Project profile — Negotiation Assistance to the Syrian Opposition Delegation

This project supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, by increasing the ability of women and men members in the Opposition to participate in peace negotiations. The Syrian Opposition’s High Negotiations Committee represents a wide diversity of Syrian Opposition groups. The goal is to improve their negotiation skills, and increase their knowledge of the issues to be negotiated once peace talks resume.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) enhanced ability of the Opposition to effectively negotiate and represent the interests of the Opposition during negotiations; (2) increased ability of the Opposition to represent the interests of all stakeholders in implementing the peace agreement and drafting a new constitution; and (3) increased ability of the Opposition to advocate for a renewed political process and prepare for the new process.

Results achieved at the end of the project (November 2018) include: (1) a senior woman negotiator created a shared transitional justice vision with civil society, including an outreach campaign; (2) drafted 15 negotiation proposals that incorporated elements from negotiation assistance; (3) 11 members of the Geneva delegation showed improvement in presenting and responding to negotiation proposals and conveying the interests of the Opposition; (4) drafted 1 shared transitional justice vision paper with civil society; (5) drafted a negotiation strategy and 6 strategic statements and proposals; (6) 10 out of 34 High Negotiation Committee members (including both women members) and 28 of 36 Syrian Negotiation Committee delegation members (including all 3 women members) showed improvement in presenting and responding to strategic statements and proposals; and (7) 10 out of 34 High Negotiation Committee members (including both women members) and 28 of 36 Syrian Negotiation Committee delegation members (including all 3 women members) reported using technical assistance.