Al Rashad II

In Northeast Syria, Al Rashad II is working with local communities to rebuild in a post-conflict context.

Since 2018, Al Rashad has worked to bolster security in Northeast Syria by addressing urgent security concerns and by building the capacity of police to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS. Al Rashad uses a community policing approach to increase public trust in the local police and improve responsiveness to citizens’ needs—a significant change in the mentality fostered under the Assad Regime and ISIS. 

Al Rashad implements community security activities in partnership with local security governance bodies, developing their capacity to design and deliver security services that respond to the population’s needs and establishing civilian oversight over the security sector. Al Rashad simultaneously improves the police’s professionalism by training them on the community policing approach and on other technical policing topics.

As a result of this support, Al Rashad and its local security partners have rehabilitated 31 miles of streetlighting, installed 122 traffic lights and held more than 50 community dialogue sessions on security needs between local leaders and the police. Al Rashad has also trained more than 8,000 police officers in Northeast Syria on community policing topics, including human rights and respect for minorities.

Beginning in 2021, Al Rashad II will build upon this momentum, continuing to bolster security initiatives stemming from local stakeholders’ needs. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by Creative Associates International.