Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The overall goal of the Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization (FFIS) is to support rapid stabilization in newly liberated areas in Iraq that will facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons. As requested by the Government of Iraq, communities liberated from ISIL and those returning to liberated areas shall be supported with urgently needed income and economic opportunity.

Expected results

Window 2 of this Funding Facility, to which this grant contributes, thus aims to inject cash into the economies of newly liberated areas, and to provide income-earning opportunities to encourage returns and protect the vulnerable from further deterioration of their living conditions in the newly liberated areas. Among the results aimed to achieve under Window 2 are:

a) Initiating cash for work in Rabia sub-district of Ninewah and liberated districts of Salah al-Din to rehabilitate neighborhoods, public spaces, and infrastructure to restore sense of normalcy and remove physical reminders of war.

b) Creating 300 job opportunities in Ninewah and 200 in Salah al-Din; 50 small businesses will be provided grants in Rabia.

c) Revivíng agricultural livelihoods in areas devastated by ISIL by supporting 800 households (6,000 individuals) in liberated sub-districts of Ninewah.

The approximate impact value of the entire project is assessed at USD 3,850,000.

Target group / Beneficiaries

Expected Beneficiaries of this grant:

a) In Ninewah, 800 households (6,000 individuals) in liberated sub-districts through rural (agricultural) livelihoods support projects. These areas are comprised of ethnic minorities, including Yazidis, Christians, Kurds, as well as Sunni Arabs, and the Austrian contribution will specifically target the sub-district of Rabia.

Among that target group, 300 income-generating opportunities will be created for returnees in Rabia through cash for work public schemes and 50 small business in Rabia will be supported through cash grants, which encourage shopkeepers to reopen and rehabilitate businesses.

Target Areas are:

a) Ninewah Province, notably, Rabia, but also Sinuni, Wana, and Zummar sub-districts with the endorsement of Steering Committee.

b) Salah al-Din Province, notably Al Dour, Mkesheifah, and Tikrit with the endorsement of the Steering Committee.

UNDP's partners include: the Government of Iraq (provincial governments and councils, technical directorates of line ministries at governorate and central level, and local mayor offices), Danish Refugee Council, French Red Cross, Human Relief Foundation, Al Noor Unity Foundation, Food and Agriculture Organization, and other implementing partners yet to be identified.

Activities

Activities include:

a) Rapid assessment on target communities to assess income situations and set gender sensitive and conflict sensitive beneficiary selection criteria, and identify suitable cash assistance schemes; Select implementing partners and beneficiary groups for cash for work and small business grant activities in Salah al-Din and Ninewah. Identify cash for work activities that are most conductive to the community socio-economic needs through inclusive consultations, including determining wages, payment mechanisms, and overall implementation mechanisms; Implement cash for work and small business grants, paying particular attention to women, youth, and other vulnerable populations.

b) For agricultural livelihoods support in Ninewah, set beneficiary selection criteria and select beneficiaries; determine quantities of seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs required; determine irrigation systems to be rehabilitated; prepare technical specifications and procurement of wheat seeds and fertilizer; identify implementing partners; distribute wheat seed, fertilizer, and other inputs to beneficiaries; conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of impact of intervention.

Context

The Funding Facility was prepared in response to the Government of Iraq’s need to stabilize areas newly liberated from ISIL. A concept note was presented to and endorsed by the Prime Minister and leading Coalition members at the international meeting of the Coalition’s Working Group on Stabilization, which is co-chaired by Germany and the United Arab Emirates. A project document was signed and established on June 11, 2015. FFIS is overseen by a Steering Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and DSRSG/RC/HC/RR. Key partners and counterparts are members. The Facility is managed by UNDP, which also serves as the secretariat to the Steering Committee. FFIS is organized to support light infrastructure rehabilitation, job creation to jumpstart the local economy, capacity building and community reconciliation, and specific projects are identified at the local level through consultations.