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Tenders are invited for Local Recovery Needs Assessment and Technical Feasibility Assessment in Wadi Barada (Syria) Closing Date: 30 Jun 2026 Type: Consultancy Project title: Mobilizing Agriculture for Zone Recovery Approach and Advancement (MAZRA) Donors: Crisis Support Center (CDCS) - French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (French MoEFA) Period of the assignment: 8 weeks Starting date: ASAP. Geographic scope: Rural Damascus (Wadi Barada: Der Mkaren, Kfaer Azzeat, and Ein Al-Fejeh) INTRODUCTION About Expertise France Expertise France is Frances public agency and interministerial actor in charge of international technical cooperation, the second largest in Europe. As a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Expertise France works in key areas of development: governance, security, climate change, health, education, and more. Alongside its partners, it contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within its Peace, Stability and Security Department, the Stabilization & Resilience Unit delivers multi-sectoral recovery programs in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through an integrated territorial approach that bridges emergency response and long-term resilience. EF has developed a strong track record in stabilizing essential services, including health systems, in crisis-affected regions through tailored, locally grounded solutions. CONTEXT Syrian conflict Fourteen years of conflict in Syria have severely disrupted livelihoods, weakened food systems, and increased economic vulnerability, leaving millions unable to meet their basic food and income needs. Widespread displacement, damaged infrastructure, economic collapse, sanctions, and climate-related pressures have significantly affected agricultural production, local markets, and employment opportunities across the country. While the establishment of a transitional government in December 2024 marked the beginning of a recovery phase, communities continue to face major challenges in accessing sustainable livelihoods and affordable food. Women, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable households remain among the most affected groups, with limited access to income-generating opportunities and productive resources. Rural communities continue to struggle with damaged agricultural infrastructure, water scarcity, and limited market access, while MSMEs face financial and operational constraints that hinder local economic recovery. Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, significant gaps remain in food security and economic recovery efforts. Weak institutional capacity, fragmented governance, and continued dependence on external aid limit the sustainability of recovery initiatives and economic growth. EXPERTISE FRANCE IN SYRIA In Syria, Expertise France has maintained a continuous presence since 2013, expanding its operations from Northwest Syria to Northeast Syria in 2019 and Damascus and Rural Damascus in 2025. Its programmes have mobilized over 75 million and reached more than 3.8 million direct beneficiaries across sectors including Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Health, Civil Society Support, Gender Empowerment, and Climate Change Response. Through partnerships with more than 90 local CSOs and over 150 grants, EF has supported economic recovery, agriculture, vocational training, and local resilience through a localized and participatory approach. The MAZRA program aims to promote inclusive and integrated community recovery in prioritized rural areas across Syria through an Area-Based approach focused on food security, sustainable livelihoods, and rural revitalization. Building on the lessons learned from SABIR, the program places particular emphasis on restoring agricultural systems, strengthening local economies, and improving community resilience. Through locally led and multi-sectoral interventions implemented in partnership with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), local authorities, and relevant technical institutions, MAZRA will support the rehabilitation of community infrastructure, strengthen agricultural value chains, improve market access, and create livelihood opportunities for vulnerable groups, including youth and returnees. The program will also promote inclusive governance, social cohesion, and capacity building for local agricultural and municipal institutions to improve coordination and long-term recovery planning. To achieve these goals, MAZRA is structured around four specific objectives: SO1 strengthening access to essential community infrastructure and services through locally led rehabilitation efforts and sustainable management mechanisms. SO2 strengthening the resilience and sustainability of agricultural production systems and local farming actors. SO3 enhancing market access and livelihood opportunities for youth, returnees, and vulnerable community members. SO4 providing tailored technical assistance to community, municipal, and regional agricultural institutions to improve sectoral coordination and strategic planning. Through this integrated approach, the program seeks to contribute to long-term resilience and inclusive economic recovery in post-conflict Syria. DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT The MAZRA (Mobilizing Agriculture for Zone Recovery Approach and Advancement) programme aims to foster inclusive and integrated recovery in targeted areas across Syria through an Area-Based Approach focused on agricultural recovery, food security, livelihood restoration, market development, and institutional capacity strengthening. To ensure that project interventions are relevant, evidence-based, and responsive to the priorities of local communities and institutions, Expertise France will conduct a Local Needs Assessment and Technical Feasibility assessment in the targeted locations. The assessment will identify and prioritize key community needs, sectoral priorities, existing capacities, and opportunities for sustainable recovery and development initiatives, across four themes through extensive community consultation and involvement of local authorities. Namely, the assessment findings will guide the selection, prioritization, and design of interventions under the MAZRA programme, related to: Agricultural infrastructure rehabilitation (electric andirrigation systems); Agricultural cooperatives production, livestock development; Agrifood value-chain strengthening through market access and livelihood opportunities; Local authoritiesinstitutional capacity development. Objectives of the Needs and Technical Feasibility Assessment The overall objective of the assessment is to generate reliable baseline information and identify priority interventions that will support the effective implementation of the MAZRA programme. Specific objectives include: SO1: Identify and prioritize potential rehabilitation and agricultural recovery interventions in each target area, including preliminary technical specifications, estimated beneficiaries target figures, GPS coordinates, feasibility considerations, and indicative cost estimates. - Identify priority needs related to agricultural infrastructure rehabilitation for cooperative and local community present in the targeted locations, including irrigation systems, water management facilities, agricultural roads, energy access, and other productive assets; - Conduct technical and economic feasibility assessments for potential infrastructure rehabilitation and agricultural recovery interventions. Technical feasibility will help determine both the economic and technical appropriateness of identified priority actions and their respective sound technical solutions, to size, cost and validate identified needs. SO2: Identify agricultural recovery initiatives that address value chain disruptions to help rebuild local production systems affected by conflict - Assess challenges affecting agricultural production, livestock production, and access to agricultural inputs and services as well as the unique challenges affecting women breeders and farmers; - Analyze agricultural value chains and identify constraints and opportunities related to production, processing, marketing, and market access; - Recommend priority for equipment for shared agricultural facilities operated by cooperatives and unions as well as climate-resilient agricultural input support for farmers and breeders. SO3: Identify opportunities to support local economic recovery and market strategies through critical value chains - Assess the current socio-economic conditions and livelihood opportunities of households in the targeted areas; - Map female-led MSMEs, HBBs and cooperatives: - Identify opportunities to improve market revitalization, linkages and access for local MSMEs and cooperatives in the agri-food sector. SO4: Map stakeholders (cooperative actors, municipalities, Agriculture Directorate, Agricultural Chambers, research centers) in each area; - Analyze their respective status, role, leadership and identify their needs and capacities. - Transversal: - Identify and map relevant stakeholders, community structures, agricultural cooperatives, local committees, and Community-Based Committees (CBCs) that may contribute to project implementation and sustainability; - A strong emphasis shall be put on rural women empowerment and participation and climate resilience as well as conflict sensitive assessment methodology. The assessment will focus on the following thematic areas: - Agricultural Infrastructure and Irrigation Systems - Water Resource Management - Agricultural Production and Crop Systems - Livestock Production and Veterinary Services - Agricultural Value Chains and Market Systems - Number and capacities of agricultural cooperatives, agricultural institution Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4215237/local-recovery-needs-assessment-and-technical-feasibility-assessment-wadi-barada-syria
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