Damascus Masterplan: historical core, city, territory - A process of urban and socio-economic development
Syria
Status
ImplementationAid type
Project-type interventionsSyria
Location
-
€ 689,425
Committed
Committed
€ 0
Used
Used
Description
The initiative “Damascus Masterplan: Historic Centre, City, and Territory. A Process of Urban and Socio-Economic Development” aims to develop an integrated and sustainable strategic vision for the city of Damascus and its metropolitan area, with a planning horizon to 2045. Particular attention is given to areas most affected by the conflict—such as Jobar and Qaboun—which are identified as priority pilot zones for urban regeneration, reconstruction, and socio-economic recovery strategies. The initiative places specific emphasis on reducing gender inequalities and the inclusion of women and vulnerable groups in planning and reconstruction processes, adopting a gender-responsive approach throughout all project phases— from disaggregated data collection to participatory planning— and setting specific targets for female participation (minimum 30%) in consultative and training activities. The core objective is the formulation of a comprehensive masterplan integrating spatial planning, socio-economic development, historic urban heritage preservation, and climate and urban resilience strategies, while ensuring structured participation of local communities, based on a gender-sensitive approach and accessible to people with disabilities, and active engagement of public authorities. The initiative seeks to strengthen the interface between scientific knowledge, institutional capacity, and local needs, promoting an inclusive, multi-level approach to urban planning and governance. The Plan systematically integrates disaster risk reduction (DRR) criteria into urban and infrastructure planning, strengthening urban and institutional resilience in line with the “Build Back Better” principle. Key beneficiaries include local and national authorities responsible for urban planning, the scientific and academic community, residents and local communities, as well as civil society organizations and institutional actors involved in reconstruction and socio-economic development processes with particular reference to women, young people and the most vulnerable social groups. Planned activities encompass integrated territorial and socio-economic data collection and analysis, disaggregated by gender, sex and disability status, technical and participatory workshops with experts and local communities, capacity-building and training programs for local professionals and officials, the development of alternative future scenarios, and the preparation of operational tools and guidelines to support urban regeneration. The project will be implemented with Università Iuav di Venezia acting as the implementing entity, in a structured and continuous dialogue with the Damascus Governorate, ensuring alignment with national strategies and international frameworks for sustainable urban development, and in partnership with the University of Damascus as the homologous institution for training and capacity-building activities. The planned duration is 12 months. The expected impact includes the strengthening of local capacities in urban planning and management, the definition of concrete and prioritized urban regeneration interventions, and the production of replicable tools and methodologies to support future urban and territorial development initiatives.
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| Year | Committed | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | € 689,425 | € 0 |
Agency
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11000 |
Channel reported
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11001 |
Project data
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SDGs
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