Project description

Title: Training at the State Planning Commission
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Syria
Lead executing agency: State Planning Commission
Overall term: September 2003 to August 2008

Context

The employable population of Syria, a socialist country, is growing rapidly, which has led to increasing unemployment and a declining standard of living. Oil proceeds can finance the current inefficient system for the time being, but in 2012 Syria stands to become a net oil importer. The Syrian president is attempting to prepare for this situation and to transform the country’s economy into a market-oriented system. The association agreement currently being prepared with the EU supports this policy, but it can only produce the desired impacts if government and economy are restructured by the time the agreement comes into effect. It is thus particularly important to familiarise the leadership elite with the way a market economy functions.

Objective

The State Planning Commission (SPC) has been converted into a think tank that develops concepts for economic reform.

Approach

The role of the SPC is being completely redefined. A new generation of leaders is being appointed and acquainted with managerial and technical know-how about market-oriented systems. A human resources development system is being introduced. The SPC is being reorganised at the same time that modern planning methods are introduced there; support is provided with the development of reform concepts in key areas. Following signing of the agreement with the EU, the president or the prime minister will then prescribe the implementation of these concepts to the key ministers. The SPC is supporting this process and intervening as needed.