Syria

Fafo's activities in Syria dates back to 1996, when an academic collaboration with Damascus University was started, formalised by a cooperation agreement signed in 1997. The relationship resulted in a number of workshops and seminars addressing applied, policy-relevant socio-economic research both in Damascus and Oslo. In 2000 the two partners in cooperation with Syria's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) carried out a national household survey to map and analyse migration. More than 20,000 families were interviewed.

The cooperation was extended, and Fafo implemented a project concentrating on the labour market characteristics and living conditions of the Syrian population. An integral element of this project was capacity building of the CBS, particularly with respect to data analysis.

Fafo has also studied the situation of Palestinian refugees in the country, following similar studies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Jordan. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Syrian government and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in Damascus.

Furthermore, Fafo has teamed up with UNICEF Syria to study child labour in the country.

Fafo has also worked with Damascus University most recently on a survey of university youth on their perceptions of the future (2008-2009), as well as on hosting a seminar on women’s position in Syrian society (2005-2006).

Projects

• Survey of Syrian University Youth: Their Opportunities, Choices, Constraints and Perspectives for the Future (2008-2009)
• Seminar on women's position in Syrian society (2005-2006)
• Employment and living conditions in Syria (2004-2007)
• Internal migration in Syria (2000-2002)
• Magnitude and characteristics of working children in Syria (2000-2002)
• Living conditions among Palestinian refugees in Syria (2001-2003)

Researchers

Åge A. Tiltnes

Tewodros Aragie Kebede

Laura Mitchell

Kjetil Selvik

Gro Hasselknippe

Jon Pedersen