The starting point to addressing the strategic objectives is the design and implementation of a series of shot-term pilot action projects that will test the feasibility and sustainability of possible approaches to the upgrading of existing IS and minimise the formation of new illegal and/or under-served settlements. They will be used to refine (or abandon) the preferred alternatives before ‘going to scale’ at a city-wide level. These projects will be designed initially as relatively short-term interventions that could be developed into longer-term action programs or substituted by alternative approaches, as appropriate.

The IS in which to conduct pilot projects should be chosen from those for which studies have been, or are being, undertaken. They should be selected on the basis of one or both of two criteria:

1. extreme conditions in order to learn from and test ’worst case’ scenarios, and to show that the Municipality is not ‘shying away’ from difficult areas or issues;
2. conditions in which there is a good chance of success, in order to ensure a positive ‘demonstration effect’, providing precedents for replication in other IS, and/or other cities in Syria.