The Netherlands Allocates €48 Million To Support Forcibly Displaced People And Host Communities In Iraq Through The PROSPECTS Partnership

The program focuses on services for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and their host-communities in Iraq and builds on experience since 2019, in coordination with local and national authorities.

PROSPECTS is a flagship program and example of the Netherlands’ significant support to operationalize the humanitarian-development nexus in eight different countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, and the East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region.

PROSPECTS brings together five organizations working to enhance durable solutions in Iraq: UNHCR, UNICEF, ILO, IFC and the World Bank. A budget of EUR 48 million has been made available for programming in education and skills training, employment, protection, and critical infrastructure for refugees, IDPs due to conflict and host communities in Central and North Iraq over the next four years.

Among other targets, over 155,000 people displaced by conflict and members of host communities will complete their primary or secondary education (formal and non-formal) thanks to the Partnership, and over 250,000 will be retained in primary and secondary education program, including acceleration education program and early childhood education. Furthermore, the partnership will enhance access to market relevant skills training for around 5,000 young people to support smooth transition to employment.

 In terms of economic inclusion, over €5.2 million will be invested in target areas to promote private sector development, creating economic opportunities, enhancing access to finance to entrepreneurs and cooperatives, and promising sectors. Furthermore, using labor intensive approaches, the partnership will support the creation of over 12,000 workdays for people displaced by conflict and host communities with a focus on the green economy.

In order to enhance their protection, 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers will benefit from national civil status, identity or legal status documentation, and 50,000 will benefit from national specialized protective services, case management services and mental health and psychosocial support. Finally, in terms of infrastructure, 80,000 people displaced by conflict and host communities will be able to access basic water services that are safe and available when needed.

Thanks to the PROSPECTS program, in its first four years, nearly 4,000 children from forcibly displaced communities have been enrolled in secondary education, more than 130 refugee entrepreneurs have accessed micro-finance loans for the first time in Iraq, and over 45,000 IDPs have obtained their civil documents.

International program and support to improve socio-economic conditions for the 1.1 million IDPs, 300.000 refugees and 8.000 stateless persons in Iraq remains important and a priority for the Dutch government and the United Nations.