UK support to Syria’s new chapter

As I finish my time as the UK Government’s Syria Development Director, I leave with a deep sense of humility about what Syrians have endured, and cautious optimism about what they can now build.

For years, Syria was discussed through the language of crisis: conflict, displacement, terrorism, drugs, sanctions and stalled diplomacy. Those realities mattered, but they never captured the whole story. They did not capture the teacher reopening a classroom in a damaged building; the farmer restoring land after drought; the mother seeking healthcare for her children; or the young Syrian asking whether it is finally possible to come home.

The political change of December 2024 opened a new chapter. But Syria’s recovery will depend on building an inclusive and stable country in which all communities and regions can participate, contribute and feel they have a stake in the future. Lasting stability cannot be imposed; it must be built on opportunity, trust and inclusion.

The scale of the challenge remains immense. Fourteen years of conflict displaced millions of Syrians and left much of the country’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed. Millions of people still require assistance. Returning families often face stretched services, scarce jobs and damaged infrastructure. Sustainable return requires safety, dignity, livelihoods and schools that work. Yet this moment also offers a path from crisis towards recovery, stability and greater self-reliance.

That is why the UK’s support has focused on two things at once. We continue to help meet urgent needs, including food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection. Alongside this, we are helping rebuild livelihoods, support learning, strengthen local systems and work with the Syrian Government to build institutions for the longer term.

Sanctions relief is helping remove barriers to legitimate trade, investment and recovery. Combined with reform, transparency and accountability, it can help businesses create jobs, encourage investment and give families a tangible stake in peace and prosperity.

Development can sound abstract. In Syria it is tangible: an irrigation channel repaired before planting; quality seed reaching a farming family; a child catching up after years out of school; a clinic moving from emergency provision towards a system that can last; and stronger accountability so assistance reaches those most in need. UK development aid focuses particularly on agriculture, education and health because these are foundations of long-term recovery.

Agriculture matters because it means food, income, dignity and resilience in a country affected by climate shocks, water scarcity and disrupted markets. Education matters because Syria’s future will be shaped by a generation recovering lost years of learning. Recovery cannot be built on weakened services and exhausted families. Nor can it succeed if people are excluded from shaping the future. Women and girls must be central as leaders, workers, decision-makers and citizens. An inclusive transition - one that meaningfully involves all of Syria’s communities, including women, in shaping the country’s future - is not only the right course; it is essential for lasting stability and prosperity.

Good development also requires listening. International partners can bring finance, expertise and support, but lasting solutions must be grounded in Syrian realities and shaped by Syrian voices: national and local authorities, civil society, communities, teachers, health workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, women’s groups and young people. Syria’s future should be defined by Syrians themselves. The role of international partners is to be practical, reliable and respectful partners in that journey.

As I leave this role, I am struck most by the determination of Syrians themselves. After so much loss, many are choosing to rebuild, teach, farm and imagine a different future. They deserve sustained international engagement that matches that determination with seriousness and respect.

The UK has stood with Syrians through years of crisis and will continue to support them through recovery, helping meet urgent needs while supporting a more stable, inclusive and prosperous Syria.