On the 10th Anniversary of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis - “Madad Fund”, the EU and Member States Convene to Review Its Progress and Impact

Today, the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, commonly known as the Madad Fund, commemorated its 10th anniversary with the annual joint session of the 14th Trust Fund Board and the 16th Operational Board.

The meeting, held in Brussels, brought together representatives from the European Commission, members of the European Parliament, and delegates from 21 EU Member States, alongside partners from the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government. 

The event, chaired by Ms Ana Pires, Head of the Middle East Unit at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), served as an opportunity to review the Fund’s progress and assess its impact in addressing the needs of those affected by the Syrian crisis.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Pires emphasized, "Thirteen years into the Syrian conflict, the scale of human suffering remains immense. Through the Madad Fund, the EU and its partners have provided critical support to more than 11 million individuals, fostering resilience among Syrian refugees and their host communities. Our collective efforts will continue to focus on delivering solutions and hope for those impacted by this long-lasting crisis."

Since its establishment in December 2014, the EUTF Syria has supported 129 impactful projects across Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Türkiye, with a total funding allocation of €2.38 billion. This significant commitment has been instrumental in improving access to basic services in seven key sectors, namely Basic and Higher Education, Health, Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Protection, and Social Cohesion.

These efforts have delivered tangible benefits for refugees, host communities, and internally displaced persons, leading to outcomes such as:

• Over 11 million individuals accessed improved basic services;
• Over 5,8 million people received quality healthcare;
• Over 1 million children and young adults gained access to education;
• Over 1,4 million people improved their livelihoods;
• Over 15,900 local facilities (including schools, hospitals and clinics, water facilities, shelters, etc.) were upgraded, reconstructed and/or newly built.

Background

Since its outbreak in 2011, the war in Syria has driven one of the largest refugee crises in the world. Over 7.2 million Syrians remain internally displaced, while approximately 5 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Most Syrian refugees are hosted in Türkiye (62.2%), Lebanon (15.5%), Jordan (12.5%), and Iraq (6%). [source: UNHCR 2024].

The EUTF Syria - Madad has been a pivotal tool in fulfilling the EU’s commitments made at the 2016 London Conference on Syria. It has continuously adapted to the evolving priorities outlined at the subsequent Brussels I-VIII Conferences on the Future of Syria and the Region, ensuring continued support for the Syrian people in alignment with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The Brussels Conferences were held in April 2017, 2018, March 2019, June 2020, March 2021, May 2022, June 2023, and April and May 2024.

The EUTF Syria - Madad ceased contracting new actions on 14 December 2021, with several initiatives still being implemented until 14 June 2025.

For More Information

EU Trust Fund Syria – Madad: official website

EUTF project platform developed on AKVO

• EUTF Syria’s 12th Results Report [PDF version] 

• EUTF Syria fact-sheet EN [PDF version]

• EUTF country overview: Jordan [PDF version]

• EUTF country overview: Lebanon [PDF version]

• EUTF country overview: Iraq [PDF version]