Creating Welcoming Learning for Syrian Children and Youth The Norwegian Refugee Council proposes implementation of project activities, covering the period from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020, with a focus on delivery of education activities in selected locations within the governorates of Rural Damascus and Dar’a. The Creating Welcoming Schools Project activities include rehabilitation of schools with provision of students’ desks and teachers’ tables and distribution of hygiene kits. Along with educational activities including teachers’ training, Child Education Programme- Transition (CEP T) for children who are out of school or at risk of dropping out, and Youth Education Programme YEP Mobile – Life skills for out of school youth with need to reconnect with learning and income-generating opportunities. For the purpose of implementing its programmes, NRC established a strong coordination mechanism with the Ministry of Education, through which the access to areas and the implementation shall be facilitated.

The target group of the Education Programme in Syria is defined as conflict and displacement-affected children (aged 6-18) and youth (aged 15-24), including Syrian IDPs, returnees and host community members.
Teachers, facilitators and trainers will also be targeted, working in NRC programmes in formal and non-formal education settings. Whilst equal access will be provided to both male and female educators, considering the current scarcity of male educators, those present will be actively encouraged to participate, in an effort to provide positive male role models in all activities.

Two key risks remain: 
1.	Corruption – operating in environments where access can be determined by the availability of additional payments.
2.	Security/ instability - Shifts in front lines which may hinder access to communities and influence capacity to program in certain areas.

It is a mandatory requirement for NRC Country Offices to develop a risk assessment framework and keep a register, revised quarterly, of the risks. This includes analysis at area and country levels. As part of this process, NRC Syria will: 1) Risk identification and assessment, 2) Develop action plan and assess residual risk, 3) Review and approve risk register in Country Management Group meeting. 

NRC has provided timely and appropriate assistance and protection to vulnerable affected populations in Syria since 2013. This proposed intervention and NRC’s broader country strategy for Syria is in accordance with the inter-agency Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and NRC’s activities are harmonized with the relevant minimum standards. 

Central and Southwest Syria: Since its registration with the GoSAR in Damascus in October 2015, NRC has been advocating for greater, unimpeded access and operational space and has obtained it in the governorates of Damascus, Al Sweida, Quneitra, Rural Damascus, Dara’a, and Aleppo. NRC has Memoranda of Understanding with relevant line ministries and a local NGO, and collaborates with representatives of the private sector and local initiatives such as community-based organisations. NRC also has a field office in Aleppo. While NRC lost cross-border access into South Syria in July 2018, NRC is exploring options in order to be able to expand its operations from Damascus. NRC has over 150 staff working out of Damascus and Aleppo, of which 44% are female.