frise_nosprojet_uk

Micro and Small Enterprise support programme in the rural sector

 

kurdistan_tpe Sector: Support for Small Enterprises
Location: Dohuk Province, Iraqi Kurdistan
Local partner: Dohuk International School
Start of partnership: 2008

 

Context and Considerations:

Since 2005, over 2 million Iraqis have fled their homes because of the insecure situation. Many of these “internally displaced persons” have settled in the autonomous Kurdistan region, in northern Iraq. This rural region has immense agricultural potential, but deprived of agrarian skills, the refugees have difficulties integrating the local labour market.

Solution Proposed:

IECD, with the support of the Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Joint Development, has partnered with Dohuk’s International School, situated in Iraqi Kurdistan, in order to implement an economic development program in the rural sector. The objective is to develop employment opportunities for the region’s refugees and displaced individuals. The project contributes as well to the improvement of the region’s food self-sufficiency.

In order to promote agricultural development, the project relies on the village committees’ mobilization and addresses itself directly to the region’s refugees and inhabitants through 3 main activities:

-   rehabilitating local infrastructures, buying equipment and preparing agricultural fields,

-   offering trainings in 8 villages in agricultural production techniques and rural business management,

-   offering personalized monitoring in three pilot villages for individuals who wish to create or strengthen an agricultural business. This is done by supplying the necessary production tools or drafting commercial plans.

Impact and Results:

The project started in the spring of 2009 in three pilot villages: part of the necessary equipment is available and functional. The agricultural exploitation work has begun and 60 individuals have started their technical trainings.  During the next three years, the project will benefit at least 800 persons and their families in 8 Kurdish villages in northern Iraq. The refugee families are progressively integrating the Kurdish civil society. They are contributing to the creation of economic activities which will generate employment opportunities.