Country: Syrian Arab Republic Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Syria continues to face a protracted humanitarian crisis, with millions still affected by years of conflict, displacement, and infrastructure degradation. In Deir ez-Zor, the progressive return of populations, amid evolving governance dynamics, is placing growing pressure on already fragile services and livelihoods. Returnee, displaced, and host communities continue to face damaged shelters, limited access to safe water, and disrupted agricultural livelihoods. In response, and with support from the Centre de Crise et de Soutien (CDCS), Acted is implementing a 12-month early recovery project to restore essential services, support dignified housing, and revitalize agricultural value chains. Through an integrated area-based approach, the project aims to strengthen local resilience, reduce vulnerability, and support sustainable return dynamics in one of Syria’s key rural recovery areas. As families continue to return to Deir ez-Zor, pressure on basic services, housing, and livelihood systems remains high. In Basira sub-district, years of conflict, infrastructure degradation, economic decline, and climate-related water scarcity have weakened communities’ ability to recover. Agriculture, once a backbone of the local economy, has been particularly affected by damaged irrigation infrastructure, high input costs, limited market access, and reduced water availability. To respond to these interconnected needs, Acted is implementing a multi-sectoral early recovery intervention from October 2025 to October 2026. The project combines shelter rehabilitation, water infrastructure restoration, and agricultural livelihoods support, contributing to improved living conditions and longer-term resilience for returnees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable host communities. Rebuilding essential services in return areas Safe housing and reliable water services are essential foundations for sustainable return. Under the project, Acted is rehabilitating 70 lightly or moderately damaged shelters, helping conflict-affected households regain safer and more dignified living conditions. In parallel, Acted is rehabilitating Sabha water station, a critical water asset serving approximately 12,500 people in Basira sub-district. The works support a shift away from costly and short-term water trucking towards more sustainable, locally managed water services, and include repairs/replacement of pumps, valves, pipes, electrical components, and other key systems, including the integration of sustainability measures. Restoring shelter and safe water access Agriculture remains central to livelihoods and food security in Basira. However, farmers and agricultural businesses continue to face major constraints, including water scarcity, damaged irrigation systems, limited technical support, and weak market linkages. To address these challenges, Acted is applying a ‘market systems approach’, supporting producers, agricultural businesses, and communal farming structures together. The project provides tailored financial and technical support to 235 micro, small, and medium agricultural businesses working across key local value chains, including vegetable production, livestock, dairy processing, poultry, fodder processing, beekeeping, fish farming, and seedling production. Selected businesses receive training, grants, and follow-up support to strengthen production, business management, and climate-smart agricultural practices – ultimately bolstering resilience and protecting livelihoods. Revitalizing agricultural value chains Access to irrigation water is one of the most urgent barriers to agricultural recovery in Basira. To support farmers’ ability to restore production, Acted is rehabilitating six irrigation pumping stations serving local farmers’ associations, with the works expected to improve access to irrigation water for at least 300 farmers – benefiting approximately 1,500 people. Rehabilitation works include repairs and installation of pump sets, control panels, transformers, piping systems, water distribution components, and other essential infrastructure. This support is closely linked to the wider agricultural livelihoods package, ensuring that individual businesses and shared productive infrastructure are strengthened together. Improving irrigation for farming communities In the absence of formal agricultural extension services, farmers’ associations play an important role in supporting producers, managing shared resources, and transferring knowledge within communities. Through the project, Acted is supporting six farmers’ associations with capacity building and material support. Training focuses on topics such as association governance, financial and resource management, operational planning, water management, modern irrigation techniques, and climate-adaptive agricultural practices. Based on training needs assessments conducted during the first phase of the project, Acted also identified equipment needs to help associations better manage services and support farmers beyond the project period. This approach aims to reinforce local ownership and ensure that rehabilitated infrastructure and agricultural support continue to benefit communities after the project ends. Strengthening local agricultural systems With CDCS support, Acted’s intervention in Basira sub-district brings together shelter, WASH, and livelihoods support to address the interconnected barriers facing returnee, displaced, and host communities in Deir ez-Zor. By restoring basic services, supporting agricultural businesses, rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure, and strengthening farmers’ associations, the project contributes to more sustainable rural recovery and locally led resilience – ultimately strengthening the foundations for durable recovery in northeast Syria.