The localisation of humanitarian action in a transitioning Syria
This research examines the process of relocation of Syrian humanitarian organisations from the diaspora to Syria in transition and, more broadly, the current transformations in the humanitarian field in Syria.
Humanitarian or social context and issues
Since the conflict began in 2011, Syria has become one of the most emblematic areas for international humanitarian aid. The war has caused a large-scale humanitarian crisis, including mass population displacement, the collapse of basic infrastructure, and the fragmentation of the state. In response, international actors have deployed massive humanitarian aid. However, it is mainly local actors, both inside and outside the country, who have taken charge of this aid by organising themselves. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Syrian humanitarian organisations based in neighbouring countries have been able to return and officially carry out their activities inside the country, where the humanitarian situation remains dire. We are therefore seeing a form of relocation of organisations founded in exile, which have to deal with a still very complex political situation, in coordination with international organisations.
I intend to address the issue of aid localisation from an original perspective: that of relocation following a process of internationalisation in the diaspora. I am therefore seeking to understand how humanitarian actors and organisations returning to Syria are reinvesting the resources and skills they acquired abroad, and what impact this return is having on the local humanitarian field. What are their relationships with the organisations that remained in Syria, the new authorities and international organisations? The aim is to analyse the processes of political transition and transformation of humanitarian action together.
I seek to understand the specificities of this localisation of humanitarian action, the relocation of organisations that previously operated in and from outside Syria. I therefore examine the transnational dimension of humanitarian action based on a unique case of relocation/relocalisation.
Field of research and methodology
My research will focus on organisations that were previously mainly active outside Syria and which, since the fall of the regime, are redeploying or developing their activities within the country. It will therefore take place both in neighbouring countries, such as Lebanon, and within Syria itself. I will conduct ethnographic research through observation and interviews within these organisations, as well as with local political leaders and heads of NGOs and international organisations. Although it is finally possible to conduct research in all regions of Syria, the political and security situation there remains very sensitive. I will therefore take care to conduct my research without putting myself or my interlocutors in danger. If the Syrian field proves too dangerous, I will continue the research from neighbouring countries and via communication technologies.
The scientific benefits of research for humanitarian and social actors
This research aims to shed light on the localisation process at the heart of current reforms to the humanitarian system. In a context of ongoing uncertainty, it seeks to provide concrete guidance to actors working in the field. Its findings will highlight the specific challenges faced by Syrian organisations. By documenting their experiences and the structural constraints they face, it will help promote their role in aid governance. By providing an empirical perspective on the tensions between international standards and local dynamics, it will fuel the debate on how to deliver fairer aid. It could thus serve as a basis for comparative research with other countries.
This research lies at the intersection of several fields of study – humanitarian studies, migration studies, organisational sociology, international relations – and aims to enrich the debate on the dynamics of power and the transformation of humanitarian practices in contexts of political transition. The specific issue of aid localisation remains relatively marginal in the scientific literature. While several studies have documented the deployment of international aid in Syria, few have critically examined the power relations between international, local and diaspora actors. Finally, this research pays particular attention to continuities and ruptures in humanitarian practices.
Biography
For the past ten years, Léo Fourn has devoted his research to studying the relationship between migration and mobilisation, based on the case of the Syrian crisis. His doctoral thesis in sociology focused on the reciprocal influences of exile and engagement on the biographical trajectories of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and France. He has continued this research by looking at other forms of transnational mobilisation for Syria, particularly through the production of knowledge. As part of his postdoctoral research within the ERC LIVE-AR project, he has extended his research to include exiled activists from other Arab countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria).
Photo credit : Ahmed Akacha (Pexels)