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Eastern Ghouta Climate Resilience and Water Scarcity Adaptation Project

Damascus, Syria

2021 - Ongoing

Blue InfrastructureClimate ChangeWater

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Project Description

Approach Words: Environment Preservation, Sustainability, Urban Resilience

Public Policy Instruments: Physical Intervention, Planning

The Eastern Ghouta Climate Resilience and Water Scarcity Adaptation Project is a climate-adaptation and rural recovery programme that integrates water management, wastewater reuse, and climate-smart agriculture to address chronic water scarcity, pollution, and livelihood vulnerability in Eastern Ghouta.¹ ²

The project envisions climate-resilient rural communities in Eastern Ghouta with safer, more reliable water resources for agriculture and domestic use, while protecting soil and water systems from pollution and long-term degradation. The project seeks to reduce vulnerability to water scarcity and climate stress through an integrated natural resource management (INRM) approach, combining watershed-scale planning, non-conventional water use, irrigation efficiency, and climate-smart agricultural practices.³ ⁴

Its interventions target farming households and water-dependent livelihoods across Eastern Ghouta, a region highly affected by drought, infrastructure damage, and environmental degradation.⁵

To implement the vision, the project integrates water, wastewater, and agriculture interventions through coordinated implementation. Key components are:

Component 1: Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM)⁶ ⁷ ⁸

Participatory development of INRM and climate-resilience action plans for Eastern Ghouta
Institutional capacity strengthening for climate-risk-informed planning, operation, and maintenance
Frameworks for replication and upscaling at watershed level

Component 2: Climate-Resilient Water Supply and Wastewater Management⁹ ¹⁰ ¹¹

Deployment of non-conventional water solutions, including wastewater treatment and reuse
Demonstration wastewater treatment facilities enabling safe reuse for agriculture
Rehabilitation of priority wastewater network risk areas
Programme implementation example, incuding model wastewater treatment plant, 2.1 kilometers of rehabilitated sewage networks, and 50.7 kilometers of rehabilitated irrigation canals, enabling safer agricultural reuse

Component 3: Resilient Livelihoods and Climate-Smart Agriculture¹² ¹³ ¹⁴

Introduction of water-efficient irrigation technologies
Improvement of irrigation practices and water productivity
Support for climate-resilient farming systems to stabilize incomes of vulnerable groups

In terms of sustainability, the project advances water security, pollution reduction, and livelihood resilience by linking wastewater treatment and reuse with efficient irrigation and climate-smart agriculture. This integrated approach protects soil and water resources, reduces untreated wastewater discharge, and stabilizes agricultural production under increasing climate stress.¹⁵ ¹⁶

Owner/Developer (Public)

Syria’s Ministry of Local Administration and Environment ²⁴

Owner/Developer

Funder

Contractor/Implementer

UN-Habitat ²⁷

UNDP

FAO

Owner/Developer (Public)

Syria’s Ministry of Local Administration and Environment ²⁴

Owner/Developer

UN-Habitat ²⁵

UNDP

FAO

Contractor/Implementer

Funder

The project is financed by the Adaptation Fund with a total budget of US$10.0 million and is implemented as a joint UN programme. UN-Habitat serves as the lead implementing agency, working in close cooperation with UNDP and FAO, and in partnership with the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment as the national counterpart.¹⁷ ¹⁸ ¹⁹

The budget is organized around three technical components. Component 1 allocates US$1.54 million to integrated natural resource management. Component 2, the largest investment, assigns US$4.60 million to the development of climate-resilient water supply systems for urban and agricultural uses. Component 3 dedicates US$2.20 million to strengthening the resilience of water-dependent livelihoods. Together, these components account for US$8.34 million. This is complemented by US$875,900 for programme execution costs and an implementing entity management fee of US$783,410, bringing the total project financing to US$10.0 million.²⁰ ²¹ ²²

The project was launched in October 2021 with an implementation horizon of approximately 3.5 years. A major milestone was reached in November 2025 with the launch of a model wastewater treatment plant for sustainable agriculture, alongside sewage network and irrigation canal rehabilitation works supporting safe wastewater reuse. Implementation is ongoing, with activities progressing across water management, agriculture, and institutional strengthening components.²³

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

N.A.

Endnotes

N.A.

References

‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘FAO in Syria|Newsdetails’ (n.d.) FAOinSyria, https://www.fao.org/syria/news/details/fao-and-the-adaptation-fund-take-climatic-actions-to-restore-fruit-trees-in-eastern-ghouta/en, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘FAO in Syria|Newsdetails’ (n.d.) FAOinSyria, https://www.fao.org/syria/news/details/fao-and-the-adaptation-fund-take-climatic-actions-to-restore-fruit-trees-in-eastern-ghouta/en, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Adaptaion Fund, UN Habitat, and UNDP (n.d.) Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions, https://cdn.climatepolicyradar.org/navigator/SYR/2021/increasing-the-climate-change-resilience-of-communities-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-to-water-scarcity-challenges-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-and-immediate-adaptation-interve_2a88b7ea222b57e76540c9ebca38bf64.pdf.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UNDP Launches Model Wastewater Treatment Plant for Sustainable Agriculture in Rural Damascus | United Nations Development Programme’ (n.d.) https://www.undp.org/syria/press-releases/undp-launches-model-wastewater-treatment-plant-sustainable-agriculture-rural-damascus, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Adaptaion Fund, UN Habitat, and UNDP (n.d.) Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions, https://cdn.climatepolicyradar.org/navigator/SYR/2021/increasing-the-climate-change-resilience-of-communities-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-to-water-scarcity-challenges-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-and-immediate-adaptation-interve_2a88b7ea222b57e76540c9ebca38bf64.pdf.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Adaptaion Fund, UN Habitat, and UNDP (n.d.) Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions, https://cdn.climatepolicyradar.org/navigator/SYR/2021/increasing-the-climate-change-resilience-of-communities-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-to-water-scarcity-challenges-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-and-immediate-adaptation-interve_2a88b7ea222b57e76540c9ebca38bf64.pdf.
‘FAO in Syria|Newsdetails’ (n.d.) FAOinSyria, https://www.fao.org/syria/news/details/fao-and-the-adaptation-fund-take-climatic-actions-to-restore-fruit-trees-in-eastern-ghouta/en, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Adaptaion Fund, UN Habitat, and UNDP (n.d.) Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions, https://cdn.climatepolicyradar.org/navigator/SYR/2021/increasing-the-climate-change-resilience-of-communities-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-to-water-scarcity-challenges-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-and-immediate-adaptation-interve_2a88b7ea222b57e76540c9ebca38bf64.pdf.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Adaptaion Fund, UN Habitat, and UNDP (n.d.) Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions, https://cdn.climatepolicyradar.org/navigator/SYR/2021/increasing-the-climate-change-resilience-of-communities-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-to-water-scarcity-challenges-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-and-immediate-adaptation-interve_2a88b7ea222b57e76540c9ebca38bf64.pdf.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions – Adaptation Fund’ (n.d.) https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/climate-change-resilient-communities-through-integrated-natural-resource-management-in-eastern-ghouta-in-rural-damascus-syria/, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
‘UN Habitat UNDP FAO to Launch Adaptation Fund Project to Address Climate Change – Syrian Arab Republic | ReliefWeb’ (n.d.) https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-habitat-undp-fao-launch-adaptation-fund-project-address-climate, accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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