Attachments
Baghdad, March 13, 2025 – Representatives of the German embassy in Iraq, the KfW Development Bank and UNOPS convened to celebrate the signing of the new “Enhancing Local Infrastructure and Services in Sinjar” project in support of the conflict-affected communities in Sinjar and enhance access to critical services.
With the support from the German Government, through the KfW Development Bank, UNOPS will rehabilitate war-damaged shelters and infrastructure such as water stations as well as provide capacity building training to relevant stakeholders in Sinjar. To contribute even more responsibility to Iraq’s context, stakeholders will involve intensely women during the implementation process, and whenever possible, also include climate-friendly components to the designs.
Roland Westebbe, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Iraq said: “The new project marks an important milestone in the highly successful cooperation between the German and Iraqi governments. I am pleased that this strong partnership has endured for the past five years and throughout the three phases of the “Local Infrastructure in Rural Anbar” project. I hope to have the opportunity to witness firsthand the progress and achievements of this project, supporting the Iraqi people as they rebuild their lives.“
Marc-Andre Hensel, Director of KfW in Iraq stated: “In 2020 we started our collaboration with UNOPS, signing the first financing agreement for the “Local Infrastructure in Rural Anbar” project. It is great to see that the project has been a success, despite all the challenges. Many rural areas in Iraq still lag behind and it is quite obvious in Sinjar which is possibly one of those areas that are least developed in Iraq overall and are in need of a lot of support. This project is about helping people to return from the camps and from displacement back to their original places and to have a place to start from.”
“Today marks another significant milestone in UNOPS partnership with the German Government and KfW Development Bank, underlining our common commitment to sustainable development in conflict-affected areas.” said Anil Chandrika, UNOPS Country Manager in Iraq. “Building on the successes of previous LIRA projects in Anbar and Ninewa, the new intervention will enhance the living standards of community members, fostering their resilience, especially in the hard-hit district of Sinjar.” he added.
The project intends to contribute to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.