A Syrian government delegation at the 2026 World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington held discussions on 19 April 2026 with World Bank Chief Operating Officer Anna Birddi, presenting a framework for expanded multilateral grant assistance to Syria's economic recovery.
The delegation, led by the finance minister and the governor of the Central Bank of Syria (CBS), put forward a portfolio of 10 projects valued at over one billion US dollars (USD) in proposed grant assistance, to be delivered over three years. The projects span economic recovery, governance reform, and poverty and livelihood initiatives.
Three specific requests were outlined: the establishment of a multi-donor trust fund to pool contributions from international partners for Syria-focused programs; the expansion of the World Bank's Damascus office; and the appointment of more Syrian nationals to staff positions within World Bank institutions.
World Bank COO Birddi reaffirmed the institution's engagement, stating the bank holds "steadfast support for the government reform agenda" and indicating openness to a future visit to Syria. No formal project approvals or disbursement commitments were announced at the meetings.
The Spring Meetings, held annually in Washington, bring together finance ministers and central bank governors for bilateral consultations with World Bank and IMF leadership. Syria's participation in the 2026 sessions reflects a sustained effort to deepen engagement with multilateral institutions since the change in government in December 2024.
The proposed grant portfolio would span poverty reduction, livelihood support, and governance reform across Syria's recovering institutions. The multi-donor trust fund request aligns with mechanisms used in other post-conflict recovery contexts, where pooled international contributions are channeled through a multilateral institution's fiduciary framework, potentially allowing bilateral donors to direct targeted assistance through a structured vehicle.
The one-billion-dollar proposal signals the scale of international financial partnership Syria is seeking as it rebuilds institutions and infrastructure disrupted by more than a decade of conflict.