A representative of a women-led organization in Syria said: “Funding cuts don’t just interrupt projects — they dismantle movements. At such a critical moment in the history of Syria, the collapse of funding poses an existential threat to the broader Syrian civil society and the vibrant feminist movement established since 2011.”
Date: 2/25
Region: Middle East & North Africa
Country: Syria
Topic: Governance & Rights, Gender Equality & Inclusion
Policy Lens: Security & Resilience
Entry Type: Field Observation
Additional Context: This quote is attributed to Batoul Aleita, who leads monitoring and evaluation at Women Now for Development, or WND, a Syrian NGO headquarted in France. WND supported grassroots organizatons and advocates working with families of victims of disappearances in Syria before its funding was slashed due to the U.S. aid cuts. Many of these local organizations only received funding through WND with no other funding source.
Devex Researcher Note: A 2024 survey of 19 women's organizations' leaders in Syria concluded that insufficient and unsustainable funding was the biggest challenge to their work.
Source: Peace Insight