Deadline: 14-Jun-2026
UN-Habitat Syria Programme is seeking a qualified local Implementing Partner to support a four-month project focused on resilient urban recovery and safe voluntary returns in conflict-affected communities across Syria. The initiative aims to strengthen recovery planning, improve housing and infrastructure assessments, support mine action activities, and enhance community participation in neighborhood recovery efforts.
The project combines technical assessments, urban planning, infrastructure evaluations, community engagement, and risk mitigation measures to support safe and inclusive recovery processes. Particular emphasis is placed on the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, and communities affected by conflict.
About the Project
The project supports resilient and inclusive urban recovery in selected communities across Syria. It seeks to facilitate safe voluntary returns through comprehensive assessments, recovery planning, infrastructure analysis, and community consultations.
A key component of the initiative involves identifying challenges affecting housing, infrastructure, land rights, and public services while developing evidence-based recovery plans that reflect local priorities and needs.
Focus Areas
The project focuses on:
- Resilient urban recovery
- Safe voluntary returns
- UXO and ERW mapping
- UXO and ERW clearance
- Structural safety assessments
- Social assessments
- Functional assessments
- Housing, Land and Property (HLP) documentation
- Infrastructure assessments
- Structural reinforcement studies
- Retrofitting studies
- Rapid urban assessments
- Community outreach and consultation
- Neighborhood recovery planning
- Community participation
- Women’s inclusion
- Inclusion of persons with disabilities
Purpose of the Project
The initiative aims to:
- Support safe and voluntary returns to conflict-affected communities
- Improve understanding of housing and infrastructure conditions
- Strengthen urban recovery planning processes
- Address risks associated with unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war
- Promote inclusive community participation
- Enhance evidence-based decision-making
- Support resilient neighborhood recovery
- Improve the safety and functionality of residential areas
Funding Information
Funding details include:
- Maximum grant amount of US$750,000
- Project duration of four calendar months
- Expected project start date of 26 July 2026
Key Project Activities
The implementing partner will be responsible for:
- Conducting UXO and ERW surveys
- Mapping contaminated areas
- Supporting clearance activities through certified mine action specialists
- Delivering mine risk awareness campaigns
- Conducting structural assessments of residential buildings
- Performing social and functional assessments
- Supporting Housing, Land and Property documentation
- Assessing water and sewage infrastructure
- Carrying out rapid urban assessments
- Organizing community consultation activities
- Preparing neighborhood recovery planning reports
UXO and ERW Activities
A major component of the project includes:
- UXO surveys
- ERW surveys
- Hazard mapping
- Clearance activities
- Risk mitigation measures
- Community safety awareness campaigns
Mine risk awareness activities are expected to reach:
- Approximately 3,000 people across target locations
Structural Assessment Activities
The project includes:
- S2 structural assessments for 1,250 residential buildings
- Use of approved national assessment methodologies
- Application of non-destructive testing tools
- Collection of occupancy and demographic information
- Documentation of housing and land ownership status
Assessment findings will be:
- Validated by the Engineering Syndicate
- Integrated into localized digital geodatabases
Infrastructure and Engineering Studies
Activities include:
- S3 structural reinforcement studies
- Retrofitting studies for approximately 10 highly damaged residential buildings in Hanano neighborhood, Aleppo
- Verification of water network functionality
- Verification of sewage network conditions
- Assessment of infrastructure performance and service delivery
Community Participation Activities
Community engagement is a central element of the project.
Activities include:
- Rapid urban assessments
- Community workshops
- Focus group discussions
- Community surveys
- Joint assessment committee meetings
- Neighborhood recovery consultations
The project will organize:
- 16 participatory community events
These activities will prioritize:
- Women’s participation
- Participation of persons with disabilities
- Community-driven recovery priorities
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include:
- Legally registered Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
- Legally registered Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Organizations with an operational presence in Syria
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Relevant technical expertise
- Financial management capacity
- Strong governance standards
- Experience implementing projects of similar scale
- Experience managing complex recovery or development initiatives
Expected Deliverables
The selected implementing partner is expected to deliver:
- UXO and ERW survey reports
- Hazard mapping outputs
- Structural assessment reports
- Social and functional assessment findings
- Housing, Land and Property documentation
- Infrastructure assessment reports
- Structural reinforcement studies
- Urban assessment reports
- Community consultation outputs
- Neighborhood recovery planning reports
- Digital geodatabase inputs
Importance of the Project
The initiative contributes to sustainable recovery and resilience in communities affected by conflict.
Key benefits include:
- Improved community safety
- Better understanding of housing conditions
- Stronger recovery planning processes
- Enhanced infrastructure assessments
- Increased community participation
- Greater inclusion of vulnerable groups
- Support for safe voluntary returns
- Evidence-based urban recovery interventions
Application Tips
Strong applications typically demonstrate:
- Experience in urban recovery projects
- Expertise in engineering and infrastructure assessments
- Knowledge of mine action and risk mitigation activities
- Strong community engagement experience
- Effective project management systems
- Sound financial and governance practices
- Capacity to work in complex operational environments
Common Application Mistakes
Applications may be weakened by:
- Limited experience with similar projects
- Weak technical capacity
- Insufficient evidence of financial management systems
- Lack of community engagement experience
- Incomplete organizational documentation
- Unclear implementation approaches
- Weak risk management planning
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for this opportunity?
- Legally registered Civil Society Organizations.
- Legally registered Non-Governmental Organizations.
- Organizations with an operational presence in Syria.
What is the maximum grant amount available?
- Up to US$750,000.
How long is the project implementation period?
- Four calendar months.
When is project implementation expected to begin?
- 26 July 2026.
What are the main focus areas of the project?
- Urban recovery.
- Safe voluntary returns.
- UXO and ERW mapping and clearance.
- Structural assessments.
- Infrastructure assessments.
- Community participation.
- Neighborhood recovery planning.
How many residential buildings will undergo structural assessments?
- Approximately 1,250 residential buildings.
How many people are expected to benefit from mine risk awareness campaigns?
- Approximately 3,000 people across the target locations.
Conclusion
The UN-Habitat Syria Programme funding opportunity provides significant support for organizations capable of advancing resilient urban recovery and safe voluntary returns in conflict-affected communities. Through funding of up to US$750,000, the initiative will support technical assessments, infrastructure analysis, mine action activities, and community-driven recovery planning to help build safer, more inclusive, and resilient neighborhoods across Syria.
For more information, visit UN-Habitat.