About MASAR

Funded by the European Union through the Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, Maintaining Strength and Resilience for Local Governments (MASAR) Project has supported local governments’ capacities, host populations and refugees suffering from the effects of the civil war in Syria. The project has worked in Ninawa and Duhok in Iraq, and in Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel and Tripoli in Lebanon, specifically on municipal strategic planning, improvement of public services and local economic development.

MASAR for Local Governments has worked in both Lebanon and Iraq.

In Lebanon

Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel and north of Tripoli: the areas most heavily affected by the Syrian refugee crisis.

In Iraq

Ninawa plain and Duhok in the Kurdistan Region, also heavily affected by the Syrian refugees’ crisis.

Pathway to success

How MASAR started

During the war in Syria, more than 5.6 millions of Syrian citizens were displaced and in need of humanitarian protection and assistance, while the war also deeply affected the surrounding countries. The MASAR project, funded by the European Union, was designed to support local governments in Iraq and Lebanon bearing the burden of Syrian refugees and displacement in their countries.

What happened next

MASAR was tailor-made to suit local needs and priorities in certain local government sectors in line with three strategic objectives of the project. MASAR enabled target local governments to do pilots to test and implement infrastructure improvement and innovation. MASAR has been implemented by a team of four European partners: the International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities – VNG International, the Polish Center for International Aid – PCPM, the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation – ACCD and KL Komponent from Denmark.

Watch this summary about MASAR strategic objectives and different activities in Iraq.

Watch this summary about MASAR strategic objectives and different activities in Lebanon.

The MASAR systematic approach for the Geographic Information System's implementation proved to be effective and paved the way towards sustainability. The unmatched passion of the Geographic Information System Technical Unit staff played a major role in reaching this advanced level in the system.

Dr. Amal Iaaly

Director of the GIS Centre, MASAR National GIS Consultant, Assistant Professor University of Balamand

All the villagers benefit from Btedii lake. If this lake is gone, no one will stay in the village. Thus the importance of MASAR hill-lakes project in our region.

Samir Fakhry

Btedii Deputy Mayor (Union Of Municipalities of Deir Al Ahmar, Lebanon)

The highlight of MASAR in Arsal Municipality & Union of Municipalities of Deir el Ahmar was the community engagement. In spite of the economic crisis, youth have been deeply engaged as volunteers in all municipal activities. They believe that their time and efforts will not have been in vain and have resulted in empowerment and progress in their communities.

Malaz Kawas

MASAR Front Officer in Bekaa - Lebanon

With sufficient data and participatory planning local governments can deliver better public services and facilitate local economic initiatives. Working on governance and adopting selected technologies is as important as securing financial resources to ensure development in a context of crisis.

Enric Ibarz

MASAR Area Manager for North Tripoli - Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD)

I joined the beekeeping progamme to learn more about it to be able to create eventually my own business and support my family.

Nour Taleb Daher

Trainee – Beekeeping Programme

"In the MASAR we work for and with local governments. We talk about sustainable economic development of places and we apply sophisticated tools to facilitate the process. In fact, what we really do is always the same: we support people in need to live better lives."

Jarosław Zarychta

PCPM Representative - Iraq MASAR for Local Governments - Municipal Front Officer

"MASAR came in Duhok at the right time, and the results will stay".

Rawshan Atrooshi

VNG International, Iraq office - Country Director

“This website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of MASAR Programme For Local Governments Consortium Partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.”