Overview

Summary 

In recent years, Iraq has experienced a series of conflicts and crises, further deepening and exacerbating the country’s fragile socio, economic, political and security situation. The devastating ISIL conflict forced over 6 million Iraqis to flee from violence, creating a massive crisis of internal displacement. 

Since liberation in 2015, significant progress has been made to restore services and infrastructure, allowing people to return home safely and with dignity. However, delayed recovery continues to deter around 1.1 million people from returning. For those remaining, a damaged house and a lack of access to sustainable livelihoods opportunities are the main reasons for not returning. 

Launched in December 2020, the Building Resilience Through Employment Promotion (BREP) project focuses on strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities by enhancing their economic empowerment and rebuilding damaged houses. The project prioritizes vulnerable areas within Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah Al-Din governorates. 

BREP provides Iraqis with short and medium-term employment opportunities, enhancing skills in economically promising sectors such as construction and agriculture and strengthening the private sector through boosting small and medium enterprises. 

The project builds on the established mechanisms, network and tested approaches of the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS) and Iraq Crisis Response and Resilience Programme (ICRRP), under the Stabilization pillar. 

What have we achieved so far 

To date, the project has raised US$ 47.821 million made available by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with financing provided through Germany’s KfW Development Bank.  

The programme has: 

• 5,252 cash-for-work opportunities created, boosting immediate household income.   
• 1,667 cash grants provided to women-headed households to meet immediate needs. 
• 2,709 houses rehabilitated, allowing families to return home safely. 
• 1,432  people benefited from vocational skills training, equipping them to enter the job market. 
• Rehabilitated 8 critical municipalities and community infrastructure to grow small and medium-sized enterprises.  
• 969 small and medium-sized enterprises supported with training, coaching, in-kind support or grants.