The recent launch of the Solidarity Fund, coordinated by Syrian Networks League and NEAR, is already translating into action in the field for Fund grantee ELAF RD. We spoke to programme manager Ghazi Turkmani at ELAF to learn about their experience as a grantee.
“The Türkiye Syria Solidarity Fund is very important, because it came at a really early stage after the earthquake. It was very responsive as it served both of the affected countries, quickly.
Our proposal to the Fund was to rapidly distribute food baskets survivors of the earthquake in Northwest Syria and ensure this is done in an efficient and effective way to reach the communities most in need. A month after the earthquake it was Ramadan and most people in Syria are Muslims and were going to be fasting for a long time. So it was really essential to deliver aid quickly and the timing was very very important.
The application process was simple - everything was included in one place - and we used Submittable for our proposal with budget, location, service and targeted beneficiaries. After two or three days, a committee from SNL and NEAR met to assess applications and within a week we learned we had received the grant.
The deadline was short in order to respond rapidly, because the response from the donors to the Fund was very fast.
This Fud is very necessary because it not only supports local people but this response is done by people who know the communities and the needs in the field. This Fund supports localisation and this is a good example of what local organisations can do with rapid, flexible funding. The experience was good and the feedback is that we would like to know more about the composition of the Fund committee and their technical capacities.
ELAF field teams distributing emergency aid to earthquake survivors @ELAF
ELAF RD was established in 2014, encompassing 14 relief societies operating in Hama Governorate inside Syria. This union develops their collective efforts of, increases coordination and supports humanitarian work to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable groups living in crisis conditions as victims of the war. It was founded by a group of volunteers who have since worked tirelessly to meet humanitarian needs.
ELAF’s goal is communities where resilience and capacity are built through effective humanitarian interventions. The union’s strategy is to sustainably empower vulnerable and IDP groups, in particular elderly and women from hard-to-reach communities enhancing the individual and collective abilities of women and youth. They do this through encouraging community-led development processes and strengthening self-actualization that is developed to meet people's needs.
ELAF RD has an office in Gaziantep and Antakya in addition to 5 field offices in Northern Syria. ELAF achieves its goals through quality-driven, purposeful, and diverse projects that are implemented in Syria and Turkey for the most vulnerable groups of IDPs and Refugees. Community development, empowerment of those in need, both technically and cognitively, providing basic needs for most vulnerable groups and establishing community development projects."