GIZ opens country office in Syria
Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven: ‘We are a reliable partner for Syria. Reconstruction, human security and economic prospects are at the heart of our cooperation.’
Eschborn, Damascus, 02.09.2026. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH today opened its country office in Damascus. Together with KfW Development Bank, it is moving into the newly opened German House. In 2012, GIZ had to leave the country due to the civil war, but it continued to support the Syrian civilian population from neighbouring countries. This meant that even during the civil war, millions of people could access health care and clean water.
At the opening event for the new office, Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Vice-Chair of the GIZ Management Board, said: ‘We are very pleased to be returning to Damascus and to be able to strengthen our cooperation with our Syrian partners. Now it is about rebuilding the country together.’ Reconstruction, she added, is more than repairing houses and roads: ‘It is about economic prospects and jobs for the people, about functioning state institutions, and about creating the conditions for lasting peace. We stand by Syria’s side to help advance the necessary reforms for the benefit of the Syrian people.’
Niels Annen, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), said: ‘With this trip, the focus is on Syria’s reconstruction. We want to pave the way for new opportunities for German companies while creating new sources of income and greater stability for people in Syria: German businesses and development cooperation go hand in hand here. With the German House, we are now pooling the expertise of German development cooperation under one roof – it is designed as a space for dialogue with our Syrian partners.’
Many years of experience in the country
GIZ works in Syria on behalf of the Federal Government, the European Union and other European donors. In doing so, it draws on its well-established contacts with Syrian civil society and its many years of experience in the country. During the civil war, GIZ provided support to repair damaged hospitals and health centres and keep them operational. Since 2017, this has enabled more than 210,000 operations to take place. Furthermore, together with local non-governmental organisations, it has secured access to clean water for around two million people. Hoven explained: ‘Thanks to the mutual trust that has grown over many years, we can now support Syria’s reconstruction quickly. As part of this, we work very closely with Syrian civil society and involve the Syrian diaspora. We are pleased to be opening doors to new partnerships, especially for German businesses.’
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Federal Government in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ assists people and societies in shaping their own future and improving their living conditions.