The DPP Syria – Governance, Resilience and Recovery (DPP–GRR) is a specialised executive education programme designed for Syrian professionals working on governance, resilience, development, institutional reform and recovery. Combining regional learning in Syria, workplace-based applied research and leadership training in Geneva, the programme aims to strengthen the capacities of a new generation of Syrian professionals contributing to inclusive and sustainable recovery processes post-conflict settings.
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objectives
- Strengthen leadership, governance and institutional reform capacities in fragile and conflict-affected contexts
- Support inclusive, conflict-sensitive and gender-responsive recovery approaches
- Develop practical and policy-oriented skills through applied research and workplace-based learning
- Promote social cohesion, accountability and citizen-centred governance
- Support local economic recovery, entrepreneurship and sustainable development initiatives
- Strengthen cooperation and dialogue between public institutions, civil society, academia and the private sector
- Foster a long-term Community of Practice connecting Syrian professionals and institutions working on recovery and resilience
Who is this programme for?
- Syrian professionals holding or aspiring to hold leadership positions within public institutions, local administrations, international organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and the broader civil society sector involved in governance, resilience and recovery processes
- Syrian professionals from the private sector seeking to strengthen their knowledge and practical expertise in governance, institutional recovery, entrepreneurship, local economic development and sustainable recovery in fragile and conflict-affected contexts
- Mid-career professionals engaged in public service delivery, social cohesion, humanitarian and development programming, institutional reform, policy development and community-based recovery initiatives in Syria
Related SDG
Module 1
Syria regional hub
Participants begin with an online introductory component developed in collaboration with Damascus University, followed by an intensive in-person module delivered in Damascus at the Syrian Diplomatic Institute.
The module focuses on governance, development, institutional recovery, resilience, social cohesion, human security and inclusive service delivery in post-conflict and complex contexts. It also strengthens participants’ transversal and methodological skills, including critical thinking, analytical capacity, strategic decision-making and problem-solving in complex environments.
Module 2
Workplace-based Learning
Participants return to their professional environments to develop a practice-based professional thesis linked to a concrete governance, resilience or recovery challenge within their institution or community. They receive continuous mentoring, academic supervision and access to specialised online thematic courses.
Module 3
Geneva
The final module takes place in Geneva and focuses on leadership, negotiation, strategic management and international policy engagement. Participants present and defend their professional papers while interacting with international organisations, Swiss institutions and Geneva-based policy actors.
Full scholarships are awarded to eligible participants selected for the programme. Academic costs, mentoring, participation in the Geneva module and programme-related activities are covered through institutional funding and partnerships supporting the initiative. Limited support for travel and accommodation may also be provided for eligible participants during in-person modules.
Applicants must:
- Be Syrian nationals residing in Syria
- Hold a university degree or demonstrate equivalent professional experience
- Have relevant professional experience in governance, development, recovery, resilience, public administration, civil society, academia or the private sector
- Demonstrate leadership potential and institutional engagement
- Be able to commit to the full duration of the programme, including online, regional and Geneva-based components
- Demonstrate proficiency in English
Executive Diploma in Development Policies and Practices - Governance, Resilience and Recovery
Diploma of Advanced Studies (30 ECTS)
The programme combines academic learning, applied professional research and executive leadership training.
Applications are submitted through a competitive selection process coordinated by the Geneva Graduate Institute in collaboration with programme partners and relevant stakeholders.
The process generally includes:
- Online application submission
- CV and motivation letter
- Professional and academic references
- Submission of a preliminary professional thesis or research topic linked to governance, resilience or recovery
- Interview and selection review process
Particular attention is given to diversity in terms of gender, professional background, sectors and regional representation.
Participants join the wider Development Policies and Practices (DPP) and Conflict and Fragility Management (CFM) alumni networks of the Geneva Graduate Institute, connecting them to more than 1,250 professionals worldwide working in governance, peacebuilding, development and humanitarian action.
Graduates benefit from:
- Access to a growing Syria-focused Community of Practice
- Professional networking and peer exchange opportunities
- Participation in alumni events and policy dialogues
- Opportunities for mentoring, teaching and collaborative research
- Continued engagement with Geneva-based institutions and international partners
- Long-term access to the broader Geneva Graduate Institute alumni network and international policy community
Engage with professors, Syrian and international experts, policy practitioners and peers working across governance, development, recovery and resilience sectors. Participants benefit from hands-on learning through the programme’s Syria-based module in Damascus and the Geneva immersion module, while drawing on the expertise of partner institutions including Damascus University, the Syrian Diplomatic Institute, the Geneva Graduate Institute, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP).
Each year, the programme brings together guest speakers from public institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector, humanitarian and development organisations, as well as Swiss and international policy actors. The programme also places strong emphasis on peer-to-peer learning, applied exchange and the development of a long-term Community of Practice connecting participants, alumni and institutional partners working on governance, resilience and recovery in Syria.
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