-
Welcome To SIRFWe Serve the needs of our members and advocate on behalf of
populations affected by the Syrian Crisis. -
SIRFIs the only regional International NGO body
dedicated to the Syria crisis, encompassing
Syria and neighboring Syrian refugee-hosting countries. -
SIRFInforming members of advocacy opportunities and develop
advocacy and policy products.
Welcome to
The Syria International NGO Regional Forum
In light of the increasingly regional nature of the Syrian Crisis, and the humanitarian and political effects on neighboring countries, a regionally focused forum was assembled in April 2013 to give voice to INGOs conducting humanitarian responses in the region and to facilitate their collective engagement.
Guiding Principles
SIRF exists to serve the needs of its members and advocate on behalf of populations affected by the Syrian Crisis, articulated around 4 core functions: coordination, representation, advocacy and information management. SIRF therefore focuses on:
- Providing joint messaging to the regional donor community, UN agencies’ regional and Syria offices and, when not already served by Country Fora, country bodies and refugee host governments.
- Leading and representing INGOs within regional strategic and technical coordination mechanisms and external events.
- Informing members of advocacy opportunities and develop advocacy and policy products.
- Facilitating the exchange and coordination of information on humanitarian assistance in Syria and neighbouring countries.
Membership Criteria
All members are registered NGOs in their home country, are committed to humanitarian principles, are implementing responses to Syrian Crisis, are active in 2 or more affected countries, are willing to actively participate, and can appoint senior individual as focal point.
Scope
SIRF is the only regional International NGO body dedicated to the Syria crisis, encompassing Syria and neighboring Syrian refugee-hosting countries.
Structure
SIRF is composed of a SIRF Representative, currently hosted by Mercy Corps and funded by DfID, and a Board of 6 elected Regional Directors or Advocacy Directors.
The SIRF Board role is to provide governance functions, appraisal of the SIRF Representative and external representation on behalf of the members. The combination of Board members should represent all modalities of assistance, i.e. provided from Damascus, through cross-border and for refugees.
The SIRF Representative is the internal port of call for all 75 SIRF Members and its 15 Observers.. The SIRF Representative is also the main external interlocutor for all regional humanitarian and development inter-agency coordination mechanisms led by the Regional Refugee Coordinator, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria. SIRF is a key permanent member of the most senior technical and strategic decision-making bodies of the Regional Refugee/Resilience and the Inside Syria Responses.
Working Groups with attention to issues of particular interest are established as required.
In the idea of keeping a facilitation body mandate, the SIRF interaction with NGO fora in the region will be articulated around the following core principles, underpinned by a subsidiarity approach:
- SIRF does not have a formal ascendance on other NGO fora.
- SIRF is responsible to represent all fora in regional response leadership and planning mechanisms.
- SIRF will take up country specific issues to the regional level only at the request of country fora, or where an issue has a region wide impact that needs to be addressed at regional level.
Member Organisations
Action Aid
Action Aid is an international organisation, working with over 15 million people in 45 countries for a world free from poverty and injustice.
ICMC
The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is a registered non-profit organization working in the areas of refugee and migration issues.
Plan International
Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
ACTED
ACTED has been committed to immediate humanitarian relief to support those in urgent need and protect people’s dignity.
iMMAP
iMMAP is an international not-for-profit organization providing information management in humanitarian and development settings for over 18 years.
Première Urgence Internationale
Première Urgence Internationale helps civilians who are marginalised or excluded as a result of natural disasters, war and economic collapse.
Action Contre La Faim
ACF’s mission consists of saving lives via the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, in particular during and following disasters and conflicts.
International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.
Relief International
Relief International support communities in their response to crisis. Our goal is to achieve a compassionate collaboration that creates lasting solutions.
American Friends Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action.
Blumont
Blumont works with communities to deliver humanitarian assistance, build infrastructure, and foster long-term stability and development. Our vision is a world where a community’s future is not determined by its circumstances, but by the aspirations of its people.
Save the Children
Save the Children uses a holistic approach to help us achieve more for children, and to use our resources in an efficient and sustainable way.
AVSI
AVSI Foundation works towards development that is sustainable and capable of responding to the real needs of people, inspired by the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church.
IRC
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.
CAFOD
We’re a member of Caritas International – a group of over 160 Catholic agencies from around the world – known as ‘the helping hand of the Church’. Because we work through the local Church we can reach people and places that others can’t.
INTERSOS
INTERSOS is an Italian humanitarian aid organization that works all over the world to bring assistance to people in danger, victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts or living in conditions of extreme exclusion.
Solidarités International
Committed to providing universal access to drinking water and sanitation, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is there to help people hit by war, epidemics and natural disasters.
Care
CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people.
Islamic Relief
With an active presence in over 40 countries across the globe, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for the three billion people still living in poverty.
Syrian American Medical Society
The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) is a nonpolitical, nonprofit medical relief organization that is working on the front lines of crisis relief in Syria and neighboring countries to alleviate suffering and save lives. SAMS proudly provides medical care and treatment to every patient in need.
CARITAS CH
Caritas Switzerland prevents, combats and alleviates poverty worldwide in more than 30 countries. With its projects in development cooperation, it works in the areas of food security, water, climate protection, disaster prevention and migration as well as education for children and adults.
Jesuit Refugee Services
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support of an international office in Rome.
Syria Relief
Syria Relief was established in 2011 in response to the beginning of the Syrian crisis. Overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing disaster unfolding in Syria, a group of friends of Syrian heritage came together in order to provide emergency humanitarian aid, for what was initially assumed would be a short-term outreach.
CARITAS CZECH REPUBLIC
Charitable activities rank among the essential purposes of the Church from its very beginnings. Our mission is universal, and therefore we seek to perform our activities for all people. Our fundamentals are derived from Christ's example and from our own tradition.
JOHANNITER
Johanniter International (JOIN) is a partnership of 16 national charity organisations founded by the Order of St John in Europe and the Middle East, and the 4 Orders of St John in Europe.
Syria Relief & Development
Founded in November 2011 by Syrian-Americans Dr. Jihad Qaddour and his daughter Jomana Qaddour, Syria Relief and Development (SRD) was created to provide humanitarian relief to Syrian civilians amid conflict in the country.
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, we have expanded in size to reach more than 120 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.
Kvinna Till Kvinna
Kvinna till Kvinna literally means ”Woman to Woman”. We strengthen the organisation of women in conflict regions by collaborating with women’s organisations and supporting their work to promote women’s rights and peace. The goal is for women’s power and influence to increase.
TEARFUND
We're following Jesus where the need is greatest, working through local churches to unlock people's potential and helping them to discover that the answer to poverty is within themselves. When disasters strike, we respond quickly. We won't stop until poverty stops.
COSV
COSV is a non-profit voluntary organization involved in international cooperation since 1968, with projects in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe.
Life For Relief & Development
Founded in 1992 , LIFE for Relief and Development is a global humanitarian relief and development organization. LIFE is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to people regardless of race, gender, religion and cultural background.
Terre Des Hommes Italy
The Terre des Hommes International Federation is a network of ten national organisations working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
COOPI
COOPI intervenes in contexts of emergency, reconstruction and development in order to facilitate a better equilibrium between developed and developing areas of the world.
Lutheran World Federation
We are a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition on a common journey of renewal. We strive to put our faith into action within and beyond the communion, and seek God’s Word and Spirit to guide us.
Terres Des Hommes Lausanne
The Terre des Hommes International Federation is a network of ten national organisations working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
Danish Church Aid
DanChurchAid assists the world’s poorest to lead a life in dignity. Aid is given regardless of race, creed, political or religious affiliation.
MAG
We help people to be safe from landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), free from danger, free from fear. We find landmines before children do.
UN PONTE PER
The aim of UPP is the prevention of new conflicts, particularly in the Middle East. This is achieved through advocacy campaigns, programs which educate and encourage cultural exchange, collaborative projects and peaceful civil interventions.
Danish Refugee Council
The Danish Refugee Council is currently implementing a broad range of activities relevant to conflict affected communities and persons.
MEDAIR
Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality.
United Muslim Relief
At United Muslim Relief, we believe everyone has a right to live free of poverty in a secure and more equitable world where they are able to realize their potential.
Dorcas
Dorcas is a Christian relief and development organisation inspired by Matthew 25:31-46, to care for and empower the poor and the oppressed. Dorcas has been involved in relief and development programmes for more than 35 years and currently operates in 17 focus countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Médecins Du Monde
Working in France and 64 countries worldwide, Doctors of the World - Médecins du Monde is an independent international movement of campaigning activists who provide care, bear witness and support social change.
Finn Church Aid
FCA specialises in supporting local communities in three priority areas: Right to Livelihood, Right to Education and Right to Peace.
Mennonite Central Committee
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches, shares God's love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice.
Global Communities
Global Communities is an international non-profit organization that works closely with communities worldwide to bring about sustainable changes that improve the lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable.
MERCY CORPS
Alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
WORLD VISION
We partner with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
GVC
Everyone has the right to a dignified life. We believe and work to achieve this goal, whatever the cost.
MUSLIM AID
Working in over 70 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, Muslim Aid is striving to help the poor overcome the suffering endured due to natural disasters and lack of life's basic necessities.
ZOA
ZOA is an international relief and recovery organization supporting vulnerable people affected by violent conflicts and natural disasters in fragile states, by helping them to realize dignified and resilient lives.
HELPAGE
HelpAge International is a global network of organisations promoting the right of all older people to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives.
Norwegian Refugee Council
The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Whatever it takes. Wherever, and whenever, we're needed.
Handicap International
We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
OXFAM
We make sure people can get clean water to drink and decent sanitation. We provide help for people to get food and the essentials they need to survive and ensure the most vulnerable are kept safe from harm.
Our Donor
With the Support of FCDO
FCDO
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) projects UK as a force for good in the world. We reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.