The board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has made a historic decision today, approving their first project in Syria. Thanks to the joint efforts of Acted and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, through the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment (MoLAE), this climate finance investment represents a key step towards supporting fragile and conflict affected countries adaptation to the impact of climate change.
With a total investment of over USD 27.7 million, including USD 25 million in GCF financing, the project is expected to benefit more than 1.5 million people in Eastern Ghouta, Rural Damascus Governorate.
Syria is among the most climate vulnerable and water stressed countries in the Middle East. In the Barada and Awaj basin, which supplies water to Damascus and surrounding communities, climate change is accelerating water scarcity and placing increasing pressure on people, ecosystems, and livelihoods. By the middle of the century, temperatures are projected to increase by up to 2.3°C, annual rainfall could decline by 5 percent, and the number of days above 40°C is expected to almost double, from 11 to 21 days each year. These trends will reduce groundwater recharge and intensify droughts, impacting drinking water supplies and agricultural production.
These climate risks are compounded by over a decade of conflict that has weakened water infrastructure and institutions for planning and service delivery. Syria already faces a structural water deficit of approximately 3 billion cubic metres each year, while per capita water availability is projected to fall to around 500 cubic metres by 2050, approaching absolute water scarcity. In Eastern Ghouta, where agriculture depends heavily on groundwater, declining water tables, ageing infrastructure, and inefficient irrigation leave communities increasingly exposed to climate shocks.
The WATER RES project adopts an integrated, locally-led, and scalable approach built around three complementary pillars over the course of five years:
This project is a significant step for climate action in Syria. As the first GCF-funded project in the country, it will strengthen water governance, improve climate-resilient water systems, and support climate-resilient agriculture. In a conflict-affected context, this kind of support is critical to help communities confront immediate water stress while laying the groundwork for longer-term resilience and recovery. The project reflects GCF’s commitment to deliver climate finance where it is needed most.
This approval marks a historic milestone for Syria, as the GCF's first investment in the country, and demonstrates that climate action cannot wait, even in the world's most fragile contexts. Water scarcity is one of the greatest threats to Syria's recovery, with climate change compounding years of conflict and placing increasing pressure on communities, livelihoods and essential services. Through this project, Acted will work alongside national and local partners to strengthen water governance, improve climate-resilient water infrastructure, and support farmers and communities to adapt to a changing climate. We are proud to partner with the GCF and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to help lay the foundations for a more resilient and water-secure future.
WATER-RES contributes directly to Acted’s 3ZERO vision — Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty — by:
By combining community-based action, ecosystem restoration and institutional strengthening, the project contributes to a broader shift towards sustainable and climate-resilient development in Syria and across the Middle East.
This partnership reflects a shared ambition between Acted and the GCF to deliver high-impact climate finance at scale in contexts where needs are most acute.
By bridging local realities with global climate finance mechanisms, WATER-RES contributes to advancing more inclusive, effective and scalable climate adaptation solutions.
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest climate fund dedicated to developing countries, supporting transformative climate action by mobilising and delivering finance at scale.
GCF serves the Paris Agreement and is mandated as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
For the past 33 years, Acted has been working at the forefront of humanitarian action. Acted currently supports over 17 million people across 40 countries, striving to reach those living in the hardest-to-reach areas.
Driven by a triple mandate as a key actor in humanitarian aid, environmental action and sustainable development, Acted contributes to the long-term assistance, protection and recovery of people affected by crises.
Acted relies on an in-depth knowledge of local contexts and works with a wide range of partners to build a 3ZERO world: Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon and Zero Poverty.