Brussels, Belgium,17 March 2025 – His Highness the Aga Khan, Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, spoke at the European Commission’s ninth annual conference in support of Syria, “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”. He pledged, on behalf of the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network, a minimum of €100 million over two years to help address the country’s urgent humanitarian and development needs.

Aiming to galvanise international support for a Syrian-owned, inclusive transition, the conference focused on “the most critical humanitarian, recovery, and reconstruction assistance” for Syria and its neighbouring countries.

In his first public engagement since assuming office as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) – since the death of his father, His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, on 4 February 2025 – His Highness said:

“We commit today to make available a minimum of €100 million over the next two years toward Syria’s recovery. With our partners, we intend to scale up humanitarian efforts; to invest in renewable energy and other vital areas of the economy; to expand the provision of health care and education; to address food insecurity; and to restore and preserve Syria’s rich cultural assets. This work will require critical enabling conditions, foremost of which is an end to violence, and a commitment to peace by all parties.

It is our dearest hope and expectation that Syria’s new government will uphold its promise of enlightened, pluralistic, and inclusive government for all Syrians, irrespective of gender, faith, or background.” Read the statement

The conference was co-hosted by Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; Dubravka Śuica, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean; and Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Response. Syria’s Interim Foreign Minister was in attendance, together with representatives of the United Nations, Syria's neighbouring states and other regional and international partners. The event built on the Paris Conference on Syria, held on 13 February 2025.

“We must spare no effort to assist an inclusive transition that gives all Syrians a chance to rebuild their country in line with their aspirations,” said Kaja Kallas.

On the sidelines of the conference, His Highness met with His Excellency Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, Syria’s Interim Foreign Minister; Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, OCHA; Achim Steiner, Administrator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary General at UNDP; Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Niels Annen, the German Government’s Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development; and Natasha Franceschi, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State.

The Aga Khan Development Network has been engaged in Syria’s socio-economic and cultural development for more than a quarter of a century. In 2012, AKDN’s development programme pivoted to focus on crisis response, reaching over two million people. The country has experienced deepening economic collapse and humanitarian catastrophe. Years of war, sanctions, and destruction have left over 80 percent of Syrians in poverty. Access to clean water has severely deteriorated and nearly 60 percent of the population is food insecure. Half of Syria’s health facilities remain non-functional. Over 2.4 million children are out of school. The electricity supply has plummeted.

AKDN is working to address many of these issues in partnership with others, including the European Commission, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and UN agencies. AKDN has more than 780 staff on the ground – almost all Syrian – including technical and humanitarian specialists, community mobilisers, engineers, health workers, mobile medical teams, and experts in cultural restoration and financial inclusion. AKDN works through well-established community-led organisations, supported by more than 700 volunteers, including many from the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, which has resided in Syria for centuries.

Syria’s protracted crisis is at a critical juncture. Shifting dynamics create important opportunities to address urgent needs, foster resilience, and build social cohesion.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

AKDN seeks to improve access to opportunities and quality of life for some of the poorest and most marginalised people in Syria, where we have been active since 1999.

We work directly in seven governorates, partnering with over 200 local organisations to extend our reach across 13 governorates.

Our activities span humanitarian assistance, healthcare and sanitation provision, microfinance, educational support, agriculture and small business strengthening, civil society support and cultural restoration. In the last five years we have:

• supported 500,000 people with emergency food and nutrition assistance;
• provided critical health and water and sanitation services for a million people;
• served 800,000 people through civil society interventions, enabling local ownership and social cohesion; and
• supported 50,000 farmers to enhance their food security, and climate and economic resilience.

Find out more about AKDN’s work at the.akdn