According to the Bank’s website, the Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase the productive capacity and market participation of smallholder farmers in selected areas.

The proposed Syria Smallholder Transformation for Agriculture Revitalization (STAR) Project will support Syria's post-conflict recovery by restoring and enhancing smallholders' productive capacity and improving their access to markets in selected areas. The operation will combine (i) rapid support to crop and livestock production through improved climate-smart inputs, animal health services, and on-farm water-saving irrigation technologies; (ii) rehabilitation and upgrading of priority value-chain and post-harvest infrastructure and the strengthening of farmer aggregation through cooperatives to improve quality, value addition, and market linkages; and (iii) institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Agriculture to rebuild core services, develop digital agricultural data systems, and advance policy reforms--especially the transition toward more targeted and market-oriented agricultural support.

The environmental risk is rated Substantial at the concept stage due to the nature of project activities, the broad geographic scope, and weak institutional capacity for environmental management in a fragile and conflict-affected context. The project will support rehabilitation of irrigation systems and agricultural infrastructure, as well as increased agricultural production through improved inputs and practices. Key environmental risks include: (i) localized impacts from small to medium scale civil works, such as dust, noise, waste generation, and occupational health and safety risks; (ii) potential soil and water contamination from increased use of fertilizers and pesticides; (iii) increased pressure on scarce water resources, including risks of groundwater over-extraction; (iv) generation of agricultural, veterinary, and laboratory waste, including hazardous and biological waste; and (v) e-waste associated with digital technologies introduced under the project. In addition, the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in rural areas poses contextual risks for land-based activities.

The project’s social risk is assessed as Substantial, reflecting a combination of contextual, institutional, and project-specific factors. Syria remains a fragile and conflict-affected setting, characterized by weakened institutions, limited field access, population displacement and return, and heightened vulnerability of rural communities. Key social risks include: (i) labor and working conditions risks in agriculture and agri-value chains, including informality and potential child labor; (ii) inequitable access to project benefits, particularly for vulnerable and conflict-affected groups such as smallholder farmers, women, youth, internally displaced persons, and returnees; (iii) community health and safety risks related to agricultural practices, climate-related shocks, and potential exposure to unexploded ordnance in rural areas; (iv) risks associated with digital inclusion, data protection, and potential exclusion linked to the use of digital platforms; (v) challenges in stakeholder engagement and grievance handling in a highly constrained and uneven operating environment; and (vi) limited land-related risks associated with informal tenure, land access disputes, or changes in land use, despite no planned land acquisition.

Total Project Cost: US$ 175.00 million
IDA Grant: US$ 175.00 million

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Izabela Leao
Title: Senior Rural Development Specialist
Email: ileao@worldbank.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

To submit an information request for project information, you will have to create an account to access the Access to Information request form. You can learn more about this process at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/access-to-information/request-submission

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint