In 2020, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS) made steady progress in each of  the five liberated governorates. With the support of 28 partners, up to the end of the year, FFS completed 2,678 stabilization projects in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah al-Din, benefiting more than 11 million people. The programme saw a 31 percent increase in people benefitted compared to 2019. This reflects the completion of significant infrastructure rehabilitation projects started in previous years.

At the end of December 2020, IOM reported an overall decrease in people living in locations with conditions assessed as “severe” or “poor”. The most significant reductions were recorded in Salah al-Din (54,768) and Anbar (47,448), while the most significant increase was in Ninewa (61,578). Ninewa and Salah al-Din remain the governorates hosting the highest number of returnees living in severe conditions, with 235,302 and 143,682 individuals, respectively.

With the extension of the Facility until December 2023, UNDP will focus on addressing the remaining needs to support the returnees and remaining IDPs with durable solutions, building on the system and stabilization gains made to date.