Based in Turkey, Operations and Policy Center is an independent Syrian policy research institution and solutions provider to humanitarian, governmental, and development bodies.
Visualizing UN procurements from Syria (2015-2020)
United Nations agencies procure many commodities and services from Syria to support their aid operations in the country. In 2020, for example, $245 million was spent on procurement, which constitutes nearly 10% of the UN’s overall spending in Syria. In this research tool, we illustrate the data in an interactive dashboard, enabling those interested to make better sense of it.
Data Shows Nowhere in Syria is Safe for Return
Despite the slowdown in military operations in Syria, other acts of violence and human rights violations remain the norm, making the whole-of-Syria unsafe for return. Published in collaboration with the Middle East Institute, this summary recaps on a recently published research project aimed at understanding the scale and types of violations experienced by Syrian returnees.
Is Syria Safe for Return? Returnees’ Perspective
Using expert interviews and a sample of 700 respondents from all control areas within Syria, this joint study with VDSF evaluates the safety, security and economic conditions in Syria to establish whether it is suitable for refugees and internally displaced persons to return home. The evidence strongly suggests that Syria is not yet safe for return.
Humanitarian and development program planning, management, and evaluation
Bespoke policy research
Policy formulation and consultation
Technical support and data analysis
Your bridge to Syria
OPC’s core team is made up of both international researchers and Syrians who now live in New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, France, and the UK. The team’s deep networks within Syria, combined with their years working with clients abroad, helps them tailor impactful policy solutions.
An all-hands-on-deck approach
The OPC team is made up of economists, statisticians, sociologists, journalists, programmers, and civil society activists. OPC’s all-hands-on-deck approach means that each study and consultation is considered from every angle, creating a truly holistic final product.
Compelling visual communication
No matter how rich the information, a blasé presentation significantly reduces its impact. OPC’s programmers, statisticians, and graphic designers are highly experienced in presenting the most significant findings in intuitive, compelling visualizations.
A one-stop shop
With its experience in project management and a full in-house production staff, OPC can design, manage, and implement a project from start to finish. Each project goes through several steps from the design phase to the final product, with donors and clients kept in the loop at every point.
Independent, agenda-free research
The long list of donors and institutional partners help OPC ensure neutrality. The funding from donors comes with no strings attached.
Innovation, not aggregation
Every publication, consultation, and study OPC produces is original, often relying on primary source material gathered by our researchers. OPC does not aggregate information or data for clients; rather, it collects and creates new data. OPC situates its work within the existing literature, ensuring that clients receive exclusive, original analysis.
