Advancing the National Dialogue on the Political Process in Syria in Accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254

An Initiative by Madaniya in Coordination with Syrian Civil Society Organisations

Project Overview

The National Dialogue Project, launched in early 2024, brought together Syrian civic actors from across political divides and geographic regions to engage in meaningful discussions on the future of Syria. Through 13 in-person workshops and multiple virtual dialogue sessions, participants tackled the core components of a political transition: the transitional governing body, constitutional reform, and national elections.

While the dialogues reflected widespread public frustration with the stalled political process, they also generated grounded, locally informed visions for a credible path forward. At its heart, the project aimed to articulate a Syrian-led interpretation of UN Security Council Resolution

2254—one rooted in the lived realities, priorities, and aspirations of Syrians themselves, rather than externally imposed frameworks.

Project Objectives

This initiative set out to develop a collective civic vision for Syria’s political transition—one that reflects the diverse aspirations of Syrians for freedom, justice, and democracy. It aimed to:

• Create space for objective and transparent dialogue among Syrians from different regions and political backgrounds;
• Reclaim civic agency by grounding the political transition in Syrian realities, rather than foreign agendas;
• Identify common ground, while acknowledging areas of disagreement, on key components of UNSCR 2254;
• Offer concrete pathways and alternatives for a credible and inclusive political process.

What We Did in 2024

From May to August 2024, Madaniya coordinated a series of 13 local dialogue workshops across Syria and neighbouring countries, including in Suwayda, Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa, Idlib, and the diaspora. Each workshop brought together 15–20 civic and political actors for two days of focused dialogue on the core pillars of a political transition:

• The political deadlock and possibilities for a breakthrough
• The form and function of a transitional governing body
• Prospects for constitutional reform
• Preconditions for free and fair elections

Participants included civil society leaders, independent activists, legal experts, and community organisers—none of whom were affiliated with military or ruling authorities. The dialogues were facilitated by a Syrian-led consulting team and supported by local partner organisations.

Findings from each region were compiled and analysed in a comprehensive report, presented at Madaniya’s annual conference in September 2024. The outcomes offer a rare snapshot of civic perspectives from across Syria and will serve as a reference for future advocacy, policy engagement, and broader civic coordination.

Explore the outcomes of the 2024 dialogue phase and Syrian perspectives on Resolution 2254.