The Syrian Future Movement is following with interest the news published on March 26, 2026, announcing the signing of a joint cooperation agreement between the General Commission for Agricultural Scientific Research and the Syrian Green Horizon Foundation (a development organization licensed in 2025 by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor).
The Syrian Future Movement commends this step, which aims to enhance food security and rural development through the implementation of joint research and applied projects, support for local communities, improvement of livelihoods, and capacity building through training programs and workshops. This includes conducting agricultural research, exchanging expertise, supporting family and community farming, and preparing extension materials.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that strengthening food security is a strategic national priority in light of the severe climatic challenges, drought, and the deterioration of the agricultural sector after years of conflict. It also emphasizes that partnerships between governmental research institutions and civil society organizations are essential for achieving sustainable agricultural development.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the announced agreement remains general and lacks essential implementation details, such as the allocated budget, the names of the signatories, the targeted geographic areas, and the project timeline. Furthermore, the centralized focus in Damascus raises concerns about reproducing the previous centralized model that hampered rural development in various regions. The limited autonomy of government-licensed institutions also contributes to the problem, potentially transforming the partnership into a routine implementation rather than an innovative and comprehensive initiative.
The Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Publish the full text of the agreement, the allocated budget, the specific projects, and the targeted areas on official websites within the coming weeks to ensure complete transparency.
- Expand the partnership to include independent civil society organizations, local farmers, and representatives from all governorates, particularly rural areas in the north, east, and south, to achieve genuine geographic inclusivity.
- Link the agreement to specialized international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) to secure additional funding and advanced technical expertise.
- Establish clear performance measurement mechanisms and publish transparent periodic reports for public review to monitor results on the ground during the first year.
- Directing a significant portion of training programs toward rural youth and women to enhance economic empowerment and build sustainable capacities to address climate change and water scarcity.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on relevant parties to transform this agreement from a general framework into concrete, measurable, and implementable projects, because food security is not merely a media statement, but rather the foundation of social and economic stability for building a free and prosperous future Syria.
