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New UNFPA Country Programme Document 2020-2024

The Government of Iraq, represented by the Ministry of Planning, and UNFPA launched the Fund’s third Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2020-2024, at the Ministry of Planning’s premises on 20 February 2020.

The CPD, which was developed in collaboration with the Government of Iraq, United Nations agencies, human rights institutions and civil society organizations, is in harmony with the country’s priorities as outlined in the Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Iraq National Development Plan (2018-2022) and the Iraq Vision 2030.

It also focuses on the four outcomes of the UNFPA Strategic Plan (2018-2021) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Iraq (2020 -2024).

Through this CPD, UNFPA will work to strengthen national capacity for the provision of high-quality integrated sexual and reproductive health services, especially for the most vulnerable populations. The efforts will be directed towards increasing the national capacity for creating demand of reproductive health services, including the request for information to enable the population to make informed decisions related to their sexual and reproductive health.

The next five years, will ensure that young people have the skills and ammunition to exercise leadership and participate in sustaining peace as per UNSC resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace or Security. Furthermore, UNFPA with donors and partners will help improve the capacity of the government, human rights institutions, local civil society organizations and communities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including in humanitarian settings.

Moreover, the partnership with the government, academic, experts, and the civil society will aim at improving the national population data systems for better availability, analysis and creation of evidence-based programmes.

Speaking at the event, his Excellency Minister of Planning, Dr Nouri Al-Dulaimi said:

“Country programmes documents have contributed to preparing and building the capacities of Iraqis in many ways. The support received in ​​providing integrated services and access to information, in empowering young people to exercise leadership and participation in development projects at the national and local levels, in reducing and addressing gender-based violence, and in providing technical support to improving data and data collection to draft people-centred policies and strategies in line with the goals of sustainable development 2030.

“We look forward today to continue our partnership with UNFPA within the framework of its new CPD for 2020-2024 which will be the stepping stone to enhance and strengthen population dynamics in Iraq.”

On his part, UNFPA Representative, Dr Oluremi Sogunro, said:

“This third country programme tells the story of the long history of cooperation between UNFPA and the Government and People of Iraq. We look forward to this new era of work where we will strive to strengthen national capacities, in particular of health systems and woman machineries, to address emerging development and humanitarian needs, and to ensure that no one is left behind.”

“Women and girls count; their rights are inherent to them, are owed to them; and if we invest in them, the world and all of the 17 sustainable development goals will advance forward rapidly as a result.”

The ceremony, which was attended by representatives of key ministries and government entities, Governors, partners and civil society members, was preceded by a signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Planning and UNFPA for the disbursement of IQD 6 billion from the Government of Iraq to UNFPA support to the 2020 Population and Housing Census.

The event will be followed by a stakeholder meeting on 23-24 February where UNFPA will develop with donors and key partners the implementation framework of the country programme document to serve more efficiently the population of Iraq.

Click here to download the full document.

(Source: UN)

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Restoring critical Healthcare Services to Mosul

The newly-rehabilitated Al Shifa Surgical Center was officially opened by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Iraq today.

The surgical center will serve as the primary medical facility for approximately 800,000 people across East Mosul.

This major project included rehabilitating inpatient wards with 24 beds for men and women, two full operating theatres, two intensive care units, and a number of examination and sterilization rooms. A new oxygen generator building will provide high-quality oxygen supply to the whole hospital and can refill oxygen bottles to meet external demand. The facility was rehabilitated with financial support from The Government of The Netherlands.

The Governor of Ninewa, His Excellency Najim Abdullah al-Juboori was joined by UNDP Resident Representative in Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmed, to mark the occasion.

“The Al Shifa Surgical Center is a well-equipped, modern medical facility – one that will provide a huge number of Moslawis with the quality healthcare services they so deserve,” said Ms. Ali Ahmed, Resident Representative of UNDP Iraq.

“Access to healthcare is one of the foundations of strong societies and UNDP is proud to be working to improve healthcare access across the areas that suffered under ISIL,” added Ms. Ali Ahmed.

Governor of Ninewa, His Excellency Najim Abdullah al-Juboori, noted that “Whilst healthcare facilities in Mosul were providing quality services for many years, the destruction caused by ISIL has resulted in Moslawis having to seek treatment in other governorates.”

“Now, as many doctors return to the city, and with the support of UNDP to reconstruct critical public healthcare facilities, services will become more affordable and accessible to Moslawis in need.”

The surgical center is a satellite facility of the Al Shifa Hospital Complex, which was used as a Headquarters by ISIL during the occupation of Mosul. The hospital complex was cleared of over 2,000 explosive items in 2017, with the support of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

UNDP is working across the liberated governorates of Iraq to improve healthcare services. As a result, 1.8 million people now have better access to healthcare services through the rehabilitation of hospitals and primary healthcare centers.

(Source: UNDP)

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Iraq 2020 – Discovering Business

Iraq Business News is delighted to bring you a major new guide to business in Iraq.

Published by Allurentis, in association with Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC), Iraq 2020 – Discovering Business contains a wealth of case studies, commentary and data; it’s 68 pages of essential reading for everyone with an interest in the redevelopment of Iraq.

And as Salar Ameen, of the National Investment Commission, says in the introduction:

“We are determined to embark on real change and open up to other countries by providing every incentive to invest in Iraq … there is a firm desire to stimulate the private sector.”

We’d like to congratulate Laura Curtis (laura.curtis@allurentis.com) and all her team at Allurentis on a splendid publication.

Iraq Business News is delighted to make this guide available to readers in pdf format: Please click here to view or download the full document.

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ICF Appoints Elizabeth McRae As Executive Director

The Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF) has announce the promotion of Elizabeth (Liz) McRae to serve in the top staff leadership position as Executive Director.

McRae’s promotion to Executive Director from Associate Director follows a record year for ICF during which significant gains were made in life-changing legal, social, and educational services for Iraq’s most vulnerable children – the orphans, street kids, and children displaced by violence.

McRae said:

“I am looking forward to another record year in 2020. The needs of these children on the margins of Iraqi society is urgent. Their future, as well as Iraq’s future, is at stake. Investing in these children is both a geopolitical and a security imperative, and it’s the right thing to do.

“We believe in building a team of Iraqis and Americans, individuals and businesses, to work together to ensure these children are prepared to be productive citizens in the future.”

McRae’s is ICF’s top executive for development of Iraqi and American corporate partners who invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Iraq.  She can be reached at liz@iraqichildren.org or at +1.202.790.1109

For more information, please see 2019 announcement regarding McRae.

(Source: ICF)

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Iraq to Evacuate Citizens from Wuhan, China

By John Lee.

Following the spread of coronavirus in China, the Iraqi government has provided a special Iraqi Airways airplane with medical staff to evacuate students and the community residing in Wuhan, China, to Baghdad.

Foreign Minister Alhakim has directed the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to China to form an operations room headed by the Ambassador, and the membership of the cultural attaché which started its duties immediately after its formation, to keep count of the numbers of the Iraqi community in Wuhan, and prepared a note to the office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the city where the Iraqi students reside to allow them to leave the city, and the embassy opened hotlines available throughout the day for the Iraqi community, as well as internet groups to ensure direct communication.

(Source: Iraqi Foreign Ministry)

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Netherlands assists Vulnerable Displaced Persons in Iraq

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes a new donation of USD 5.6 million from the Kingdom of the Netherlands for 2019 and 2020 to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and Syrian refugees in Iraq.

This contribution is part of the global PROSPECTS Partnership aiming at joining partners’ efforts to develop a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises through the involvement of development actors. While Iraq recovers from conflict, the needs of its population diversify. Some 4.4 million people have returned to their homes and are restarting their lives; however, the conditions for sustainable return are not yet met across all the country.

Continued assistance for the 1.4 million displaced Iraqis and over 286,000 refugees, and the host communities, is essential to ensure a stable and peaceful recovery. The generous contribution from the Kingdom of the Netherlands will ensure the provision of legal assistance and civil documentation to internally displaced persons across Iraq, along with the provision of specialized individual and group-based psychosocial support for children.

In addition, the donation will contribute to improve the access to formal primary and secondary education for Syrian refugee children in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. H.E. Mr. Eric Strating (pictured), Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq, emphasized the importance of the urgent recovery and strengthened resilience of those who have been affected and displaced by conflict. “If we truly want to assist Iraq in achieving durable stability, we cannot leave anyone behind. Assistance in the field of civil documentation, access to education, but also psychosocial support, is part of the most basic needs for people who are trying to rebuild their lives.”

Within this context, the Netherlands initiated the PROSPECTS Partnership in Iraq, aimed at strengthened cooperation of humanitarian and development partners, in order to achieve durable solutions for the 1.4 million displaced Iraqi’s and the 286,000 refugees on Iraqi soil.The recent Multi-Cluster Needs Assessment conducted from June to August 2019, shows that nearly 2.9 million individuals, including camp-based and out-of-camp IDPs as well as returnees, are missing at least one form of civil documentation.

With the generous donation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, UNHCR will continue assisting IDPs to access legal assistance and civil documentation in collaboration with the Government of Iraq, helping them establish their legal identity, access public services, return to their homes, and exercise their basic rights.

Moreover, this contribution will support the provision of case management and psychosocial support for children survivors of violence, exploitation and abuse, and will complement education assistance aimed at ensuring access to formal education opportunities and obtaining official learning accreditation for Syrian refugee children.

“While the situation in Iraq has notably improved during the past years and the country is steadily transitioning and advancing into a new post-conflict phase, we need to continue supporting its people in their recovery and national reconciliation efforts. Particularly the more than 1.4 million Iraqis and over 286,000 refugees still affected by displacement and wishing to rebuild their lives. This generous contribution enables us to be responsive and compassionate with those that continue relying heavily on humanitarian assistance. With ongoing support, we will stand with all those affected by displacement in Iraq until complete recovery is achieved.” said Ayman Gharaibeh, UNHCR Representative in Iraq.

(Source: UN)

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Cabinet to Support Projects in Health, Oil sectors

The Iraqi Cabinet held its regular weekly meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi.

The Prime Minister told the Cabinet that the current government will continue to discharge its  duties until the formation of the next Iraqi government.

The Prime Minister then outlined some of the key achievements of this government which will be detailed in a comprehensive report to be published soon.

The Cabinet discussed several policies and approved administrative measures to support projects in the health sector, including building general hospitals in Iraqi provinces with a capacity of 400 beds each.

The Cabinet approved recommendations submitted by the Ministerial Council for Energy to allow Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) to borrow 265,000,000 US dollars from the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) for the purpose of implementing a project to expand the production at Al-Nasiriyah oil field by an additional 100,000 barrels per day.

(Source: Govt of Iraq)

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Help Abducted Yazidi Children Reclaim Childhoods

It’s (almost) Christmas, so please spare a thought for those less fortunate who will have little to celebrate on the 25th.

Please consider the AMAR Foundation‘s appeal this year which highlights the plight of Yazidi teens whose young lives have been ruined by ISIS.

More than one third of the 6,800 Yazidis abducted in Sinjar in 2014 were children under 14, We want to reach as many of these children as possible and help them reclaim their childhoods.

Please click here to help us help them.

(Source: AMAR)

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Help Abducted Yazidi Children Reclaim Childhoods

It’s (almost) Christmas, so please spare a thought for those less fortunate who will have little to celebrate on the 25th.

Please consider the AMAR Foundation‘s appeal this year which highlights the plight of Yazidi teens whose young lives have been ruined by ISIS.

More than one third of the 6,800 Yazidis abducted in Sinjar in 2014 were children under 14, We want to reach as many of these children as possible and help them reclaim their childhoods.

Please click here to help us help them.

(Source: AMAR)