions. Failing to do so only increases the incentive for instability and outward migration. Syria’s economy is in freefall: in 2024, 85% of households were unable to meet basic needs, while the Syrian pound lost half its value, driving inflation and worsening unemployment (UN Syria, 2024). Immediate support for small businesses, vocational training, and youth-led initiatives is essential to lay the foundation for sustainable economic recovery.

2. Safeguard Syrian jobs

Foreign investment is needed, but it must benefit Syrians directly. Advocate for legislation that ensures outside investors employ and train local staff, so profits translate into stronger domestic capacity in addition to external gain. Prioritising local employment and skills development is crucial to transform investments into tangible economic empowerment and sustainable recovery, particularly given the high unemployment rate, which stood at 21.3% in 2024 (UN Syria, 2024).

3. Unblock the sanctions bottleneck

On paper, many sanctions have already been eased. In practice, however, the systems to implement these changes — banking channels, international compliance, financial transfers — remain painfully slow and often unworkable. This leaves legitimate Syrian businesses struggling to access markets and finance, while less scrupulous actors find ways around the system. Donors should prioritise accelerating practical pathways for responsible trade and investment to flow.

4. Strengthen what already exists

Syrian-led initiatives — such as Start-up Syria, the Syria Pioneers Academy implemented by JCI and Hermon Team, the EcoTech Hub implemented by SDO at Damascus University — have proven their value. Donors should focus on supporting, encouraging and scaling them up, not duplicating them. Vocational training centres also exist throughout the country, though many are damaged or outdated. Rehabilitation and partnership with local trainers can rapidly restore them as engines of skills development.

5. Unlock accessible finance

Entrepreneurs consistently cite financing as their greatest barrier. Rather than setting up external mechanisms, bolster Syria’s microfinance institutions and banks. Instruments like loan guarantee funds or interest-rate bridging schemes can transform prohibitive borrowing costs into affordable opportunities for start-ups and small businesses.

6. Invest in a green, high-quality recovery

Reconstruction will shape Syria’s economic trajectory for decades. Local companies are eager to contribute, but many rely on outdated methods. By investing in modern, sustainable building and reconstruction techniques, donors can ensure that Syrian firms — not only large external contractors — benefit from and lead the recovery.

7. Focus on quality, not just reach

Training programmes often prioritise numbers over impact. Reaching more people with less support undermines both motivation and outcomes. High-quality, longer-term training — even for fewer participants — generates bigger and more sustainable results and builds a culture of self-investment.

8. Reform systems, not just symptoms

Short-term projects may deliver quick wins, but without structural change, their impact fades. Higher education is a prime example: curricula and teaching methods require modernisation, and universities need stronger ties to the labour market. Aligning education with economic realities will pay off for decades. There is an incredible national commitment to do this, reaching as high as the Minister of Higher Education. But international investments to support this have so far been absent.

9. Make agriculture and agri-business climate-resilient

Syria’s agricultural sector is under severe pressure: in 2024, a prolonged drought led to a 35% decline in agricultural production, with over 60% of arable land at risk of desertification and 30% of water sources contaminated (UN Syria, 2024). Investment in climate-smart solutions, such as drip irrigation, alongside international business partnerships, can revitalise the sector. Done right, these measures could provide both food security and employment, while driving economic development at scale.

10. Boost digital and technical skills

Digital training can give Syrians access to international labour markets, creating opportunities for those with few assets and limited mobility. By prioritising digital literacy, coding, and technical skills, Syria can leapfrog into a more modern, connected economy. However, this potential can only be realised if external constraints are addressed: as of 2024, only 35.8% of Syrians have internet access, with 72.3% relying on limited 3G networks, and the country ranks 163rd out of 193 on the UN E-Government Development Index (UN Syria, 2024).

A cross-cutting principle: inclusion and coordination

The ten previous recommendations should be implemented with this principle in mind, ensuring that efforts extend across the country, bridging divides and avoiding fragmentation. Partial or exclusive engagement risks reinforcing existing tensions. Only inclusive, coordinated initiatives will contribute to lasting stability and genuine recovery.

SPARK’s commitment to Syria’s recovery

SPARK is committed to supporting Syria’s recovery through economic empowerment, in line with its core mission of creating impactful jobs for youth, including women and refugees. Our proposed approach focuses on initiatives in higher education, internships, entrepreneurship, and the growth of SMEs, aiming to foster economic opportunities in high-growth sectors such as green industries, digital technology, and agri-business. Building on insights from our scoping mission in Damascus, we are eager to collaborate with local entrepreneurs, youth-led initiatives, educational institutions, and international stakeholders to turn these recommendations into action, helping to create a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Syria. We invite partners, donors, and policymakers to join us in this effort, contributing expertise, resources, and support to help transform these recommendations into tangible impact on the ground.