Over a three-year period, we provided research and M&E to support implementation of the Syria Stabilisation Response Mechanism (SRM).

The mechanism was to deliver short term stabilisation support (90 day interventions) to areas in Syria under control of moderate opposition groups. This included providing urgently-needed resources to support service delivery.

Wider objectives were to:

• Mitigate against the degradation of public services and the establishment of malign entities;
• Minimise reprisals, criminal activity and other consequences of a collapse in authority;
• Enable displaced people to return;
• Discourage the takeover of civilian authorities by armed groups.

The support provided varied and aimed at creating stabilisation effect. This was done by providing moderate opposition actors with technical support, capacity-building, specific equipment and basic infrastructure support.

Core thematics included water, electricity, food security, health, waste management, education and other essential public services as required by local governance structures.

Project activities involved research in the form of conflict assessments and community profiles, planning and interventions, grant distribution, M&E, the recruitment and training of in-Syria teams; financial management and operational support.

SRM initially focussed on Aleppo and Idlib governorates, and then north-east Syria and Dara’a, Quneitra and Rif Damascus in the south.