ESCWA has prepared the present report based on data gathered from various government bodies in the Syrian Arab Republic, United Nations agencies and other sources. The report also draws from numerous studies prepared under the ESCWA programme entitled “National Agenda for the Future of Syria”, which provides a wide platform for stakeholders to discuss available and potential methods to assist Syrian factions to end the conflict that is destroying their country, and to pave the way for rebuilding following the war.

The present report aims to measure the deterioration in the indicators of the Millennium Development Goals from an economic and social perspective, and in terms of governance. It divides the development process in the Syrian Arab Republic over the following three periods: pre-conflict (2011-2013), the conflict, and post-conflict.