Comprehensive Dialogue on the Role of Civil Society and Madaniya in Monitoring Political Transition in Syria

In Partnership with The Day After (TDA)

Project Overview

In partnership with The Day After (TDA), Madaniya is launching a comprehensive national dialogue track aimed at rethinking the role of civil society—and Madaniya specifically—in monitoring and advancing indicators of democratic transformation during Syria’s political transition. The initiative seeks to strengthen the political agency of civic actors and reaffirm their central role in rebuilding both the state and the social fabric on the basis of democratic and civilian principles.

The dialogue responds to a growing need for honest, collective reflection on the position and function of civil society in the context of the current transformations. It raises critical questions about roles, alignments, and operational models, and revolves around two main inquiries:

• How can Madaniya translate its values and long-term vision into clear standards and measurable indicators that push the transition process forward?
• What meaningful role can Syrian civil society play in shaping and monitoring this process?

This effort will also include an internal review of Madaniya’s structures and operational mechanisms, aiming to draw lessons from past experiences and build more effective foundations for collective civic action. The dialogue is designed to be inclusive, participatory, and open-ended—offering space for in-depth deliberation while producing outcomes that extend beyond internal restructuring. It seeks to contribute to shaping a broader roadmap for Syrian civil society work, grounded in shared principles, values, and democratic commitments.

The launch event of this track will take place next month at Madaniya’s headquarters in Damascus, with official invitations and further details to be announced soon. Regular updates will follow as the initiative progresses.

Political Transition Observatory

At the core of this effort is the establishment of a Political Transition Observatory—a national monitoring and dialogue platform to be developed through a series of consultative sessions across nine regions inside Syria. These sessions will focus on five thematic priorities:

1. Constitutional and judicial reform
2. Transitional justice
3. Economic and development policy
4. Elections
5. Security sector reform

The goal is to develop a set of actionable, locally grounded indicators for each theme, informed by a rights-based framework and aligned with both the Constitutional Declaration and international standards. These indicators will serve as tools for tracking the trajectory of the transition and identifying gaps or regressions.

Work is currently underway to finalise the conceptual framework, coordinate the participation of Madaniya’s member and partner organisations, and engage a broad range of local actors and technical experts. The dialogue sessions are scheduled to begin in the coming period, culminating in a National Civil Society Conference in December 2025, on the anniversary of the fall of the regime. The conference will serve as a public forum to present the outcomes of this process and debate them with broader civic and policy stakeholders.

Further updates on the timeline and upcoming activities will be shared soon.