Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding

Overview

SYCAC works to strengthen social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and the capacity of local communities to manage disputes and tensions without violence.

This strategic pillar responds to the deep erosion of trust, social fragmentation, displacement-related tensions, and divisions affecting communities across Syria. SYCAC supports locally led processes that help communities rebuild relationships, address sources of tension, and prevent disputes from escalating into wider conflict.

Our Approach

SYCAC applies conflict-sensitive and community-based approaches that combine conflict analysis, dialogue, mediation, facilitation, capacity development, and locally designed peace initiatives.

Interventions begin with an understanding of local conflict drivers, actors, relationships, and emerging risks. This enables SYCAC and its local partners to design activities that reduce tensions, avoid unintended harm, and strengthen opportunities for cooperation and peaceful engagement.

Local actors receive practical training and accompaniment in conflict analysis, dialogue facilitation, mediation, reconciliation, gender inclusion, and the design of conflict-sensitive community initiatives.

Community Dialogue and Mediation

SYCAC supports structured dialogue between different community groups, civil society actors, community leaders, and relevant local authorities.

These processes create safe spaces for participants to discuss grievances, identify shared concerns, challenge harmful narratives, and develop locally acceptable solutions.

SYCAC also strengthens the capacity of local mediators and facilitators to respond to disputes, support communication between conflicting parties, and prevent local tensions from escalating.

Community-Led Peace Initiatives

SYCAC supports local organizations, Peace Clubs, women’s groups, youth groups, and community leaders to design and implement initiatives that address specific sources of tension within their communities.

These initiatives may include community dialogue, mediation, joint activities, awareness campaigns, alternative narratives, civic engagement, and collaborative action addressing locally identified conflict drivers.

Where appropriate, small grants enable local actors to translate conflict analysis and dialogue outcomes into practical initiatives that strengthen trust, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence.

Peace Clubs and Local Peace Infrastructure

SYCAC’s Peace Clubs form an important part of its community-based peace infrastructure. They bring together local activists, women, young people, and community leaders who are trained in conflict analysis, dialogue, facilitation, and gender inclusion.

Peace Clubs contribute to local conflict monitoring, community engagement, knowledge production, dialogue facilitation, and the design of locally led responses.

Through these locally rooted structures, SYCAC strengthens long-term community capacity to identify tensions early, respond constructively, and support peaceful relationships across social groups.

Women and Youth in Peacebuilding

SYCAC places particular emphasis on strengthening the leadership and meaningful participation of women and young people in peacebuilding and community decision-making.

Women- and youth-led organizations, volunteer teams, and community initiatives receive support to facilitate dialogue, address local tensions, challenge exclusion, and contribute directly to peace and recovery processes.

This approach recognizes that sustainable peace requires the active participation of groups that are often excluded from formal decision-making and local conflict-resolution mechanisms.

Long-Term Results

Through this strategic pillar, SYCAC seeks to contribute to communities that are more cohesive, resilient, and capable of managing tensions peacefully.

The intended long-term result is that local actors possess the skills, tools, relationships, and community mechanisms needed to analyze conflict, facilitate dialogue, mediate disputes, and prevent escalation.

SYCAC also aims to strengthen locally owned peace infrastructure and community initiatives that address sources of tension, rebuild trust, and support sustainable peaceful coexistence.