The World Bank provides $ 200 million to support social stability in Iraq

The World Bank provides $ 200 million to support social stability in Iraq

More than 1 million families benefit from programs ...

06/04/2018 - 12:50 Iraq



The World Bank Group on Friday approved a $ 200 million emergency stabilization and social stabilization project in Iraq aimed at improving the livelihoods of more than 1 million Iraqis in liberated areas.

The emergency project to support social stability and resilience of citizens, especially those most vulnerable to poverty, will provide cash support, short-term employment opportunities and other forms of social support.

The project provides cash and employment support to 150,000 families, benefits some 840,000 people and generates about 15 million working days.

The project will also increase access to psychosocial services for more than 150,000 people who will receive mental health services and address the effects of violence against women and mitigate the impact of the psychological and social conflict on the population.

At the same time, the project will support the development of medium-term social safety nets and support for livelihoods through micro and microenterprise financing, which will benefit some 12,000 families.

"This project is vital to ensure that Iraq reconstruction not only rebuilds the traditional infrastructure, but also improves the lives of Iraqis and social stability," said Saroj Kumar Jah, Regional Director, Mashreq Department, World Bank. Individuals and families in order to address the effects of the recent conflict, help communities start economic activity and create more jobs. "

The project will rely on existing social researchers and existing payment methods, and will mainstream the concept of strong social accountability, citizen engagement and grievance processing mechanisms to build social cohesion, trust and strengthen the relationship between the central government and local governments.

These mechanisms will also take into account aspects of equality between women and men and support for vulnerable and vulnerable groups, which will help address some of the root causes of violence.

The project is part of an integrated package of World Bank support for the reconstruction and development of liberated areas that focuses on infrastructure and social dimensions.

"The project will support efforts to combat poverty and stabilize the liberated areas ... At the same time, income-generating microfinance programs will provide opportunities for families to resume business activities and create employment opportunities," said Mohammed Shi'a al-Sudani, Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. In these areas ».

The project will also strengthen the capacity of social safety net programs to withstand, in order to enable the Iraqi government to assist poor and vulnerable groups and build resilience to shocks effectively and efficiently.

"One of the key components of this project is to ensure that citizens are able to cope with current and future shocks," said Ghassan Al-Khoja, senior social protection officer at the World Bank in Iraq and head of the project team. The project will improve social safety net programs for 1.2 million families throughout Iraq. It will also allow families to invest in health and education and put an end to inter-generational poverty. "

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