Envelope 2: Integrated Livelihoods and Basic Services Assistance to Vulnerable Populations in northwest Syria Ten years into the Syrian conflict, living conditions in northwest Syria (NWS) continue to deteriorate because of the scale of displacement, the deepening economic crisis, and the resultant limited access to essential services and livelihoods opportunities. Populations living in NWS also face mounting challenges due to protracted displacement and poor shelter and living environments, whilst being exposed to harsh weather conditions. The ongoing COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic and financial crisis have made circumstances worse, exacerbating the existing vulnerabilities of affected populations. 

Building on CERF and SCHF-funded projects implemented in 2020 and 2021, IOM proposes early recovery and livelihoods (ERL) support to both Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Host Community (HC) members in particularly vulnerable locations in NWS. The project will support an estimated 6,100 unique individuals (3,270 men, 1,630 women, 600 boys, 600 girls). 

IOM will implement a comprehensive intervention through a coordinated response between the ERL cluster and other Clusters aiming to restore and improve access to key basic services, provide critical livelihood and income-generation opportunities, and foster community engagement and cohesion in the underserved, high-need sub-districts of Al Bab and Azaz, Aleppo Governorate, and Darkush and Harim, Idleb Governorate, as well as IOM’s 11 Planned Camps (PCs) for IDPs across both Governorates. Firstly, IOM will conduct inclusive, participatory community-level assessments to identify each community’s most urgent needs and priorities in terms of basic services and infrastructure and implement related rehabilitation activities in close coordination with relevant Clusters. 

Secondly, IOM will enhance access to market-based livelihood opportunities by providing Business Development Support (BDS) and Vocational Training (VT) to beneficiaries able and willing to either establish or expand their own business operating in sectors identified by market assessments and community-level assessments. Through these activities, IOM aims to both support the livelihoods of selected beneficiaries and to strengthen local markets by supporting the sectors deemed most needed by the communities, and that have the potential to expand local employment options, increase community cohesion, and contribute to sustainable local development. In addition, IOM will offer short-term income-generating opportunities for individuals through Cash for Work (CFW). As for BDS and VT, the CFW initiatives will be identified based on community-level assessments and community consultations in order to select the most needed activities. 

Throughout all stages of the process, IOM will foster community engagement as per its Community-Based Programming (CBP) approach. IOM and IPs will work closely with representatives of the various social groups to identify needs, discuss most needed activities, and seek feedback. This approach aims to encourage dialogue and increase social cohesion within targeted communities.

2022 Cholera Revision
In September 2022, the NWS health cluster and Early Warning, Alert and Response Network (EWARN) announced the first cases of Cholera in NWS. IOM, as part of an inter-agency response, will use the savings under the current project to purchase 45 kits of cholera pharmaceuticals and deliver them to WHO in Mersin, Türkiye. WHO in turn will distribute the kits to IPs in NWS. As for this new output, IOM will only procure and transport these cholera pharmaceuticals to WHO’s warehouse in Mersin, and no additional direct beneficiaries in NWS will be reached by IOM. It is estimated that these 45 Cholera kits will be used for at least one Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) in NWS, depending on the evolving needs on-the-ground, covering the needs of an estimated 4,500 patients. IOM will remain in close coordination with the WHO on the distribution of these kits to health partners in NWS.