Attachments
Context & Rationale
Iraq has undergone significant shift over the past decade, transitioning from an acute emergency to a complex context where sustainable development and stabilisation goals intertwine with ongoing humanitarian needs. The country continues to grapple with protracted internal displacement, strained social cohesion, and incomplete rehabilitation of housing and essential services. Political instability remains a pervasive challenge in Iraq, affecting governance, security, and service delivery. This instability complicates efforts to address humanitarian needs effectively, as insecurity hampers humanitarian access and impedes sustainable development initiatives. Despite improvements in some areas, Iraq still faces daunting humanitarian challenges. Despite the cessation of large-scale conflict in Iraq in 2017, as of December 2023, there remains 1.1 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across 18 governorates and 104 districts. The highest proportion of IDPs are located in Ninewa, Dohuk, and Erbil. Efforts to support returns to Area of Origin (AoO) have been successful with 4.8 million IDPs returning, according to IOM DTM1 . The remaining 1.1 million IDPs are situated in in-camp and out-of-camp settings, including informal Sites.
The displaced populations are considered the most vulnerable with limited prospects for durable solutions due to inadequate infrastructure, essential services, and livelihood opportunities in AoO. Social tensions further complicate efforts to facilitate safe and sustainable returns. The deactivation of the humanitarian cluster system in Iraq in 2022 has posed challenges by reducing the structured coordination mechanisms among humanitarian actors. This has increased the necessity for improved cooperation and coordination between government entities, international organisations, and NGOs to effectively address ongoing humanitarian needs. The significant decrease in funding from major institutional donors, led to gaps in addressing critical humanitarian needs. This funding shortfall has necessitated prioritisation of interventions, leaving some vulnerable populations underserved and exacerbating existing challenges such as insufficient provision of basic services, infrastructure rehabilitation hindering durable solutions, and limited livelihood opportunities