Call for expression of interest rules applicable to the awarding of grant contracts

PROGRAMME NAME: Mobilizing Agriculture for Zone Recovery Approach and Advancement (MAZRA)
OBJECT OF THE CALL FOR PROJECTS: To foster inclusive and integrated community recovery in prioritized rural areas across Syria, using the Area-Based Approach
FINANCIAL SIZING OF GRANTS: 95,000 USD
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION THE CONCEPT NOTE: 3rd of October 2026 at 11:59 PM (Syria time)
GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE: Ar-Raqqa (Meshleb and Sahl-Al-Banat)

About Expertise France:
Expertise France is France’s public agency and interministerial actor in charge of international technical cooperation, the second largest in Europe. As a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Expertise France works in key areas of development: governance, security, climate change, health, education, and more. Alongside its partners, it contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within its Peace, Stability and Security Department, the Stabilization & Resilience Unit delivers multi-sectoral recovery programs in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through an integrated territorial approach that bridges emergency response and long-term resilience. EF has developed a strong track record in stabilizing essential services, including health systems, in crisis-affected regions through tailored, locally grounded solutions.
Syrian conflict
Fourteen years of conflict in Syria have severely disrupted livelihoods, weakened food systems, and increased economic vulnerability, leaving millions unable to meet their basic food and income needs. Widespread displacement, damaged infrastructure, economic collapse, sanctions, and climate-related pressures have significantly affected agricultural production, local markets, and employment opportunities across the country. While the establishment of a transitional government in December 2024 marked the beginning of a recovery phase, communities continue to face major challenges in accessing sustainable livelihoods and affordable food.
Women, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable households remain among the most affected groups, with limited access to income-generating opportunities and productive resources. Rural communities continue to struggle with damaged agricultural infrastructure, water scarcity, and limited market access, while MSMEs face financial and operational constraints that hinder local economic recovery.
Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, significant gaps remain in food security and economic recovery efforts. Weak institutional capacity, fragmented governance, and continued dependence on external aid limit the sustainability of recovery initiatives and economic growth.

Expertise France in Syria:
In Syria, Expertise France has maintained a continuous presence since 2013, expanding its operations from Northwest Syria to Northeast Syria in 2019. Its programmes have mobilized over €74.8 million and reached more than 3.8 million direct beneficiaries across sectors including Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Health, Civil Society Support, Gender Empowerment, and Climate Change Response. Through partnerships with more than 90 local CSOs and over 150 grants, EF has supported economic recovery, agriculture, vocational training, and local resilience through a localized and participatory approach.

Mobilizing Agriculture for Zone Recovery Approach and Advancement (MAZRA)
The MAZRA program aims to promote inclusive and integrated community recovery in prioritized rural areas across Syria through an Area-Based approach focused on food security, sustainable livelihoods, and rural revitalization. Building on the lessons learned from SABIR, the program places particular emphasis on restoring agricultural systems, strengthening local economies, and improving community resilience.
Through locally led and multi-sectoral interventions implemented in partnership with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), local authorities, and relevant technical institutions, MAZRA will support the rehabilitation of community infrastructure, strengthen agricultural value chains, improve market access, and create livelihood opportunities for vulnerable groups, including youth and returnees. The program will also promote inclusive governance, social cohesion, and capacity building for local agricultural and municipal institutions to improve coordination and long-term recovery planning.
To achieve these goals, MAZRA is structured around four specific objectives:
• SO1 strengthening access to essential community infrastructure and services through locally led rehabilitation efforts and sustainable management mechanisms.
• SO2 strengthening the resilience and sustainability of agricultural production systems and local farming actors.
• SO3 enhancing market access and livelihood opportunities for youth, returnees, and vulnerable community members.
• SO4 providing tailored technical assistance to community, municipal, and regional agricultural institutions to improve sectoral coordination and strategic planning. Through this integrated approach, the program seeks to contribute to long-term resilience and inclusive economic recovery in post-conflict Syria.

Purpose of the call for concept:
The purpose of this Call for Concept Notes is to identify and select qualified local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to implement area-based, locally led interventions under the Mobilizing Agriculture for Zone Recovery Approach and Advancement (MAZRA) project in the targeted areas of Ar-Raqqa (Meshleb and Sahl-Al-Banat)
Proposed interventions should be grounded in the specific needs and priorities of the targeted areas and demonstrate a clear Area-Based Approach, with strong community participation, coordination with relevant local authorities and Community-Based Committees (CBCs), and complementarity with other ongoing or planned interventions. Particular attention will be given to proposals that promote inclusive participation, women’s economic empowerment, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable practices, strengthened agricultural value chains, and sustainable local ownership of project results.
Selected local CSOs will receive grant funding to implement the approved interventions and will work closely with Expertise France throughout the implementation period. Expertise France will also provide appropriate technical guidance and capacity-strengthening support to selected partners to enhance the quality, sustainability and impact of their interventions.
Expertise France encourages proposals that present practical, innovative and locally appropriate solutions, demonstrate a strong understanding of the targeted areas and their agricultural and livelihood systems, and clearly articulate how the proposed intervention will contribute to inclusive community recovery, improved livelihoods and strengthened local resilience under the MAZRA project.

Please visit the following link to access the full guideline and its annexes.

MAZRA Call for Expression of Interest

How to apply

Submission Deadline:The deadline for submitting applications is 3 October 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered. Applications should be submitted by email to: Grants_Syria@expertisefrance.fr, email subject: (Call for Expression of Interest -Raqqa) Each organization may submit only one Concept Note. The Concept Note must be submitted in English, using the provided templates for the Concept Note, Budget, and Logical Framework. The total size of all email attachments must not exceed 8 MB.
Inquiries: Questions related to this Call may be sent to: Grants_Syria@expertisefrance.fr, The deadline for submitting questions is 20 September 2026. EF will respond within 72 hours of receiving inquiries.
Optional Guidance Session: Organizations interested in participating in the optional guidance session should confirm their interest by email no later than 15 September 2026. Email subject: (Interest in Guidance Session Call for Expression of Interest -Raqqa) Participation in the guidance session is optional and is not a requirement for submitting an application.