Excited to start a new role as Chief Economic Consultant to the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Syria.

My work will focus on developing the UN’s plan for Syria following Assad’s downfall, in collaboration with the government, and leading on key economic issues such as banking sector reintegration, reconstruction, and economic reform.

I’ve been one of the UN’s critics during Assad's era, but now that the main obstacle to recovery is gone, the organization has a real shot at doing much more good. 

Karam Shaar Advisory will continue to work for Western governments, research centers, and the World Bank, among others. I’m also keeping my role as a Non-resident Senior Fellow at NewlinesInst and as Syria Program Manager at OPEN.

As always, opinions shared on this account are mine alone.

The stakes are high, and I’m optimistic. Yet I’ve made myself a promise: if I can’t deliver, I will walk away.

The best part? I’ll be spending most of my time in Damascus.

Syria is ours again!