Ministry of Public Works Intensifies Efforts to Revive Cooperative Housing Programme

Sector Priorities and Overall Framework

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing has stepped up its efforts to reactivate the cooperative housing programme as a core instrument for meeting growing residential demand. The Ministry is working to remove financing and technical obstacles facing stalled projects, particularly in Tartus and Homs governorates, by establishing strict timelines to ensure the delivery of residential units to registered subscribers.

Restructuring the Sector in Tartus

Ghassan Tuffaha, a member of the executive office of Tartus Governorate, stated that the governorate is coordinating with the Ministry through the Cooperative Housing Directorate to address the current state of the sector and end the stagnation it has experienced. Tuffaha indicated that this will be achieved through plans to merge underperforming associations with active ones, a process he estimated would require approximately four years. He also noted that no new land distribution plan for associations is currently in place pending the completion of the final remediation process and a comprehensive reassessment.

Supervision Mechanisms and Technical Oversight

Issam Ajini, Director of Cooperative Housing in Tartus, announced the activation of a new oversight mechanism combining technical and administrative supervision of associations. Under this mechanism, a technical supervisor conducts field visits to projects and submits a comprehensive report on completion rates, which are continuously compared against periodic visit findings to evaluate project activity and the performance of responsible management boards and project committees. Financing plans are determined in meetings with beneficiaries according to what suits their income levels, Ajini stated.

Banking Solutions and Release of Frozen Balances

Ajini pointed to ongoing coordination with banks to find solutions for releasing the frozen balances of older associations, after which discussions on the possibility of providing member loans and setting applicable interest rates may follow. In this context, Cooperative Housing Director Osama Shaabani met with Tartus Governor Ahmad al-Shami to discuss association financing challenges in coordination with the Real Estate Bank, and also met with association heads to review project conditions and obstacles. Active associations in Tartus were subsequently classified into three categories according to completion rates, in order to prioritise and accelerate delivery.

Accelerating 5,300 Housing Units in Homs

In Homs Governorate, efforts have focused on accelerating the completion of approximately 5,300 residential units, finishing infrastructure works and connecting them to main roads, and addressing financing challenges. A meeting between Shaabani and Homs Governorate Secretary-General Firas Tayyara covered a proposed work plan for developing the sector through the end of 2030, including remediation of association conditions, activation of their roles, and encouragement of investment within legal frameworks. The follow-up concluded with the identification of implementation priorities and the establishment of mechanisms and timelines to accelerate project completion and handover to subscribers.