Strengthening Iraq through EU cooperation

International Cooperation and

Development

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015

Catalogue number: MN-01-15-864-EN-N ISBN: 978-92-79-52838-5 DOI: 10.2841/443866

© European Union, 2015 / Reproduction is authorised provided that the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Belgium, 2015

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Contents

Foreword

Introduction: Building a stable nation

Overview: From reconstruction to development

Education: Regaining lost ground

Water: Watertight solutions

Health: Curing the ills of Iraq’s health system

Good governance: Towards accountable government

Migration: Moving times for refugees

Human rights: Dignity for all

Civil society: Towards a new social contract

Private sector: Oiling the wheels of private enterprise

Nuclear safety: Decontaminating the past

Humanitarian assistance: Ready for humanitarian action

Infographics

Further reading

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Neven Mimica

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Over the last several years, Iraq has faced an uneasy transition from conflict to some degree of peace, before it plunged back into an acute crisis in 2014 with the rise of ISIL/Da’esh in Syria and Iraq.

Iraq is a pivotal country in the Middle East. What happens there affects the entire region, and that is why a prosperous, sustainable Iraq with a functioning democracy is not only vital to the welfare of Iraqis but can also prove to be a stabilising influence for the entire region.

The European Union and its Member States are mobilising all the instruments at their disposal – diplomatic, humanitarian and development – to help the Iraqi people build a prosperous future. Through the development cooperation the European Union is supporting Iraq and its people to tackle the root causes of violence and bolster long term structural stability. The European Union is helping the Government of Iraq and Iraqi national institutions in their efforts to deliver on their duty of care vis-à-vis all Iraqi citizens, included displaced people and refugees. The best possible way to confront and defeat the ugly face of sectarianism is for Iraq to build and strengthen a pluralistic society. The future lies in demonstrating to Iraqis of all backgrounds, and to the world, that in this country it is possible to live together in tolerance, respect and mutual benefit.

This publication, produced by the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, outlines the current state of play of EU development cooperation with Iraq. It provides an overview on the projects covering key areas like education, water and health, good governance and human rights, migration, civil society, nuclear safety and private sector development.

In the ‘Agenda for Change’ the European Union has reiterated the importance of ensuring a smooth transition from crisis response and humanitarian aid to long-term development cooperation. The humanitarian-development nexus is complex and requires

strong coordination between humanitarian and development actors as well as mutual awareness of the different instruments and approaches. For this purpose, this publication includes also a chapter on the humanitarian assistance provided to Iraq.

The future lies in demonstrating to Iraqis of all backgrounds, and to the world, that in this country it is possible to live

together in tolerance, respect and mutual benefit.

ForewordStrengthening Iraq through EU cooperation

Neven Mimica European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development

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Since 2003, Iraq has scored notable successes in numerous areas of governance, institution building and economic recovery, including three cycles of democratic elections.

During this long journey, the European Union has been a reliable partner for Iraq, both in terms of humanitarian assistance, where it is often the first donor to respond to unfolding crises, and when it comes to supporting long-term sustainable development. The EU is concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the Iraqi people as well as the integrity and prosperity of Iraq.

However, all these gains are under severe threat from the renewed conflict and instability that have rocked the country. The ongoing battle against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) has propelled Iraq once again to the international headlines. The resurgent internal conflict within Iraq is being exacerbated by spillover from the civil war in neighbouring Syria.

While opinions differ markedly over the causes of the country’s troubles, one thing all parties agree on is the urgent need to restore stability and rebuild infrastructure and institutions in Iraq.

Striking at the roots

The EU has formulated a comprehensive joint plan which tackles the underlying political dynamics of the conflict, economic development and reconciliation between different ethnic groups. In concrete terms, the EU has allocated EUR 1 billion to implement the strategy in Iraq and Syria in 2015-2016 alone.

This fits into the mutually agreed strategic objectives of EU-Iraqi cooperation: to promote stability, further develop governance and accountability, as well as to ensure inclusive development. It will help enhance the country’s security, improve the safety and wellbeing of its citizens, promote recovery and development, and accelerate Iraq’s re-integration into the international community, its return to the family of nations.

As a sign of the deepening mutual ties, the two sides sealed their first framework accord in 2012, known as the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

IntroductionBuilding a stable nation

Children of Peace Iraq

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This package will strengthen our actions to help restore peace and security in a region that is so close to us and that has been devastated by terrorism and violence for too long

Confidence in the future

Despite the renewed bout of instability that has struck Iraq, the European Union unveiled a new tranche of development support to Iraq with EUR 78 million for the period 2014-2017.

This brochure is a testament to, and a reflection of, that confidence. It highlights the complex, deep and broad-based development relationship Iraq enjoys with Europe. It also illustrates the many successes Iraq is registering beyond the grim headlines the rest of the world sees, and shows how determined and dedicated Iraqis are planting the seeds for a better future in the harsh soil of the present.

Fallujah 2004

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During the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the EU limited its relations with Iraq to humanitarian issues, becoming the largest donor after the United Nations in 1992.

In the aftermath of the 2003 war in Iraq and the downfall of the Hussein regime, international efforts focused on rebuilding the devastated nation.

At that time, the EU channelled its assistance through a joint fund, along with 24 other donors. The European Union contributed some two-fifths of the USD 1.9 billion that made up the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), established by the UN and the World Bank. Based on a thorough needs assessment, IRFFI focused on 14 main priorities and was designed to complement the Iraqi government’s National Development Strategy.

As a reflection of the EU’s commitment to building democracy, good governance and accountability in Iraq, the European Commission provided both financial and technical assistance to Iraq’s first democratic elections in 2005. This included significant support to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. Since then, the EU has continued to help ensure the fairness and transparency of elections, with EUR 90 million in support since 2004.

Shifting focus

In 2008, the EU began to move towards a direct bilateral relationship with Iraq, driven primarily by the Iraqi authorities. Aiming to foster the government’s capacity to set and pursue its own goals, the European Commission, Italy and Sweden helped Iraq to develop its first-ever Country Strategy Paper, for 2011 to 2013.

In 2011, Iraq became eligible to receive loans from the European Investment Bank, thereby boosting its development potential. The 2012 EU-Iraq Partnershipand Cooperation Agreement established a comprehensive framework for this development partnership. This agreement ‘is a fitting testamentto the EU’s determination to build a long-term partnership’, said Catherine Ashton, who was the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs at the time.

A brighter tomorrow

The Iraqi National Development Plan (2013-2017) provides a blueprint for EU-Iraqi cooperation, as well as the basis for the EU’s 2014-2017 Multiannual Indicative Programme. Three priority areas were identified: human rights and the rule of law, capacity building in primary and secondary education, and sustainable energy for all. For the period 2014-2017, the EU has announced it will make EU 78 million available for development cooperation with Iraq.

OverviewFrom reconstruction to development

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Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, meets Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs, in December 2014

The situation in Iraq has become closely intertwined with that in Syria, with the conflicts in both countries spilling over into the other. Moreover, the instability in the two countries has enormous regional implications and ramifications, and resonates as far away as Europe.

For this reason, the European Union has launched an ambitious integrated, holistic strategy to tackle the complex situation directly. Worth EUR 1 billion over two years, the EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq was jointly formulated by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the request of the Council of Ministers. The Council officially adopted the strategy in March 2015.

Tackling root causes

‘This package will strengthen our actions to help restore peace and security in a region that is so close to us and that has been devastated by terrorism and violence for too long,’ said Federica Mogherini, the High Representative, at the strategy’s launch. ‘We are now better equipped to do more together … We can now better tackle the root causes of instability and violence.’

Involving the EU, its Member States and partners in Iraq and the wider region, the strategy focuses on such priority areas as humanitarian aid, which represents 40% of the budget, and places particular emphasis on linking immediate relief with the longer-term needs of displaced people, especially children and youth. Efforts are also being made to bolster resilience, aid recovery and assist post-conflict reintegration and development. Priority areas include enhancing public services, especially education and health, improving livelihoods and reducing poverty, as well as better governance and human rights.

The upheavals plaguing Iraq and Syria have sent out shockwaves across the region. A second priority of the strategy is to prevent and contain cross-border spillover from these crises, especially in Lebanon and Jordan. It will help these countries cope with the massive influx of refugees, while maintaining their security, stability and integrity. Actions here will include education and vocational training to provide refugees with better employment prospects and greater hope for the future, as well as the resettlement of thousands of refugees within the EU.

The strategy also includes a counter-terrorism component, which seeks to enhance border security and stem the flow of foreign fighters, arms and funds to Iraq and Syria. It will also tackle radicalisation through education, raising awareness and other initiatives.

Inclusive Iraq

The strategy contains specific objectives for Iraq. A central focus is on making inclusiveness in Iraqi governance a concrete reality, with a view to promoting a long-term process of state building and national reconciliation.

The strategy lays out a number of priorities to help achieve this. These include engaging with moderate marginalised Sunni groups, promoting a rapprochement between the Kurdish regional authorities and the central government, as well as consolidating democratic governance and supporting wide-ranging reforms. Other actions extend to capacity building, restructuring the security sector and bolstering respect for human rights.

A comprehensive approach to Iraq and Syria

We are now better equipped to do more together... We can now better tackle the root causes of instability and violence.

Children painting a wall mural in Arbat IDP camp in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq.

Iraq once possessed a robust and successful education system. ‘Its education system was considered to be one of the most advanced in the region as recently as the 1980s,’ states a 2004 UNESCO report.

Prior to 1991, primary enrolment was at 100% and Iraq had one of the highest literacy rates in the Middle East, with close to parity between men and women. Meanwhile, the country’s higher education establishments were world class, particularly in science and technology. The ‘golden age’ of modern Iraqi education was the 1970s. This was ‘reflective of strong national vision and strident and idealistic leadership at the time,’ another study concluded.

However, a constant series of wars and conflicts starting with the Iraq-Iran war, international sanctions, and the emigration of many teachers, dealt the education system a devastating blow from which it is still struggling to recover.

Educational outcomes in Iraq have declined steeply. About a fifth of the adult population has never attended

school, and only 9% have completed secondary education, while 39% of the rural population is unable to read or write.

Back to school

Despite the regression and challenges, ‘the education system remains strong, thanks to the dedication of its teachers and managers,’ UNESCO stressed. Against the backdrop of instability and insurgency, the Iraqi government managed to get 6 million children back in school following the 2003 invasion.

Reflecting the huge importance Iraq still attaches to learning, education spending has grown consistently, rising from 7.4% to 9.6% of the national budget between 2007 and 2009, with an allocated budget of nearly USD 4.5 billion in 2010.

However, despite the large level of spending and the rehabilitation of hundreds of schools with international support, Iraq suffers from a severe shortage in educational infrastructure. The National Plan for Education for 2010-2014 estimated

EU-UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project - Hadif Hammad- Al Hijrah Primary School Baghdad

Education

Regaininglost ground

a 30% shortage in school buildings, forcing schools to operate double and sometimes triple shifts.

This overcrowding is one of the main reasons deterring children from attending school, alongside violence and roadblocks, according to a 2008 Iraq Knowledge (IKN) survey.

The UNESCO study identified a number of priority areas to help Iraqi education regain its edge. For the school system these included improving quality and access, teacher training, redesigning and modernising curricula, as well as renovating and equipping schools.

Primary focus

Decent primary education is an essential component of a healthy childhood, secondary education builds a promising adolescence, and both lay the foundations for a productive adulthood. Education also drives sustainable and inclusive growth, helps to reduce poverty, and is essential to achieving broader sustainable development goals.

Although Iraq planned to bring school enrolment close to its

former universal level by 2015, the authorities have been struggling to increase attendance. Reliable enrolment and attendance figures are hard to come by, given the upheavals gripping the country.

Iraq’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) showed enrolment standing at 87% in 2008. However, the IKN survey estimated that 71% of children of primary-school age were enrolled and only 82% of those actually attended regularly. The situation is bound to have worsened significantly in many parts of the country, especially those controlled by ISIL/Da’esh. Moreover, fewer than 50% of schoolchildren transition from primary to secondary education, according to EMIS.

Quality is another persistent challenge. This can be seen, for instance, in the enormous number of children repeating a grade – estimated at 660 000 in 2007/8, according to EMIS. It is accentuated by an uneven geographical distribution of teachers, shortages of supplies and infrastructure, poor quality control, inadequate teacher

Decent primary education is an essential component of a healthy childhood, secondary education builds a promising adolescence, and both lay the foundations for a productive adulthood.

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performance, and overcrowded classrooms, according to the National Education Strategy (2011-2020). Centralisation, overlapping ministerial responsibilities and slow decision-making are additional handicaps.

Blueprint for EU action

Given that Iraq already possesses significant human and other resources in the education sector, EU efforts revolve around capacity and institution building. The aim of such actions is to facilitate Iraqi ownership and management of the reform process in the shortest possible time.

The National Education Strategy (NES) sets out Iraq’s main priorities for primary and secondary education, and hence acts as a general guide for EU interventions in these areas, which focus on three specific objectives.

The first goal is to develop and streamline education policies, with a view to enhancing equitable access to quality primary and secondary schooling. The second aim is to improve the management of the

education system, by enhancing budgeting, expenditure controls and reporting at central, provincial and district levels.

The EU also supports efforts to produce teaching and learning materials, to renovate schools, upgrade their water and sanitation facilities, build playgrounds and add classrooms to overcrowded schools.

Education:

14% school-age Iraqi children not in school

4% - secondary school attendance in rural areas

21.5% - adult (>15y) illiteracy

17.6% - youth (15-24y) is illiterate

67.6% - population with no secondary education

5.4% - children who have books at home

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New Model SchoolsA set of standards adopted by the Iraqi government in 2013 seeks to transform primary schools across the country into ideal learning environments. ‘These standards are critical to ensure that all primary school-age children will have the best educational and learning experience possible,’ said Mohammed Ali Tamim, Iraqi Education Minister at the time.

Backed by the European Union and UNICEF, these standards relate to five main areas: the learning environment, school management, boosting the capacity of teachers, involving local communities, and inclusiveness and participation.

‘As each school, one by one, applies these standards across the country, the quality of education for every child will be greatly enriched,’ said UNICEF’s representative to Iraq Marzio Babille.

One major objective is to keep children in school and prevent them from falling behind. While nine out of 10 Iraqi children enrol in primary school, fewer than half complete primary school at the normal age.

‘The adoption of these standards will make schools more engaging and attractive for children, which will help to ensure they enrol and stay in school,’ emphasised Jana Hybaskova, the EU’s ambassador to Iraq.

This project was developed in the context of the ‘Child-Friendly School’ global initiative, which works with well over a thousand Iraqi schools.

Better schooling for a million childrenA million schoolchildren benefited from a major EU-financed project to enhance education in Iraq. Managed by the British Council, the project set out to improve the learning experience at primary and secondary levels for students in Kurdistan and central and southern Iraq.

Working closely with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, the three-year ‘Support to Improving the Quality of Education in Iraq’ surpassed its original objective of improving learning outcomes for 800 000 primary and secondary schoolchildren.

The project helped revise school standards and curricula, organised teacher training in the latest teaching methods, developed better quality assurance mechanisms, launched leadership programmes and 15 centres of excellence, and helped gear the skills of students to the needs of the job market to boost their employability.

Among other successes, the project trained over 100 000 educators, benefiting learners in more than 11 000 schools, developed the skills of 2 500 senior mentors to give head-teachers a greater role as ‘leaders of learning’ in 5 900 schools, and enlisted the support of more than 5 000 supervisors to act as ‘critical friends’ to the schools.

The project also sought to promote ‘healthy minds in healthy bodies’ by improving the quality of sports teaching. With support from five schools in the UK, nine pilot Iraqi sports colleges have developed novel ways of teaching physical education and sports. Some 250 sports educators received training and the colleges support a network of 50 schools.

As each school, one by one, applies these standards across the country, the quality of education for every child will be greatly enriched

Case studies

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Only around half of the Iraqi population enjoys access to safe water and sanitation, according to two surveys conducted in 2004 and 2006. The reasons for this are complex and include protracted wars and conflict, international sanctions and under-investment.

Poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation has serious socio-economic and health repercussions for the population. These include increased risk of contracting diarrhoea and water-borne diseases. In Iraq, the World Health Organisation estimates that over 10% of all deaths relate to water, sanitation and hygiene. This falls below regional norms. For example, in neighbouring Kuwait, it is only 0.5%.

Improving water and sanitation can reap enormous social and economic benefits for Iraq. Globally, investing in these sectors can slash the disease burden by more than 9% and by 15% for the countries worst affected, according to the WHO. In addition, it would significantly reduce healthcare costs and boost productivity.

Re-channelling efforts

Iraqi government efforts have revolved mainly around repairing, restoring and rehabilitating infrastructure. However, inefficiencies in the existing system, with its centralised bureaucracy and lack of concern for the environment and consumer behaviour, have not been sufficiently addressed.

Nevertheless, there is a growing awareness in the ministries concerned of the need to revise their standards, update their policies and boost the capacities of their staff. The EU is supporting the capacity building and reform efforts of the Iraqi government.

The challenge for Iraq rests not only in broadening access to drinking water but also involves simply ensuring an adequate supply of this finite resource. Like much of the Middle East, Iraq is undergoing a water crisis. As water supplies stagnate or fall due to climate change and upstream irrigation, demand is increasing rapidly, driven by population growth, urbanisation

Watertight solutions

Water

Enhanced facilities for monitoring water quality, Kirkuk

EU supported water quality monitoring station, Basra

Another EU project, which is managed by UNICEF, has been working to raise public appreciation and understanding of efficient water usage and the importance of good hygiene. In addition to launching a popular Facebook page, the project has conducted a knowledge, attitude and practices survey of 5 000 families in 15 governorates. It has also led high-level advocacy efforts with federal and local governments, resulting in the establishment of national and regional awareness taskforces. Moreover, the project supported the design and implementation of advanced training courses for over 400 environmental journalists.

and economic recovery. And with agriculture already swallowing up 90% of available supplies, efforts to expand farming are leading to even more stress on water resources.

Despite these challenges, per-capita water consumption is astronomical, standing at 327 litres per person per day, more than double the EU average.

This is due to leaky and inefficient distribution infrastructure, as well as poor consumption patterns encouraged by heavy subsidies and the absence of metres in many parts of the country.

Addressing this requires a multipronged approach focusing on improving the efficiency of infrastructure, reducing waste, as well as raising public awareness about conserving water. The EU has been supporting these efforts. For example, one major European-financed programme strives to improve Iraq’s water and sanitation systems, while enhancing the government’s capacity to manage them.

Intake Structure at Shat Al Arab, Basra

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The EU and UNICEF are raising awareness about hygiene

Grounds for optimism

With surface water at such a premium, the answer may lie beneath. With the mighty Euphrates and Tigris passing through and converging in Iraq, the aquifers of these two rivers remain a largely untapped resource which could help meet Iraq’s water needs.

However, exploiting these groundwater resources more effectively requires more reliable data to be gathered and detailed analysis conducted. To that end, the EU is financing a major EUR 5 million initiative to conduct the second phase of an ‘Advanced Survey of Hydrogeological Resources in Iraq’ (ASHRI-2).

Managed by UNESCO in coordination with the relevant Iraqi ministries, the project aims to enhance Iraq’s national capacities in the exploration and integrated management of subterranean water resources.

ASHRI-2 seeks to provide ‘a real, solid, and scientific base for a comprehensive management system for underwater resources in Iraq’, according to the Director-General of the State Bureau for Groundwater, Dhafer Abdullah Hussain.

Safeguarding Iraq’s water supply

With upstream irrigation, agricultural and other pollution, as well as poor wastewater treatment, the Ministry of Health reports that only 70% of Iraq’s water supply complies with minimum standards, while heavy metals have been reported in the water at a number of locations.

This situation has serious environmental and public health implications. For example, children in Iraq suffer from diarrhoea on average up to 18 times a year, reports UNICEF, which is exponentially higher than the two to three episodes children with access to clean water experience.

One vital component in enhancing quality is to establish effective and efficient water-monitoring systems, which can keep an eye on the water supply and detect instantaneous pollution incidents. Currently, Iraq’s monitoring system only measures water quality at waste treatment plants and with end-users.

An EU-funded project to establish a ‘Water monitoring task force’ was launched at the end of 2014 to help coordinate the efforts of the relevant ministries and other stakeholders. With over EUR 5 million in European Union funds, the project will seek to put in place an efficient and integrated monitoring system that will enhance the quantity and quality of supplies, as well as protect the water supply chain from contamination.

Case studies

One vital component in enhancing quality is to establish effective and efficient water-monitoring systems

Water and Sanitation:

10% - deaths related to water, sanitation and hygiene

90% - water supply used by agriculture

Rural urban divide:

Access to drinking water 66.9% vs 94%

Access sanitation 79.8% vs. 86%

327 litres per capita water consumption per day

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Iraq’s health system

Health and healthcare in Iraq was once at the top of the global league. Decades of sustained conflict and instability have seen it drop to levels comparable to some of the world’s poorest countries.

For instance, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), between 1960 and 1990, infant mortality dropped by about two-thirds (from 117 to 40 deaths per 1000 births) and child mortality fell by a comparable amount (from 171 to 50 deaths per 1000 births).

However, while health began improving across the developing world from the 1990s, Iraq witnessed a massive and tragic decline in the population’s health, due to the 1991 Gulf War, the sanctions which followed and the Iraqi regime’s neglect of the healthcare system.

Weak vital signs

Since the 1990s, infant and child mortality has more than doubled, adult mortality has skyrocketed, while life expectancy has plummeted,

reaching just 60 years by the turn of the millennium. It has begun to recover again, reaching 69 in 2012, according to Iraqi government figures.

This decline was not just caused by Iraq’s worsening healthcare system. Other factors included a sharp spike in poverty, deteriorating education, poor water and sanitation malnutrition (15.5% of the population is underweight, while 25% of adults are overweight or obese), and increased injuries and deaths due to protracted conflict.

Many deaths in Iraq are easily preventable and would not have occurred when the country’s healthcare and infrastructure were highly developed. For example, 70% of child deaths are caused by acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea.

Long road to recovery

Despite continued efforts to improve the health of Iraqi citizens, Iraq’s creaking healthcare system suffers from a number of difficulties and

Health

Donated blood

Blood transfusion centre, Erbil

Curing the ills of

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challenges. These include the absence of a coherent national health strategy, the financing of healthcare through fluctuating oil revenues, and a highly centralised bureaucracy. Another crucial factor is the enormous brain drain Iraq has experienced.

Although, in theory, all health and medical care in Iraq is universal and free, accessibility is reduced by geographical distance, secondary costs that are prohibitive for the poor, and long waiting times for certain procedures and treatments.

National health drive

For its part, the Iraqi government has made improving citizens’ health and restoring and enhancing the healthcare system a leading national priority. Healthcare is a top objective of the National Development Plans for 2010-2014 and 2013-2017, both in its own right and as a cross-cutting component of other goals.

The European Union has taken a keen interest in putting Iraq’s healthcare system on the long road to recovery. At first, EU assistance was largely channelled through the United Nations, namely the IRFFI, which invested more than USD 185 million in the health sector. Focus areas included the revitalisation of the primary healthcare system, disease prevention, control, eradication and elimination, as well as staff capacity-building and extending health services to remote communities.

In recent years, as the focus shifted from post-war reconstruction to development and the Iraqi government gained strength, EU-Iraq cooperation has evolved to a more direct bilateral relationship. The EU increasingly supports Iraqi-led initiatives and finances projects led by partner organisations, such as the WHO, which also enhance the Iraqi government’s capacity to manage vital public services.

Health:

Indicators of malnutrition:

22.6% - stunting in children under 5

8.5% - children U5 underweight

11.8% - children U5 overweight

Child is vaccinated on arrival at an International Organization for Migration refugee camp.

An Iraqi doctor at an intensive care unit for premature babies. Alwaiya Maternity Hospital, Eastern Baghdad, Iraq.

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A stitch in time

Emergency medical care often makes the difference between life and death, especially in a context of ongoing conflict. However, like the rest of the health system, Iraq’s emergency services have suffered in recent years.

To boost capacity and response times in this area, an EU-backed project has been providing ‘Support to Specialised Medical Services’. Implemented by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this EUR 13 million, four-year project worked to improve the quality and efficiency of emergency medical and blood transfusion services, with a view to reducing the health consequences of emergency situations.

The project helped build a network between the National Blood Transfusion Centre and regional blood banks. It also developed a policy for emergency care, boosted the performance of emergency medical services and carried out community outreach.

Healthcare is a top objective of the National Development Plans for 2010-2014 and 2013-2017

Case studies

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government

Every democratic government is ultimately accountable to the electorate, its people. In recent years, the Iraqi authorities have been striving to improve their governance and to enhance accountability and transparency.

Iraq’s National Development Plan (2013-2017) contains an entire chapter on good governance, and governance is an element of other policy areas, such as education. The NDP seeks to shape an independent judiciary founded on a commitment to human rights and increased efficiency.

The NDP also commits Iraq to greater decentralisation of political and administrative power to foster greater accountability and responsiveness in service provision, as well as to strengthen citizen participation in the decision-making process. This echoes the Iraqi constitution, which lays down the principle of a fairer redistribution of authority and resources between the national government and the governorates. However, achieving this

kind of devolution of power requires capacity building at the local level.

Fragile progress

Given the fragility of the situation in Iraq, reform has been slow and results have been mixed. This is reflected in the fact that Iraq ranks 170 out of 175 countries on Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perception Index. Although Iraq has established democratic institutions and structures, democratic principles are often not respected, both by state and non-state actors.

One important reason relates to the nature of Iraq’s oil-dominated economy. The petroleum sector accounts for about 60% of Iraq’s GDP, 99% of its exports and more than 90% of government revenues, but only employs about 1% of the workforce. And this dependence is growing, as Iraq reported record levels of oil production, 4 million barrels per day, in late 2014. This kind of rentier economy, in which the government is dependent on resource prices and not

Good governance

Towards accountable

Federica Mogherini, High Representa-tive of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, meets Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs, in December 2014

Training course for social workers working in prisons

tax revenue, while citizens are more dependent on state largesse, reduces the incentive to boost accountability.

Nevertheless, Iraq’s instability actually makes the need for promoting good governance more pressing and urgent. Good governance helps guarantee security, justice and jobs for citizens, which helps set in motion a virtuous circle. However, the political environment is a major hindrance to the effective rolling out of good governance. A succession of elaborate governments based on fragile power-sharing arrangements and a culture of strong administrative centralisation have hobbled Iraq’s recovery. In addition, institutional checks and balances are often absent or ineffective, while public participation remains weak.

Inclusive and sustainable

Governance is a cornerstone of EU involvement in Iraq. ‘Good governance, in its political, economic, social and environmental terms, is vital for inclusive and sustainable development,’ states

the Agenda for Change, the European Commission’s blueprint for development cooperation. ‘EU support to governance should feature more prominently in all partnerships, notably through incentives for results-oriented reform and a focus on partners’ commitments to human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to meeting their peoples’ demands and needs.’

Europe supports numerous initiatives to promote good governance, including efforts to ensure the rule of law and the separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers. It also backs efforts to guarantee the independence of the judiciary and to interlink security and justice reform programmes.

Outside government, civil society has a vital role to play in guaranteeing good governance and accountability. The EU encourages bottom-up state-society relations in insecure areas and seeks to utilise external and community monitoring capabilities to combat corruption.

UNDP LADP regional coordinator launches the Provincial Development Strategy for Sulaimaniyah Governorate 2016-2018 and the outdoor activity “Plant the Plan by Planting a Tree”. The project is supported by the EU.

“Plant the Plan by Planting a Tree” Greening Goizha Mountain in Sul

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A seat at the table

The foundations for the bilateral partnership between the European Union and Iraq were laid in 2008. Although security issues remained a grave concern, the focus of EU-Iraqi cooperation shifted from rebuilding the country to considering its long-term development.

In addition, Iraqi and EU authorities decided the moment had come to establish, for the first time, a bilateral relationship which would see direct negotiations between the two parties on development priorities and how best to utilise available assistance. Iraq was once again taking its seat at the international table and, aptly, the first bilateral programme to be announced, the EUR 10.6 million ‘Technical Assistance to Iraqi Institutions’, included a component which aimed specifically to strengthen the capacity of Iraqi negotiators.

Another project, launched in 2013, sought to help Iraqi officials understand the nature of international treaties and their political and legal ramifications in the domestic sphere, including their impact on the population.

In its first six months of operation, eight training sessions were conducted for senior officials, providing a thorough theoretical grounding in the global political order, legal systems and UN conventions. The training also dealt with practical aspects, such as negotiating trade agreements and commercial contracts for oil exploration.

Women reinforce Iraq’s thin blue line

Recent years have seen a relative surge in the number of women joining Iraq’s police force. Still, at present, only 250 women serve as police investigators in Iraq.

An EU-backed training programme is striving to strengthen this trend. At the behest of the Ministry of the Interior, the ‘Support to the Rule of Law and Justice’ project organised training sessions for 25 female officers in the Family Protection Unit (FPU), which combats domestic violence and other forms of violence against women.

Given the sensitive nature of violence against women, the vulnerability of victims and their difficulty in approaching male officers, the presence of women officers in the FPU is vital. By involving women in investigating gender-based violence, the training will help bolster the FPU’s capacity to deal with this troubling phenomenon.

The training aimed to contribute to more responsive and proactive law enforcement by developing a better understanding and appreciation in the Iraqi police force of the dynamics of domestic and gender-based violence, its root causes and the importance of gender equality.

The training sessions also sought to familiarise trainees with the national laws and international standards on the subject.

The 25 female officers who received this training of trainers will act as multipliers. They will use the skills they have gained to travel around the country to train other female investigators.

Iraqi and EU authorities decided the moment had come to establish, for the first time, a bilateral relationship

Case studies

Governance:

Iraq ranks 170th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index

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refugees

Over the past dozen years, Iraq has been convulsed by waves of internal displacement and an exodus of refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries and beyond, even to the furthest reaches of Europe.

Following the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the Iraqi refugee crisis became the largest in the Middle East since the displacement of the Palestinians in 1948. At the peak of the crisis, more than 4 million Iraqis had fled their homes: around half were internally displaced within Iraq while the other half had become refugees abroad, according to UN statistics.

Just as the situation was beginning to show signs of stabilising and some refugees started returning to their homes, Iraq was plunged into a new chapter of chaos and upheaval with the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

Unprecedented crisis

Although the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq had dropped to just over a million, ISIL/Da’esh’s ferocious onslaught caused their ranks to swell by an additional 2.8 million, bringing the total number to just shy of 4 million, according to figures released by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Iraqi government. In addition, more than a quarter of a million Syrian refugees have sought shelter from the conflict in their country in Iraq, primarily in the Kurdistan region.

This comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented global displacement disaster. More people are IDPs or refugees today than at any time since records began, according to the United Nations. Globally, nearly 60 million people have been displaced by war, conflict or persecution. If this were a state, it would be the world’s 24th most populous. ‘We are witnessing a

Moving times for

Migration23

Returnees coming back to their homes near Zumar

Syrian refugees in Kawergosk refugee camp, Erbil

A new arrival at a refugee camp.

Iraqi IDPs in unfinished buildings

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paradigm change, an unchecked slide into an era in which the scale of global forced displacement as well as the response required is now clearly dwarfing anything seen before,’ observed the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres.

Shelter from the storm

In light of the magnitude and gravity of Iraq’s refugee and IDP crisis, the European Union is committed to helping mitigate the situation. Europe is providing rapid, impartial and targeted humanitarian assistance to help counter the latest developments in the unfolding emergency.

Moreover, the EU is assisting neighbouring countries, especially Lebanon and Jordan, which are struggling to cope with the massive influx of Iraqi and Syrian refugees and the significant destabilising effect this brings.

‘The EU commends the considerable efforts of all countries sheltering and offering protection to refugees,’ stated the Union’s recent ‘Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq’. ‘It will spare no effort to help them provide protection and assistance

to refugees and vulnerable host communities, build resilience and comply with international law, standards, conventions and humanitarian principles.’

When it comes to refugees and IDPs, the regional strategy focuses on building community resilience while addressing basic needs, such as helping the displaced to secure their livelihoods and educations. Importantly, the strategy also highlights the importance of treating refugees with the respect and dignity demanded by international law.

In addition to assistance to countries hosting Iraqi refugees, the EU is also supporting Iraq to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis. Refugees and IDPs are also considered a cross-cutting issue in all the EU’s programmes and interventions in Iraq.

Safe and secure haven

All the upheavals and terror caused by ISIL/Da’esh advances in northern and central Iraq have resulted in a massive influx of displaced people into the Kurdistan region, which now provides shelter to more than 1.7 million IDPs.

Kurdistan needs help in dealing with the influx in a sustainable and humane manner. With EU funding, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched the HIJRA-AMINA (which means ‘Safe Migration’ in Arabic) initiative to assist the Kurdish regional authorities and the central Iraqi government to manage this migratory flow effectively.

The programme focuses on a number of vital areas, including integrating and reintegrating IDPs, resolving land and property disputes, managing refugee flows from and to Syria, and combating human trafficking. The project also focuses on researching migration and studying its development implications.

HIJRA-AMINA is designed to complement national and regional programmes already in place and raise awareness of the support structures available to IDPs and returnees. To this end, the project conducted a mapping exercise of available assistance and an information campaign, including TV advertisements, to spread knowledge to target communities.

Given that over 70% of IDPs cite work as their top priority, the project is examining the feasibility of establishing a government-run income-generation programme that would complement the micro-loans and pension supplements already in place.

Returnees face differing challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles they need to negotiate. HIJRA-AMINA is working to boost the capacities of returnee assistance centres and other bodies dealing with this form of migration, as well as providing training to immigration officials.

Human trafficking and violence against women are also key focuses of HIJRA-AMIN, which runs, among other things, awareness-raising workshops on these issues.

Case study

Kurdistan needs help in dealing with the influx in a sustainable and humane manner.

Migration:

3 million internally displaced Iraqis

250 000 Syrian refugees in Iraq

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Dignity for all

Human rights conditions in Iraq are ‘dire’, according to Amnesty International, and ‘have crumbled’, in the words of Human Rights Watch, since the rise of ISIL/Da’esh. ‘As the fighting continues, protection of civilians must be of paramount concern,’ urges Amnesty.

Despite the deterioration, the Iraqi authorities have an expressed commitment to upholding and protecting human rights. Equality between all Iraqi citizens is enshrined in the country’s 2005 constitution, as are the state’s role in protecting the most vulnerable, including women, children and the elderly. The constitution also guarantee social and health security.

In 2011, the Council of Ministers launched the Iraqi National Human Rights Plan, which asserts ‘Iraq has renewed [its] commitment to promote and protect human rights as a core value.’

‘Good administration guarantees respect for the political, civil, and human rights of citizens… [and] ensures equality for all citizens before the law, protects them from administrative oversteps, or from repressive procedures undertaken by executive authorities,’ reiterates the National Development Plan (NDP) for 2013 to 2017.

Universal values

The European Union is committed to upholding and safeguarding human rights – civil, political, economic, social or cultural – both at home and globally. Its stance draws on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, as well as the EU’s own Charter of Fundamental Rights.

For the EU, respect for human rights, along with the rule of law, is a key ingredient of Iraq’s transition towards becoming

a functioning and sustainable democracy. The Union’s commitment to human rights in Iraq is reflected in the many programmes and projects it supports in this field, including its extensive backing of Iraqi human rights defenders in their efforts to protect fundamental freedoms.

Furthermore, the Delegation of the European Union to Iraq chairs the Human Rights Working Group, where issues related to human rights can be discussed and courses of action agreed. In addition, the Delegation is in constant contact and dialogue with the Iraqi authorities and civil society.

Human rights

Flash mob of Kulluna Muwatinun youth, Erbil mall, 2013

Breaking Iraqi women’s chains

Aliaa is a member of the 2-million strong Afro-Iraqi population. An orphan of war, she survived on the edges of society, between begging on the streets, serving others in ‘disreputable’ houses, and prison. Aliaa found refuge in a shelter run by the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI). Today, Aliaa takes other women at risk under her protective wing.

‘I have found my mission with OWFI, which is to become a defender of my vulnerable sisters,’ she explains, ‘not leaving any of them subject to the suffering which awaits them and their children in the houses of misery in Baghdad.’

Established in 2003, OWFI strives to improve the situation of ordinary and poor Iraqi women, who have suffered the most from war, conflict and sanctions in Iraq but have received less attention than their elite sisters. With support from the EU, the Iraqi NGO has been able to expand its shelters for women exposed to domestic violence and sexual trafficking.

‘In an era when [ISIL/Da’esh] is shocking the world with its heinous acts of enslaving women of Iraq, we have not surrendered to shock and surprise,’ insists OWFI’s president, Yanar Mohammed. ‘We immediately started to set up our shelters for women escaping [ISIL/Da’esh] in the bordering territories.’

OWFI does not just work to protect vulnerable women against violence and exploitation, explains Yanar Mohammed. As was the case for Aliaa, it also seeks to empower and mentor these women to enable them to advocate for their rights. OWFI also organises conferences and other events targeted at parliamentarians and government officials to raise their awareness of the actions required to empower trafficked women and reintegrate them into society.

Women from ethic minorities, like these Yazidis, are especially vul-nerable.

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Case studies

Safeguarding the rights of prisoners

The appointment of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) in 2012 was a major milestone for human rights and accountability in Iraq. ‘For the first time in its history, there is an independent national institution to promote and protect the rights of all Iraq’s people, irrespective of their national, ethnic, religious, gender or other differences,’ said Martin Kobler, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq.

The IHCHR’s role of safeguarding human rights extends to those Iraqis who find themselves behind bars. However, the commission lacked the capacity and know-how to carry out its prison monitoring duties effectively. An EU-funded initiative, implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), is designed to strengthen IHCHR’s monitoring, complaint and report-writing departments. It concentrated on the commission’s preventive and protective roles.

Participants focused on the challenges facing the monitoring and inspection teams and how to overcome these. ‘We are confident that this programme will enable the IHCHR to enhance its performance in the monitoring and inspection of detention centres,’ Nieves Molina-Clemente, UNOPS programme manager, said in March 2015.

As a sign of this, the IHCHR will adopt the standard operating procedures for prison monitoring developed by the participants during the programme.

From state propaganda to public broadcasting

In a free society, the media play a vital role in holding to account the various branches of government and other centres of power. Under dictatorships, the media’s task becomes that of shoring up the state’s power, rather than keeping it in check. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq has been striving to develop a truly independent media.

With support from the EU and other donors, ‘Consolidating Media Freedoms in Iraq’ seeks to nurture a more sustainable environment for Iraqi media players and to help protect freedom of expression. This three-year project empowers Iraqi stakeholders to amend cur-rent legislation, promote better journalism practices, facilitate the free movement of media professionals and introduce editorial guidelines for various media outlets.

Managed by BBC Media Action, the British public broadcaster’s international development charity, the project has already scored notable successes. These have included a code of practice for the Communication and Media Commission, training for senior news presenters and extensive dialogue with parliament and government.

The project’s most significant achievement so far came at the end of May 2015, when the Iraqi parliament voted to re-establish the Iraqi Media Network (IMN) as a public service broadcaster, a process which ‘Consolidating Media Freedoms in Iraq’ helped mediate. ‘The IMN, under this law, is able to reflect the needs and desires of the population,’ maintains Maysoon Al-Damluji, chair of the Parliamentary Culture and Media Committee, who was the driving force behind the legislation. ‘The law provides IMN with immunity from turning into the propaganda machine of one political party.’

‘It is a professional law for a diverse country and superior to all other similar laws in the Arab world and the region, including Turkey,’ believes Ali Al-Shelah, who chairs the IMN board of governors. ‘In the current circumstances, this is as good as it gets.’

‘This piece of legislation is an inspiration, when elsewhere in the Arab world media reform initiatives have stalled,’ observes Abir Awad, BBC Media Action’s country director for Iraq. ‘The legislation is only the first step, though. We are now working with the Iraqi Media Net-work in developing the operational basis for the implementation of the spirit of this law.’

‘Consolidating Media Freedoms in Iraq’ seeks to nurture a more sustainable environment for Iraqi media players and to help protect freedom of expression.

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'Consolidating Media Freedoms in Iraq', an EU-supported project.

Strengthening Iraq’s social fabric

Iraq is a complex patchwork of numerous ethnic and religious groups. But as headlines around the world have shown, this intricate tapestry has been coming apart at the seams in recent years.

Iraqi civil society has not been silent in the face of this growing intolerance and onslaughts against civil and human rights. One example is the ‘We are all citizens’ (‘Kulluna Muwatinun’) initiative, which strives to promote inclusive citizenship and defuse religious and ethnic tensions.

‘This project has planted a seed of hope in Iraqi society when it comes to peaceful coexistence and breaking the stereotypes relating to the different social groups,’ believes Ahmed Abdel-Kazem, a citizenship ambassador with the initiative.

Led by Dutch NGO, PAX, in collaboration with other stakeholders, this EU-funded project seeks to build up a cadre of advocates who champion human and minority rights, ethnic and religious diversity, and civic responsibility.

This is achieved through a diverse training and mentoring programme targeted at young Iraqis and minorities. ‘Over several months, I received training on peaceful coexistence and minorities,’ explains Mohamed Abdel-Jabbar, a student from Baghdad. ‘This had a huge impact on my understanding, on my thinking and on my awareness of our social make-up.’

‘Kulluna Muwatinun’ also organises events, arranges for advocates to take part in local, national and international conferences, and facilitates minority self-advocacy targeting lawmakers.

For the first time in its history, there is an independent national institution to promote and protect the rights of all Iraq’s people

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social contract

Civil society

Towards a new

During Iraq’s dictatorial years, civil society in Iraq was severely restricted. Only civic institutions affiliated to the ruling regime were permitted to operate.

Since the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime, there has been a concerted and determined effort to build up a vibrant and robust civil society and the number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has grown exponentially.

‘Civil society organisations started with offering charitable and humanitarian work, but grew gradually to influence the government itself,’ Hanaa Edwar, secretary-general of the Iraqi al-Amal Association, said in a media interview. ‘The experience of civil-society organisations in Iraq has perhaps surpassed its counterparts in other Arab countries.’

Barriers to progress

However, the spillover from the Syrian civil war, the marginalisation of parts of Iraqi society and the crystallisation of political disputes along sectarian and ethnic lines hampered efforts to empower civil society. The insurgency led by ISIS and the rekindling of widespread violence continue to pose a serious threat to the NGO sector.

Beyond the ongoing instability and violence, there is the question of Iraq’s non-inclusive political culture and its problematic governance model, not to mention the state’s weakened ability to exercise authority. Iraq’s dominant political culture does not trust civil society, nor does it regard NGOs as partners in the decision-making process. This is due, at least in part, to a lack of understanding of the vital role civil society plays in democratic societies.

Iraqi women: an increasingly vocal presence

In addition, NGOs themselves face serious structural issues. Rather than being issue-based, unaffiliated organisations, many are loosely structured around individuals who represent single religious, political or tribal interests. This affects both the independence of Iraqi NGOs and, perhaps more significantly, the public trust they enjoy.

Safeguarding civil society

Despite all the internal and external challenges NGOs face, civil society has become an influential and important presence in Iraq that is making a clear and vital difference on the ground.

Nevertheless, the legal and regulatory framework is stifling the ability of civil society to move up to the next level in its evolution. For civil society to function fully and effectively, an enlightened social contract needs to be forged, one which upholds the independence of NGOs and protects them from government interference. Iraqi authorities also need to involve civil society in the policy-making process and listen to its concerns.

There has been some progress in this regard. For instance, in 2010 Iraq passed a federal law – widely considered among the most enlightened in the region – regulating the establishment and running of NGOs. This legislation improved the status of civil society in a number of significant ways. It limited the state’s ability to reject applications (handled by the NGOs Directorate in Baghdad) and to suspend a registered NGO without

judicial oversight, hence reducing the government’s capacity to interfere indirectly in the civil society sector. The law also eased restrictions on foreign funding and affiliations with foreign organisations.

A year later, the Kurdistan region took this a step further with its own NGO law. The Kurdish legislation streamlined the registration process, helped boost the financial sustainability of NGOs by widening their legitimate sources of funding, and removed all restrictions on the involvement of foreign residents in local NGOs. Moreover, the law guarantees that government funding to civil society must be transparent and awarded via competitive bidding.

As part of its programme to support human rights and the rule of law, the European Union is working with the Iraqi authorities and NGOs to help strengthen Iraq’s civil society sector, for the good of Iraqi citizens and society. The EU support aims to help boost civil society’s capacities and capabilities to monitor the government and other public institutions, as well as to advocate for human rights.

Funding in this sector includes some EUR 3.5 million earmarked between 2014 and 2017 for capacity building in civil society organisations and local authorities.

Despite all the internal and external challenges NGOs face, civil society has become an influential and important presence in Iraq that is making a clear and vital difference on the ground.

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A model for Iraqi participation

Civil society organisations were involved in formulating both the Iraqi federal NGO law and the Kurdish NGO law, which helped ensure that the legislation met their needs while paving the way for grassroots involvement in policy- and decision-making.

Parliamentarians, civil servants and civil society leaders consulted as part of the drafting process, setting a healthy precedent for dialogue between the authorities and civil society, and proposing a model for deepening this relationship.

Following this, the Iraqi government and NGOs began a dialogue on mechanisms to strengthen civil society participation in Iraq’s political life. With the support of the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), both the Iraqi and Kurdish authorities launched initiatives to develop a social contract to regulate the relationship between government and civil society.

In 2013, with UNOPS and Danish assistance, this led to the Kurdistan Region Compact, which outlines a basis for cooperation between the regional authorities and the NGO sector. At the federal level, progress has been more sluggish. Although a ‘Charter of cooperation between public authorities and non-governmental organisations’ has been drafted, it has yet to be adopted, despite calls from many NGO leaders and parliamentarians.

The Kurdish Compact contains specific commitments for civil society and the authorities, and envisages joint responsibility for implementation. It outlines the roles of each party, defines goals and mechanisms for cooperation, identifies main priorities, and establishes how to implement activities and monitor performance. By so doing, the Kurdish region hopes to bolster its democracy, safeguard social stability and promote good governance.

Breaking the silence on gender violence

Violence against women is a major challenge across Iraq in its various forms, including domestic violence, often accentuated by instability and poverty, political violence and the recent shocking phenomenon of sexual slavery of minority women introduced by ISIL/Da’esh militants. Moreover, moves in parliament to lower the marriage age have set off alarm bells in Iraq’s civil society.

The EU-backed ‘Protecting the human rights of vulnerable civilians in Iraq’ project focuses on the rights of vulnerable women in five provinces: Sulaymaniah, Duhok, Kirkuk, Erbil and Mosul.

The three-year project has developed a methodology for recording, monitoring and reporting on violence against women as defined by international and national law. It has mobilised and trained local NGOs to conduct a survey on violence against women in the target communities. ‘We need to know the real situation in which women live and this can be achieved only by monitoring their actual status in Iraqi society,’ explained Dr Rewar Mahmoud Karim, the project’s coordinator.

Setting a healthy

precedent for dialogue between

authorities and civil society

Case studies

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The need for legislation to curb domestic violence and a law specifically designed to combat violence against women has been acknowledged for some time. However, legislation is only part of the solution: Iraqi society’s understanding of, and attitude to, gender-based violence also need to change. One fundamental objective of the project is to shatter the taboo surrounding violence against women and to encourage victims to break their silence.

The project empowers vulnerable women by making them aware of their rights under the law; it raises public awareness of gender-based violence and encourages the authorities to take more seriously their responsibilities to protect women. ‘We need to work … with youth groups and men to change their opinion about women,’ said a spokesperson for the Women’s Leadership Institute, a partner in the project, ‘and to intensify legal awareness programmes for women to know their legal rights.’

The project empowers vulnerable women by making them aware of their rights under the law

New NGO laws should help protect all vulnerable groups

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Oiling the wheelsof private enterprise

It is known as the ‘resource curse’ or the ‘paradox of plenty’: many countries with an abundance of natural resources eventually register lower economic growth and development levels. Despite early success, which saw Iraq become one of the most developed countries in the region, it is no exception to this enigma.

Although it possesses abundant petroleum resources, Iraq has not managed to exploit its oil wealth to boost its economy and significantly enhance the economic welfare of its citizens. One reason for this is decades of war and instability that have bled the economy, diverting resources away from construction towards destruction, from development and economic growth to conflict.

Another important factor is oil dependence. Iraq’s petroleum sector is by far the most dominant in the economy, accounting for as much as 98% of exports and 90% of government expenditure. This leaves Iraq hugely vulnerable to fluctuations in oil prices. Falling crude prices and exports meant

the economy shrank by 2.7% in 2014, forcing the Iraqi parliament to slash the national budget by 16% in early 2015, which still left the country with a deficit equivalent to 9% of GDP.

A different kind of oil crisis

In addition, the petroleum sector is capital-intensive, employing few Iraqis. While it accounts for 65% of the country’s GDP, the sector employs just 1% of the labour force. This has translated into high unemployment and poverty.

The public sector is Iraq’s largest employer, yet official unemployment levels hover at around 11%, but actual jobless rates may be significantly higher. The lopsided nature of the oil sector also means that the fruits of growth are rarely distributed evenly. For example, Iraq experienced average annual economic growth of 7% between 2008 and 2012, yet this made only a minor dent in poverty levels. About a fifth of the population lives below the poverty line, with many more at risk of joining their ranks.

Private sector

“The country can’t rely on a single source of income and revenue; we must find alternatives to support the Iraqi economy” Haidar al-Abbadi, Prime Minister of Iraqq

Although the government has scored significant success in shepherding unemployment downwards since 2003, when 25% were unemployed, the huge number of graduates who join the workforce each year are bound to put a major strain on the capacity to create more jobs.

Moreover, significant unemployment, under-employment and low pay have a significant knock-on effect on poverty. Unsurprisingly, three-quarters of Iraqis believe that poverty reduction is the most pressing priority for the country.

The power of entrepreneurship

In recent years, Iraq has been striving to wean itself off its oil dependence. ‘Economic reform required the reduction of the domination of oil revenue on the economic situation and the adoption of a policy of diversifying the economy and developing other productive sectors,’ said Iraq’s former planning minister, Mahdi al-Hafez, in an interview. Among the important tasks are to develop the private sector and the middle class in Iraq.

Stimulating the private sector has been a top priority of Iraq’s previous two national development plans. So far, this has delivered limited results, with the private sector growing slightly to constitute nearly 35% of GDP. Despite the government’s focus on private enterprise, the private sector’s relative contribution to fixed capital formation shrank significantly, falling from 6.8% to 3.7% between 2009 and 2010, even though the target is 46%.

The government’s strategies sought to guide the private sector towards greater diversification and new sectors, but most private investors chose to stick to traditional, tried-and-tested models. That said, efforts to boost investment in manufacturing have paid dividends, with capital investment tripling in a few short years. Private sector output

rose from 28% in 2009 to nearly 40% in 2010. Education is another sector where the private sector has taken up the slack, with the number of private schools almost doubling in a single year.

Enterprising solutions

Iraq’s National Development Plan for 2013 to 2017 focuses both on developing the private sector and exploiting it as a vector for development. The document encapsulates the government’s vision: ‘To build up a diversified and prosperous economy with industry, energy, agriculture and tourism as the main drivers and pillars of development, where the public and the private sector, along with civil society, are partners in development.’

In February 2015, the Iraqi government launched its Private Sector Development Strategy (2014-2030), which aims to create sustainable growth and jobs by stimulating private enterprise and industry. The strategy is divided into two phases. The first is led by the government and runs until 2017. The second phase (2018-2022) will see leadership gradually transferred to the private sector, which will assume the leading role by 2030.

“The country can’t rely on a single source of income and revenue; we must find alternatives to support the Iraqi economy,” said Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abbadi

The EU fully supports Iraq’s efforts to diversify its economy and to encourage the private sector to take up its role in promoting sustainable and inclusive growth. For example, Iraq has been added to the list of countries that can receive loans from the European Investment Bank, which can be used to stimulate the private sector and especially SMEs.

Private sector:

Petroleum represents 98% of exports

Private sector creates 35% of GDP

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Case studiesEnergising EU-Iraq cooperation

The energy sector is of vital importance both to Iraq and the European Union. Iraq possesses an abundant supply of petroleum resources but needs to exploit its resources better, diversify its energy mix and move up the value chain. The EU possesses a diverse energy mix and cutting-edge energy technologies, especially renewables, but suffers from relative energy insecurity.

The massive opportunities for EU-Iraq cooperation in the energy sector to deliver huge dividends for both sides in the form of complementarity and synergies explains why the EU-Iraq Energy Centre (EUIEC) is now being established.

The EUIEC’s tentative objectives are to improve the business climate in the Iraqi energy sector by upgrading its management, business practices and research capacities. It also seeks to promote energy-related cooperation between a broad range of stakeholders in Iraq and Europe: governments, academia and the business community.

Following decades of war, conflict and sanctions, Iraq’s crumbling energy sector faces enormous challenges. The EUIEC will help put it back on the path to sustainable development by pursuing a systematic approach to the various challenges, promoting strategic planning and facilitating long-term cooperation and partnering.

The EUIEC is intended to work on four main pillars: R&D, business cooperation, policy dialogue and training, and to focus on renewables and energy efficiency, as well as electricity, oil and gas.

Iraq possesses an abundant supply of petroleum resources but needs to exploit its resources better, diversify its energy mix and move up the value chain.

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Helping Iraqis find their vocation

Nearly a fifth of Iraqis aged 18 to 25 are unemployed, and this figure is likely to grow with the country’s high youth population. The public sector can only absorb a small proportion of these young jobseekers, which means that the solution lies with private enterprise.

The government has highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in preparing young Iraqis for the labour market and helping them find their calling. The National Strategy for Education and Higher Education (2012-2022) and the National Development Plan (2013-2017) both set ambitious goals for the TVET sector. These include boosting enrolment rates, reallocating funds to expand admission opportunities and gearing TVET to meet the needs of the job market.

UNESCO, the UN’s cultural and educational arm, in partnership with the Iraqi government, has launched the comprehensive ‘Reforming technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Iraq’ initiative, using funding from the EU. The ambitious programme aims to give TVET a more central role in Iraq’s economic development and to reform the sector so that education and training provided are in line with international quality standards and, crucially, develop relevant skills for available jobs.

The reform project pursues an integrated, holistic approach which takes into account the TVET landscape in its entirety, including training centres for skilled workers, vocational schools training professionals and technical universities graduating top-level specialists. A supreme body will be tasked with putting in place a vision for the sector, as well as formulating policies and plans.

Decentralisation is also a key component of the programme. It is working to set up decentralised governance and management systems, which devolve executive powers to TVET institutions while the central administration takes care of planning, supervision, monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the project is developing a framework for nationwide recognition of TVET qualifications and a flexible system of credits to enable students to better pursue their interests.

To facilitate easier entry into the workforce, the initiative recommends setting up employment centres at TVET institutions, and is working to build robust public-private partnerships between the government and enterprises that will enable TVET to produce the kind of skills the private sector requires and help graduates find gainful employment once they have finished studying.

The government has highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in preparing young Iraqis for the labour market and helping them find their calling.

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The EU supports vocational education and training

the past

Nuclear safety

Decontaminating

Iraq’s nuclear programmes ended long ago, but its former nuclear sites remain a cause for concern. Many were damaged during the 1991 Gulf war, while others have been looted in recent years due to the difficulty of policing and securing them amid the ongoing turmoil. These sites require decommissioning, decontamination and other forms of remediation.

Dismantling and clean-up efforts are conducted under the auspices of Iraq’s Ministry of Science and Technology, which is in charge of nuclear waste management and holds the licences for ten nuclear sites in the country, while regulatory issues are handled by the Iraqi Radiation Protection Centre (RPC), which reports to the Ministry of the Environment.

The EU supports the Iraq Decommissioning Project (see box). In addition, the European Commission has approved four projects to boost Iraq’s decommissioning capacity under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC). The first, launched in June 2015 and worth EUR 2 million,

is designing a disposal facility for radioactive waste. This repository will receive all the waste from past activities and will be able to deal with any future waste produced in the country.

A second and third project, which have received EUR 4 million in EU funding, shall build and equip two radio-chemical laboratories, one of them mobile. A fourth, EUR 1.5 million project is providing regulatory support in radioactive waste management, decommissioning and remediation of contaminated sites.

The damaged IRT-5000 reactor at the Al Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Centre in Iraq

The Iraq Decommissioning Project team

Radiating safety

Most of Iraq’s nuclear sites are contaminated to some degree or another. Based on a request from the Iraqi government, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched the Iraq Decommissioning Project in 2006. With funding from the EU and other donors, the project assists Iraq in its efforts to decommission these legacy facilities, from the legislative and regulatory framework to actual clean-up and decommissioning.

‘This project is of paramount importance in assisting Iraq in planning for and decommissioning its existing nuclear facilities, managing radioactive waste, and remediating contaminated sites,’ according to the European Commission. ‘It will bring European and international expertise in this field to Iraq.’

The Iraq Decommissioning Project has already achieved significant success, such as the full-scale decommissioning of the entire al-Tuwaitha site. This not only removed the risk posed by the site but also transferred vital knowledge and know-how to Iraqi scientists and technicians.

With EU funding from its Instrument for Nuclear Safety and Cooperation, the Iraq Decommissioning Project has built Iraq’s capacity in decommissioning and waste management, supplied personal equipment for workers, and trained Iraqi scientists and engineers.

Case studyThe Iraq Decommissioning Project has already achieved significant success, such as the full-scale decommissioning of the entire al-Tuwaitha site.

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Ready for humanitarian action

Iraq remains one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world. The number of people requiring life-saving assistance has reached the staggering figure of 8.2 million in less than a year, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This out of a population of just over 33 million.

Over 3.1 million people have been displaced, according to the IOM, on top of 1.13 million existing internally displaced persons (IDPs) from previous conflicts. Despite the large number of Iraqis seeking refuge, Iraq has itself become a refuge for Syrians escaping the carnage next door. There are an estimated quarter of a million Syrian refugees in Iraq. The ongoing conflict and violence have left millions destitute and vulnerable and needs continue to grow.

Misery multiplied

To tackle this burgeoning crisis, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management arm, ECHO, works with local and international partners to help meet the urgent humanitarian needs of IDPs and refugees. With a budget of EUR 65.55 million for 2015, ECHO’s office in Iraq monitors the situation on the ground and helps coordinate the humanitarian response.

‘The number of people in need of life-saving assistance in Iraq has increased by 400% in less than a year,’ said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, on the occasion of the announcement of an additional EUR 25 million in EU humanitarian aid, in June 2015.

This latest EU humanitarian assistance is in direct response to the emergency, life-saving needs of the families who fled the fighting in Ramadi, the capital of al-Anbar province. It will help provide them

Humanitarian assistance

A child carrying a humanitarian aid package distributed by the EU

with water, food, sanitation, shelter, medical supplies and healthcare – the bare minimum for human survival. The recent displacement, caused by the conflict in Ramadi, is massive: 300 000 have fled their homes since military operations and ISIL/Da’esh attacks escalated on 8 April. People are still on the move in multiple directions in search of safety. Unable to move on to Baghdad, the IDPs remained stuck and vulnerable in al-Anbar governorate.

Safe passage

The recent escalation in hostilities has led to greater vulnerability for the civilian population, who are finding it increasingly difficult to flee to safer ground. In addition, the UN reports that all parties to the conflict have committed gross human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. ‘I urge all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians and allow them safe passage when fleeing from conflict-affected zones,’ European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides emphasised.

In addition to the protection of and safe passage for civilians, delivering aid to the affected population is becoming a major challenge. The ongoing violence, growing insecurity, as well as the isolation of many affected groups in hard-to-reach areas in northern and central Iraq have significantly reduced the humanitarian access of aid workers. Reaching people in such conflict-affected areas, such as those controlled by ISIL/Da’esh, has become a top priority for ECHO.

Wanted: more and better aid

Given the magnitude of the crisis in the country, more funding and support from the international humanitarian community is desperately needed in Iraq.

It is not just a question of quantity, though. Quality is also vital. The urgency of needs-based humanitarian funding in line with the four humanitarian principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence – has never being so high as it is today, Commissioner Stylianides highlighted.

ECHO and the other humanitarian actors in Iraq are working to coordinate their efforts more closely to ensure that the limited available resources make the maximum impact in the most principled way. This includes the ‘whole-of-Iraq’ approach, which provides humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable Iraqis, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or location.

Humanitarian assistance:

8.2 million people in Iraq need humanitarian assistance

EUR 163 million: EU and MS humanitarian aid in Iraq in 2014

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Emergency kits, a lifeline for the displaced

It is mid-morning and the sun is gaining strength, yet many people stand outside the Thi Ael-Nnorain mosque, queuing patiently. People forced to leave their homes because of widespread conflict in Iraq receive an emergency kit with enough basic supplies, such as drinking water, soap and hygiene items, stoves, clothing, bedding and food rations. Each kit caters to a family of seven for one week.

Supported by the European Commission, these emergency kits are part of the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), which was set up to respond promptly to the immediate, life-saving needs of displaced people, within 72 hours of their arrival at their destination.

Among them is Rabaa, a mother-of-two from Hawiga, which lies southwest of Kirkuk. Like many of those gathered at the mosque, Rabaa and her family were forced from their homes under the worst of conditions. ‘There was fighting very close to our house. We left in the night, in a hurry, with only the clothes we were wearing. We were very frightened,’ she said.

The family has no hope of returning home in the near future, so they are doing their best to make some kind of a life in the relative safety of Kirkuk city. ‘We have no money. We cannot afford to buy anything,’ Rabaa said. ‘These supplies are very helpful, but what are we going to do for the long term?’

The crisis in Iraq affects all Iraqis and all communities. Over 8 million are already in need of urgent lifesaving help. This number is expected to reach 10 million by the end of 2015. Over half of these are children.

Mobile clinics in hard-to-reach areas

Fahimah is a mother of two children who survived the odyssey of fleeing from Anbar as clashes between government forces and militants spilled into her neighbourhood.

‘It was a very difficult decision to leave home but we had no choice,’ she explained. ‘The children were so afraid. I couldn’t risk both being killed.’

Reaching safer ground did not bring her family’s tragedy to an end. Having spent all their family savings on a dangerous journey across deserts and checkpoints, threatened by warring factions, she now urgently needs medical care for her four-year-old child. ‘I couldn’t get any treatment for my son,’ she said.

Unfortunately, Fahimah’s story is not unique. There are thousands of families like hers throughout the country. Many do not survive the journey, while others remain trapped in remote areas. Iraq is mired in a heart-breaking protection crisis with families left without assistance or basic services.

Inside Iraq, ECHO supports international NGOs in their efforts to enhance access to healthcare for those affected by the conflict. Particular attention is given to hard-to-reach areas. One project, for instance, runs three mobile clinics based in Dohuk and Najaf, which supply medication, primary healthcare and trauma kits, to help more than 19 000 displaced people. The mobile clinics conduct some 40 medical consultations per day,

‘We left in the night, in a hurry,

with only the clothes we were wearing.’ Rabaa,

displaced mother-of-two

Case studies

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including treatment of infectious diseases, growth monitoring of children under the age of five and nutritional assessments.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but thanks to the medication, my son’s health is improving,” Fahimah said

Peace through child’s play

Salma is an ordinary eight-year-old girl who has lived through the extraordinary circumstances of Syria’s civil war. Salma and her family are among the quarter of a million Syrian refugees in Northern Kurdistan. A huge strain has been put on the capacity of local communities.

ECHO, in coordination with local authorities and international agencies, has stepped up its support for Syrian refugees in northern Iraq.

While conditions may be difficult, the refugees are relieved. ‘We feel safe now. I can sleep, I can see my children around me, I can eat,’ admitted Salma’s mother. ‘I like singing and colouring,’ Salma relates, ‘but I hadn’t done it since we left home.’

That was until she joined nearly 300 other children and youth, including her brothers, in a friendly and safe space where they can play, take part in recreational activities and learn new things. With minors accounting for an estimated two-fifths of refugees in Iraq, according to UNHCR estimates, programmes like this are urgent and necessary. Operated by the French NGO ACTED, this project is supported by the EU’s Children of Peace initiative, which seeks to ‘let children of war be children of peace’. Across Iraq, projects benefitting 6 400 children are being funded by the initiative. These include emergency, basic education and psychosocial care.

Financed by the proceeds from the EU’s Nobel peace prize, Children of Peace is helping 28 000 conflict-affected children in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

ECHO, in coordination with local authorities and international agencies, has stepped up its support for Syrian refugees in northern Iraq.

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EDUCATION:

14% school-age Iraqi children not in school

4% - secondary school attendance in rural areas

21.5% - adult (>15y) illiteracy

17.6% - youth (15-24y) is illiterate

67.6% - population with no secondary education

5.4% - children who have books at home

WATER AND SANITATION:

10% - deaths related to water, sanitation and hygiene

90% - water supply used by agriculture

Rural urban divide:

Access to drinking water 66.9% vs 94%

Access sanitation 79.8% vs. 86%

327 litres per capita water consumption per day

HEALTH:

Indicators of malnutrition:

22.6% - stunting in children under 5

8.5% - children U5 underweight

11.8% - children U5 overweight

GOVERNANCE:

Iraq ranks 170th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index

Strengthening Iraq through EU cooperation

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MIGRATION:

3 million internally displaced Iraqis

250 000 Syrian refugees in Iraq

PRIVATE SECTOR:

Petroleum represents 98% of exports

Private sector creates 35% of GDP

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE:

8.2 million people in Iraq need humanitarian assistance

EUR 163 million: EU and MS humanitarian aid in Iraq in 2014

Source: European Commission, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF Pictures: ©Khaled-Sulaiman, ©Laith Al-Obeidi

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Useful linksEU Delegation to Iraq: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/iraq/index_en.htmDevelopment Cooperation in Iraq - EuropeAid site: https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/countries/iraq_enHumanitarian Aid in Iraq - DG ECHO site: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/where/middle-east-north-africa/iraq_enEU relations with Iraq - EEAS site: http://www.eeas.europa.eu/iraq/index_en.htmEU trade with Iraq – DG TRADE site: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/iraq/European Union in Iraq’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EUinIraq

Further reading

Painting outside the lines: displaced children express themselves through art

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Contact detailsDirectorate General for International Cooperation and Development Directorate H - Development Coordination, Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific Unit H2 - Development coordination Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific

Rue Joseph II 54, B-1049 Brussels Email: EuropeAid-H2-2@ec.europa.eu

Catalogue number: MN-01-15-864-EN-N ISBN: 978-92-79-52838-5 DOI: 10.2841/443866