The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Building community resilience in northern Iraq
In partnership with the government of Germany, UNOPS will help improve basic living conditions and access to public services for returnees in Anbar and Ninewa Governorates.
- This article was originally published 21 March 2022.
Project updates
25 February 2024
UNOPS received an additional €15 million from KfW for the implementation of Phase III of the Local Infrastructure in Rural Anbar project.
The additional funding will bring the total project budget to €50 million and will help to continue improving basic living conditions for returnees in rural areas of Al-Anbar Governorate as well as expand operations into Sinjar district in the Ninewa Governorate. Read more.
With €19.8 million in funding from KfW – the government of Germany’s development bank – UNOPS will rehabilitate housing and other public infrastructure damaged by the recent conflict – including roads, water and sanitation facilities and networks, and street lighting.
The project will focus on building resilience in the Anbar Governorate and Sinjar district in Ninewa Governorate – both home to the highest percentage of returnees.
“Building on our robust partnership with KfW in the region, we are pleased to continue our cooperation in Iraq in support of communities in Anbar and Sinjar,” said Muhammad Usman Akram, Director of UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Amman.
Working together with KfW, as our partner, we can support Iraq’s efforts to build a better future for all, as we see more and more people returning to their homes.
The new agreement marks the second phase of an ongoing shelter project with KfW in Anbar Governorate. As part of the first phase – with €15.1 million in funding – 1,000 conflict-damaged houses are being rehabilitated and some 2,400 individuals are receiving legal assistance to protect their housing, land and property rights.
The second phase of the project will benefit around 450,000 people who have returned to the affected areas.
“Strengthening local resilience by rehabilitating the war-affected infrastructure which is necessary for everyday life is one of the priorities of German cooperation with Iraq,” said Germany’s Chargé d’Affaires Peter Felten.
“The project in Anbar and Sinjar, financed through KfW on behalf of the German Federal Government and implemented by UNOPS, can contribute significantly to this end and will support host communities and internally displaced persons alike,” he added.
