ZOA currently works with crisis affected communities in Rural Damascus, Daraá and Aleppo. Our activities are  targeted at internally displaced persons (IDPs), host communities and returnees. ZOA always seeks to reach the most vulnerable groups, like women, children, elderly, female headed households, persons with disabilities and IDPs.

In Syria, ZOA works in three sectors:

ZOA has been active in Syria since 2015. Before establishing an office in-country, ZOA worked through local partners to reach people in need. ZOA Syria was established in 2019 with an office located in Damascus. Since then we have been reaching out to the most vulnerable people through direct implementation as well as working with local partners. ZOA gives priority to three specific themes i.e. conflict sensitivity, gender and protection.

Syria Joint Response

ZOA is the lead agency of the Syria Joint Response, a multi-year consortium funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a budget of over 40 million Euro. The consortium of Dutch NGOs has served over 2 million vulnerable people since 2015. Since 2019 ZOA has been leading the consortium in an innovating Cash Based Programming in Syria.

Shelter and Non-food items

In Aleppo, we provide life-saving and life sustaining shelter support. We ensure that homes meet minimum standards and provide a higher quality of living conditions and better protection for vulnerable families. Work includes rehabilitation, repair or upgrade of existing shelters.

People in with disabilities are also targeted with protection specific activities. In Daraá, ZOA  provides vulnerable households with core relief items and essential Non-Food Items (NFIs). Our NFI activities also include winterization assistance.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Interventions in Rural Damascus and Daraá include provision of adequate water (quality and quantity) for drinking and hygiene purposes, distribution of hygiene kits and supporting solid waste management systems.

Food Security & Livelihoods

Our activities in Rural Damascus are aimed at  providing the means and opportunities for vulnerable individuals to earn a sustainable living and to receive a minimum income. Activities are focused on supporting entrepreneurship and providing vocational training and start-up kits, that match the needs of the job market.

With funding from

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN-OCHA through Syria Humanitarian Fund, OFDA and ZOA Netherlands.

In cooperation with

Syria Trust for Development, Medair, IRC and GOPA-DERD