Syria signs new memorandum of understanding with Aga Khan Network
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), in a step that is considered one of the most prominent development cooperation agreements during the current year, due to its significant financial commitments and expansion of field projects inside the country.
The MoU aims to organize and coordinate the work of the network's agencies within the country, in order to ensure the unification of institutional reference, and to link development projects to the priorities of the Syrian government in the recovery and reconstruction phase, and this step comes as an extension of the "Framework for Development Cooperation Framework" agreement signed between the two parties since 2002, which formed the legal basis for the network's work in Syria for more than two decades.
Unprecedented financial commitment: €100 million in two years
The MoU included a commitment by the Aga Khan Network to invest at least €100 million in Syria between 2026 and 2027, covering four key sectors: health, education, culture and economic development, with a particular focus on areas in need of urgent support to restore basic services.
This financial commitment is one of the largest development contributions announced in Syria in recent years, and reflects an expansion of the role of the network, which has been operating in the country since the turn of the millennium.
Roadmap for Field Network Projects:
The MoU stipulates the rehabilitation of damaged hospitals, support for primary care centres in rural areas, the launch of medical training programmes in partnership with the Aga Khan University to raise the efficiency of local staff, the expansion of Ebdaa Bank's services to support small enterprises, and the financing of agricultural initiatives that include modern irrigation techniques and improved seeding in areas such as Hama and the Sahel.
In the education and early childhood sector, the MoU included the restoration of schools, the provision of alternative energy, the development of vocational and technical education programmes in line with the needs of the Syrian labour market, the completion of the restoration of the old markets of Aleppo and the vicinity of the Citadel in cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the conversion of some restored sites into tourist attractions, and the establishment of water projects based on renewable energy, including the drilling of wells and the provision of pumping stations to remote areas.
Establishing a company and investing land in Salamiyah
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been working in Syria for decades, implementing projects in multiple areas in collaboration with international partners, national authorities and communities, with a focus on improving the quality of life, rebuilding livelihoods, safeguarding cultural heritage and expanding economic opportunities.
In January 2026, the Syrian Ministry of Economy and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding with the network, with the aim of developing the industrial sector and enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors, and related projects included the establishment of a company to dry onions and vegetables in the city of Salamiyah and the investment of agricultural lands.
The Aga Khan Network also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Syrian Ministry of Energy on Thursday 26 March, with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the implementation of water and sanitation projects in the city of Salamiyah in Hama Governorate, including the development of water infrastructure in the city of Salamiyah and its countryside through the implementation of projects that include the rehabilitation of water transmission lines, the construction of new pumping stations and reservoirs, as well as support for treatment projects and the use of renewable energy, which is reflected in improving the quality of services and the well-being of local communities.
Who is the Aga Khan Development Network?
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is one of the world's largest private, non-profit development systems, founded by the Aga Khan, the Imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims, with the aim of improving the quality of life and promoting economic, social and cultural opportunities in fragile and developing societies. Despite its historical religious roots, the Akdn operates on a universal humanitarian principle, providing services to all those in need without discrimination on the basis of religion, race or gender.
AKDN operates according to a philosophy based on building productive institutions capable of financing its social services, rather than relying on short-term grants. It owns factories, hotels, banks, and energy companies in more than 30 countries, and employs about 96,000 people.
Syria is one of the pivotal countries in the network's activity, with the AKDN having an official headquarters in Damascus and operating under international cooperation agreements with the Syrian government since 2002. It has implemented extensive projects in the fields of culture, microfinance, health, and education, as well as community support programs.