The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, known as KSrelief, has finalised a joint executive program to launch a rural women’s economic empowerment scheme in Syria. Delivered in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the venture forms a key part of the wider Bathraa initiative. The $1.5 million agreement is set to bring direct economic benefits to 520 individuals while providing indirect support to a further 284,320 people across three governorates.
The formal signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of KSrelief located in Riyadh. Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programs, Eng. Ahmed Al Baiz represented KSrelief during the signing. The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States Director Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari signed on behalf of the international development body.
The newly established program focuses on safeguarding local livelihoods by updating and stocking multipurpose production centers. These hubs will be fitted with food-processing units, agricultural waste composting systems, local marketing kiosks and modern renewable energy installations. The physical changes aim to create a productive workspace that serves as a base for ongoing occupational training.
Alongside physical infrastructure, the program will deliver technical, entrepreneurial and leadership capacity-building workshops tailored for rural women. Organisers will distribute specialised tools and equipment to help participants start their own income-generating activities. This approach aims to boost local financial stability and build better independent revenue paths across the region.
The joint initiative reflects the broader humanitarian commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide aid to the Syrian population. By coordinating directly with the UNDP to focus on the rural family unit, the project aims to turn local crises into sustainable development opportunities.
