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Iraq: UNIDO, Japan to boost economic resilience and long-term stability for IDPs and returnees in Iraq

Iraq UNIDO Japan to boost economic resilience and longterm stability for IDPs and returnees in Iraq
Iraq: UNIDO, Japan to boost economic resilience and long-term stability for IDPs and returnees in Iraq

2019-04-12 00:00:00 - Source: Relief Web

Source: UNIDO

Country: Iraq, Japan

NINEVEH GOVERNORATE, Iraq, 12 April 2019 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Japan are teaming up to foster the social stabilization and economic resilience of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in the Nineveh Governorate of Iraq. This is one of nine new projects implemented by UNIDO which Japan has recently agreed to fund, totalling US$5.8 million.

The Nineveh Governorate hosts the highest number of IDPs and returnees out of all Governorates in Iraq. The families and individuals returning to their towns often face a lack of livelihoods, social cohesion and security. With the highest countrywide poverty rates linked with unemployment and food insecurity, hardships are exacerbated for IDPs, returnees, and host communities alike. UNIDO and Japan have therefore partnered to harness the productive capacities of IDPs and returnees through entrepreneurship and technical skills upgrading, as well as to contribute to institutional capacity-building to ensure long-term and sustainable assistance to civil society.

“There is an urgent need to revive the local economy and generate employment opportunities for conflict-affected people and communities, in particular IDPs and returnees, in order to ensure livelihoods and social stability for all,” said UNIDO Project Manager Noriko Takahashi.

Stavros Papastavrou, UNIDO Project Manager, added that: “In the Nineveh Governorate of Iraq, there is a tremendous need to support the re-establishment of the most vital components of civil society and to restore the technical capacities of governmental institutions with an overall goal to foster socio-economic revival in a sustainable way.”

The project aims to revitalize micro and small enterprises that were operational before the crisis, establish new income-generation activities, and provide technical skills training for youth. In addition, the upgrading of vocational training centres and national institutions will ensure long-term institutional capacity-building contributing to the overall resettlement and stabilization of the local economy.

Naofumi Hashimoto, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Iraq said: “Japan has recently decided on a new assistance package for Iraq amounting to USD 63 million, including this project as a contribution to enhancing employment and food security. With this package, the total amount of Japan’s assistance to the people affected by the crisis reaches USD 500 million.”

For more information, please contact:

Noriko Takahashi

Industrial Development Officer

UNIDO Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security Division

Email

Stavros Papastavrou

Industrial Development Officer

UNIDO Agro-Industries Technology Division

Emai





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