Ensure no extra lines before. We’ll output: [TITLE]Syria Secures Its First Green Climate Fund Grant to Address Water Scarcity

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DAMASCUS — The Green Climate Fund’s Board of Directors has approved $27.7 million for Syria’s inaugural national project, which aims to mitigate water‑scarcity risks in regions most affected by climate change, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment announced on Friday.

The decision was made at the GCF’s 45th Board meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, which ran from June 29 to July 3. A Syrian delegation, led by Deputy Minister for Environmental Affairs Youssef Sharaf, attended the session, according to the ministry’s Information Department as reported by SANA.

The initiative follows a six‑month technical study conducted by the ministry’s central directorates in collaboration with partners, prior to its submission to the GCF Board, the ministry noted.

This award represents Syria’s first receipt of GCF financing, ending the country’s previous absence from the fund and inaugurating a new phase of cooperation on climate action and sustainable development, the ministry added. Officials noted that the project will also facilitate additional national initiatives aligned with Syria’s priorities.

According to the ministry, the project will enhance Syria’s capacity to manage scarce water resources, bolster water security in both urban and rural settings, safeguard agriculture and livelihoods in the most vulnerable areas, and improve the state’s resilience to future climate shocks.

The ministry said the funding forms part of a broader effort to raise Syria’s profile in international climate finance and forge partnerships with global institutions to support environmental recovery, climate adaptation, and reconstruction.

Established in 2010, the Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest financier of climate‑adaptation and mitigation projects in developing nations. To date, it has approved more than $20 billion for over 130 countries, including roughly $6 billion in 2025 alone. The Fund operates under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Syria’s approval builds on a 2021 FAO‑GCF capacity‑building program that strengthened its National Designated Authority and prepared its climate profile. The country’s GCF Country Programme, released in June 2023, identified priorities such as agriculture, resilient cities, and sustainable infrastructure. Water scarcity remains especially severe in Syria, driven by declining rainfall, persistent drought, and the wider effects of climate change.

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