Kurdistan Region of Iraq/KRI

With the economic downturn in KRI, social tensions over access to services and assistance are mounting in areas hosting high concentrations of IDPs and refugees. Thus, today, the region is affected by a complex financial, political, security and humanitarian crisis that has turned protracted with new emergency peaks within the larger crisis.

QUDRA in Kurdistan Region of Iraq/KRI

Strengthening the Capacities of Local Administrations (GIZ, HIA)

The objective of the action in KRI is to contribute to transparent, inclusive delivery capability of local administrations and other organisations with regard to basic services for IDPs, refugees and local populations in the four governorates of Erbil, Dohuk,  Halabja and Sulaymaniyah.

The impact of the action is twofold:

• Strengthening administrative structures at the level of the governorates
• Supporting quick impact projects with direct benefits to refugees, IDPs and vulnerable host communities.

Qudra supports the Kurdistan Regional Government in strengthening the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC) and its governorates’ offices. JCC operates as a coordination hub of the region’s crisis response network. Qudra’s institutional and human capacity development efforts target essentially the strategic and operational levels in the priority areas of administration, management and leadership. This support is also provided to other government entities at the governorate level that work on strengthening resilience and sustainable development. This contributes developing sustainable structures and capacities within the local administrations to cope with the short and long-term effects of the current and future crises.

Further, jointly with the Kurdistan Regional Government and strong support from its political partner, the Ministry of Planning, Qudra set up a facility to provide funding and technical support for community-based projects benefiting refugees, IDPs and local population in host communities in order to improve access to and provision of basic services. Community participation and ownership are essential guiding principles.  This action improves the living conditions of the local and displaced populations residing in the hosting communities.

Within the first funding cycle, projects will notably ensure that;

• 23,000 persons have access to electricity and water,
• the only pediatric ICU in Sulaymaniyah will be rehabilitated and modernised to better serve approximately 1,000 child patients yearly,
• 300 farmers will be supported through transfer of knowledge and provision of equipment in order to improve their livelihoods and boost the local economy for olives, dairy products, and wool,
• 600 families (approx. 3,000 persons) residing in Erbil’s Municipality 5 will get improved access to education, work, health care and other basic and social services through the rehabilitation of the access road.
• Duhok’s institutes for disabled children will have been supported through rehabilitating, renovating their premises and provision of equipment in order to create a safe, enabling environment for 223 children with disabilities. 25 teachers of these institutes will have received training.
• Injured, disabled Peshmerga will be socially and economically reintegrated into their communities, their transition into more sustainable livelihoods improved at the individual as well as the household level through starting small businesses (provision of equipment, supplies, livestock, transfer of knowledge).

EURO 600,000 in EUTF Madad and German Government funding has been allocated for this first funding cycle reaching more than 31,000 beneficiaries. The project design helps the local administrations to develop sustainable capacities and basic service delivery capabilities which will facilitate social stabilisation in the communities.

Promoting Regional and National Dialogue (GIZ)

Qudra brings refugees, IDPs, host communities and local, national, regional stakeholders together in different platforms in order to encourage all parties to enter constructive dialogue and exchange experiences. Through such a participatory strategy, Qudra events and activities aim to develop new, innovative strategies for an appropriate response to the region’s refugee crisis. Most importantly, this module advocates for and provides the mechanisms of giving a voice to refugees, members of host communities and IDPs.

Qudra in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, through various event formats and types of activities, play an essential role in building bridges and creating synergies among all relevant actors. EU Madad Labs provide a unique forum for these encounters, where all parties come together to discuss and identify key issues pertaining to the refugee crisis and develop context-based innovative solutions.