Following a devastating conflict, recovery in the Sinjar District of the Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq is severely hampered by widespread damage to critical infrastructure, leaving residents with limited access to essential services like water and shelter.

To help enhance access to infrastructure and critical services, UNOPS will implement a project with funding from KfW, the government of Germany’s development bank. Building on the success of past collaborations, this initiative will rehabilitate war-damaged shelters and restore critical infrastructure, including essential water stations, to directly improve the lives of conflict-affected communities.

“In 2020 we started our collaboration with UNOPS, signing the first financing agreement for the “Local Infrastructure in Rural Anbar” (LIRA) project. It is great to see that the project has been a success, despite all the challenges,” said Marc-André Hensel, Director of KfW in Iraq.

“This project is about helping people to return from the camps and from displacement back to their original places and to have a place to start from,” added Marc-Andre Hensel.

Additionally, the project will deliver capacity-building training to local stakeholders in Sinjar. To ensure inclusive and sustainable outcomes, the initiative will prioritize the active involvement of women throughout the implementation process and integrate climate-friendly designs where possible.

“Building on the successes of previous LIRA projects in Anbar and Ninewa, the new intervention will enhance the living standards of community members, fostering their resilience, especially in the hard-hit district of Sinjar,” said Anil Chandrika, UNOPS Country Manager in Iraq.

Roland Westebbe, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Iraq, added: “I hope to have the opportunity to witness firsthand the progress and achievements of this project, supporting the Iraqi people as they rebuild their lives.“

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