This policy report is the end product of a six-month research project that focuses on bottom-up female-led initiatives in the realms of local governance, social services, and security in Northern Syria, referred to as Rojava. In particular, the role that women and women ́s organisations are playing in the provision of security, social services, and local governance in this region are analysed in order to identify possible entry points for development organisations to support such local efforts.

This research was carried out by Utrecht University and the Women’s Commission of Rojava as part of the open call for evidence-based policy advice and tools. This subsidy scheme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands is implemented by The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Division WOTRO for Global Development, in collaboration with the Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law.

Consult this link for the gender-and conflict sensitive framework.