On 3 December, the European Union convened the joint session of the 15th Trust Fund Board and the 17th Operational Board of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (the Madad Fund), bringing together EU Member States, donors, and key partners.

Established in 2014, the Madad Fund has been one of the EU’s key instruments for addressing the impact of the Syrian crisis, providing large-scale support in education, health, livelihoods, protection and water and sanitation services across Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Türkiye. Over ten years of operations, the Madad Fund has reached more than 12 million Syrian refugees and members of host communities, strengthened national systems, and helped enhance resilience in some of the countries most affected by the crisis.

Chairing the event, Ana Pires, Head of the Middle East Unit at the European Union’s Directorate-General for Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), emphasized: “Over the past ten years, the Madad Fund has shown what we can achieve when the EU and its partners act together with determination and humanity. Madad’s legacy will endure in the story of millions of Syrians supported, who now have the chance to participate in the path to a prosperous Syria.”

With Madad’s mandate having ended in December 2021 and all its actions now concluded, today’s joint Board meeting served as a platform for strategic oversight. Board Members discussed the Fund’s final phase, including its overall results, regional impact, and key lessons identified through its ten-year implementation period. The session also reinforced coordination among contributors and observers on the remaining steps required to finalise the winding-down process.

The achievements of the Madad Fund were publicly celebrated last September in Amman, Jordan, marking its 10th anniversary. The event reaffirmed Madad as a collective success story built on strong cooperation. The event showcased shared achievements and lessons learned across its funded initiatives and reaffirmed the EU’s continued commitment to supporting Syrians and their host countries.