This report sheds light on the issue of electronic waste in the city of Aleppo, Syria, with a focus on the current situation and its environmental and social impacts. It attempts to estimate e-waste quantities and examine existing collection and treatment practices. It should be noted that detailed, city-level data—particularly for Aleppo—are scarce or unavailable, although indicative estimates exist, such as an average of approximately 4.6 kg of electronic devices available per capita in the market.

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Our annual review for 2025 is finally here. The year witnessed significant disruptions across the humanitarian sector, yet our global network continued to explore—through relentless effort and commitment—how to do more with less.

We’re excited to launch InvoLearn, a chat-based learning experience designed to help humanitarian workers build core innovation skills — anytime, anywhere, even with limited connectivity. Developed by SyRIL, InvoLearn offers interactive, self-paced micro-learning grounded in recognized humanitarian innovation frameworks.

The Response Innovation Lab (RIL), in partnership with Field Ready for Humanitarian Innovation and World Vision Syria Response, with generous support from World Vision Hong Kong, is proud to launch a pioneering new initiative: the E-Waste Challenge in Aleppo.

This project is designed to empower local innovators, students, repair technicians, startups, engineers, NGOs, community-based organizations, academics, and private sector actors to co-create solutions that recycle and repurpose electronic waste. The initiative combines training, collaboration, and financial support to ensure that promising ideas can move from concept to reality.

Syria Response Innovation Lab (RIL)—in partnership with Shafak Organization, World Vision Syria Response (WVSR), and Field Ready Middle East, and in close collaboration with the Food Security Cluster (FS Cluster)—is proud to announce the launch of a new pilot project: “Conservation Agriculture – Towards a Sustainable Agricultural Future.”

The project is being implemented in Al-Bab, rural Aleppo, an area heavily impacted by climate change and food insecurity. It represents the first pilot in Northwest Syria designed to introduce conservation agriculture as a climate-adaptive farming technique.

The Syria Response Innovation Lab (SyRIL) invites Syrian innovators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, students, and professionals to submit their creative solutions to humanitarian challenges.

 This initiative seeks to bridge entrepreneurial thinking with humanitarian needs—amplifying innovative ideas made by Syrians, for Syrians, and connecting them with global decision-makers, donors, and innovation agencies.

What can you learn? A breakdown of ecosystem components and their relevance to innovation in humanitarian settings; Case studies from Syria and Uganda offering real-world examples of ecosystem mapping and engagement; Tools and frameworks from the RIL to help practitioners identify and strengthen key relationships, flows, and enabling conditions in their contexts….and more!

The highlights of Response Innovation Lab’s 2024, across the globe.

Recognising the challenge brought by food insecurity, the Syria Response Innovation Lab (RIL), in collaboration with Field Ready Middle East, World Vision Syria Response (WVSR), and the Food Security Cluster (FS Cluster), organized two back-to-back workshops—one in Gaziantep, Türkiye, and another in Northwest Syria at the RIL. These workshops provided a platform for frontline responders to voice challenges, exchange insights, and collaboratively design solutions, fostering local ownership.

Your voice matters! This is your chance to contribute to shaping impactful solutions to address food insecurity in Northwest Syria. Let’s collaborate to tackle the region’s most pressing issues and create meaningful change.

How did we conduct the convener for challenge mapping in NW Syria? Read our full Convener Report to know more about how RIL works on the ground.

We have been committed to establishing the Innovation WASH Club as a coordinated and dedicated platform. The convener participants, now collectively committed as part of the Club, will mobilize their resources and bring innovations to enhance the WASH response in NW Syria.

We’re preparing for our first "Challenge Mapping" exercise, and we need your help to identify the critical challenges faced in the WASH sector. Your feedback will guide our efforts and ensure they are as impactful as possible.

On May 30, 2024, in Gaziantep, Turkey, we officially launched the Northwest Syria Response Innovation Lab (NW Syria RIL). This initiative, led by World Vision International and the Response Innovation Lab (RIL), is set to transform humanitarian response in Northwest Syria, particularly in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquakes.