The International Labour Organization (ILO), in cooperation with Syria's Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL), conducted a two-day training programme to strengthen the capacity of Ministry staff to plan according to modern international standards, supporting implementation of the Ministry's Strategic Plan for 2026-2028.
The training programme on monitoring, evaluation and project management brought together around 50 officials from the Ministry's central administration and directorates. The programme's framework works to transform the Strategic Plan from a document outlining priorities into a practical tool for implementation, monitoring and performance measurement.
The framework covers eight main programmes, 47 strategic projects and 141 proposed implementation activities. It links programmes, projects and activities to their expected outputs, outcomes and broader impact, and includes indicators, baselines, annual targets, data sources and means of verification.
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"The ILO and MOSAL share a strategic partnership based on national ownership, joint work and support for national priorities, supported by the Durable solutions, Assisted voluntary returns, and social Reintegration programme (DAR) funded by the European Union," said ILO Chief Technical Adviser Maha Kattaa. "Capacity building is an investment in national institutions, not only in individuals. Its value is realized when knowledge is shared within institutions and reflected in working methods, tools, decisions and the quality of services provided to citizens."
Kattaa also said that a follow-up meeting involving ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, and other development partners will be organised to disseminate the framework, enabling all stakeholders to use it to capture and report their contributions to the Strategic Plan.
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At the event, the Ministry's Director of Planning, Waddah Raqqad ,also stressed the importance of the training in strengthening staff capacities and enabling the Ministry to translate its strategic priorities into practical and measurable action.
During the training, participants discussed the relationship between strategic plans, programmes, projects and activities, as well as the role of monitoring and evaluation throughout the project cycle. The programme introduced both traditional and adaptive project management approaches, including concepts related to the Project Management Professional (PMP) methodology and Agile project management.
The sessions introduced the SMART and SMARTER frameworks for setting clear and effective objectives. Participants learned that SMART objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, while SMARTER adds Evaluated and Revised to encourage ongoing reflection and improvement. The sessions also examined how activities contribute to outputs, outcomes, and long-term impact.
Participants also examined the differences between monitoring and evaluation and how both can support implementation, accountability, institutional learning and evidence-based decision-making.
Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen baselines, improve the classification of beneficiaries, include more detailed geographical information, review quantitative and qualitative indicators and clarify the link between activities and resources.
The ILO emphasized that the training framework aims to organize and standardize information already produced by the Ministry so that it can be used more effectively for progress monitoring, reporting, risk identification and decision-making.
During the practical sessions, participants worked on formulating objectives, selecting indicators, setting targets, identifying data sources and documenting progress against planned results. They also discussed challenges faced by their directorates and explored how the proposed tools could be integrated into their regular work.
The programme forms part of the broader cooperation between the Ministry and the ILO in the areas of employment, labour market information systems, social protection, the governance of employment services and institutional development.
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