During the first quarter of 2016, UNDP increased its work to 9 areas in total. With the expansion of stabilization in Salah Al-Din governorate to Al Dour and Mkeishifa, the Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization (FFIS) created a corridor of stabilization which has witnessed mass returns. Close to 90% of people in Tikrit, Al Dour and Mkeishifa returned. FFIS support in Tikrit directly benefited around 135,000 people while 50,000 people benefited in Al Dour/ Mkeishifa. Another corridor was opened in Ninewah Governorate for Rabia-Sinuni and an estimated 60,000 people are directly benefiting from FFIS interventions, mostly health, water and livelihoods.

Interventions in Beji (Salah Al-Din governorate) and Sinjar (Ninewah governorate) have been delayed due to the large destruction, concentrated IED/UXO contamination and close proximity to the frontline. Ramadi FFIS activities, in Anbar province, are slowly taking off as certain areas are being cleared of IEDs and returns are increasing. The first generators were installed in Saidiqiya and Matheeq neighborhoods while 19 rehabilitation projects are currently being advertised. Activities in Diyala governorate focused on Saadiyah town where the rehabilitation of the health centre, main water plant, small business support and the procurement of electricity materials is underway.

Some main challenges during the reporting period remain. These concern: (i) the huge IED/UXO contamination in some areas such as Ramadi City and Sinjar and the insufficient national capacity to deal with the magnitude and complexity of IEDs; (ii) the Stabilization is not yet being fully sequenced with the other elements of a post liberation strategy, including recovery, transitional justice, reconciliation, reconstruction and reform. Mechanisms for bridging early stabilization to other lines of efforts are crucial to ensure that gains made are not lost; (iii) depending on how rapid the military campaign is, the international community may be unable to mobilize the resources needed quickly enough to help stabilize Heet, Fallujah, Hawija, al-Baghdadi, Sharqat, Hatra and most importantly Mosul. This could allow ISIL or other negative forces to regain ground and secure support from discouraged and frightened populations.

The second Steering Committee meeting, held in March 2016, endorsed expansion to Shirqat in Salah al-Din, Heet in Anbar and Hatra, Qayyarat in Ninewah governorate. While still under ISIL control, these 4 areas are expected to be liberated within the next months and will received FFIS support. The Steering Committee also endorsed the inclusion of the Expanded Stabilization channel within the Stabilization Funding Facility.