“Leave space for us to act”: What Syrian humanitarian leaders want us to know

Syrian humanitarian leaders have a clear and urgent message for the international humanitarian system: do not displace local leadership at this critical moment. This policy brief draws on conversations with 20 Syrian humanitarian leaders providing life-saving assistance across Syria, all participants in the CHL Crisis Leadership Program.

Syria is at a critical juncture. The fall of the Assad regime has opened a space for institutional reform and the rebuilding of a Syria where its people can flourish. At the same time, in 2026 an estimated 15.6 million people need assistance, 5.5 million people are internally displaced, and societal infrastructure has been devastated after fifteen years of war. The civil society that has emerged from that conflict – capable, legitimate, and deeply rooted in community – is now at risk of being displaced as an influx of international actors, motivated by easing entry restrictions, seek to establish a direct presence in Syria.

These findings connect directly with CHL’s broader research on locally lead crisis response and the work of the Crisis Leadership Program, and echo recent experiences shared by Sudanese humanitarian leaders. 

This research was funded in part by Deakin University, the Centre for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), and Foundation de France (FDF)