| Overview : As conflict in Syria endures, over 250,000 Syrian refugees continue to stay mainly in the Kurdistan Region (KR) in Iraq. Of these, 40% are accommodated in nine camps: Domiz, Gawilan, and Akre in Dohuk Governorate, Kawergosk, Darasharkran, Basirma and Qustapa in Erbil Governorate, Al Obayidi in Anbar Governorate and Arbat in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The strategies of the refugee response in Iraq, as stipulated in the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2015-2016, adopted a resilience-based response. The basic thrust of the 3RP is moving from providing humanitarian assistance to supporting longer term self-reliance among both the refugee and host community populations. A resilience-based response aims to build the resilience of individuals, communities, sectors and national systems to enable them to better cope, adapt, and recover from negative shocks. The ultimate goal of the resilience approach is to eliminate dependence on external aid and support communities and people’s ability to achieve their full potential and lead a fulfilling and dignified life. The shift towards a resilience-based approach is especially critical in a context where the massive influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the KR has placed additional pressure on basic infrastructure, services and employment for all vulnerable populations in the region among refugees, IDPs, and hosting communities. Livelihood support is a cornerstone of the 3RP, as are efforts to improve dialogue between host communities and refugees. This joint Call for Proposals (CFP), by UNDP and UNHCR, is specifically related to “Establishment of Greenhouses and Value Chains”. In view of the low probability that violent conflicts in Syria will be resolved in near future, it is expected that the inhabitancy of Syrian refugees in the camps will endure for at least the next couple of years. In this context, UNDP has recently undertaken a feasibility study for “Resilience Building in Syrian Refugee Camps and Their Neighbouring Host Communities in KRI”. The feasibility study aimed to provide a systematic, evidence-based and in-depth overview of the ground realities, needs and priorities of the selected Syrian refugee camps and the neighboring host communities for resilience- building of these camps. Two of the main findings of the study state that; - External assistance is a key element on the food procurement system for Syrian refugee households as there is a significant proportion of families depending on it.
- The KRI is currently under a deep economic slowdown. This strongly determines the capacity to generate employment. Significant differences persist between the average household income in refugee camps and in the host community.
The study recommends to undertake an integrated program of human and institutional resilience building, supported by the international community in face of declining humanitarian aid. And as strategy, it suggests livelihood interventions in the areas of employment generation through value chains as well as development of agriculture and small-scale agro-processing. As conflict in Syria endures, over 250,000 Syrian refugees continue to stay mainly in the Kurdistan Region (KR) in Iraq. Of these, 40% are accommodated in nine camps: Domiz, Gawilan, and Akre in Dohuk Governorate, Kawergosk, Darasharkran, Basirma and Qustapa in Erbil Governorate, Al Obayidi in Anbar Governorate and Arbat in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The strategies of the refugee response in Iraq, as stipulated in the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2015-2016, adopted a resilience-based response. The basic thrust of the 3RP is moving from providing humanitarian assistance to supporting longer term self-reliance among both the refugee and host community populations. A resilience-based response aims to build the resilience of individuals, communities, sectors and national systems to enable them to better cope, adapt, and recover from negative shocks. The ultimate goal of the resilience approach is to eliminate dependence on external aid and support communities and people’s ability to achieve their full potential and lead a fulfilling and dignified life. The shift towards a resilience-based approach is especially critical in a context where the massive influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the KR has placed additional pressure on basic infrastructure, services and employment for all vulnerable populations in the region among refugees, IDPs, and hosting communities. Livelihood support is a cornerstone of the 3RP, as are efforts to improve dialogue between host communities and refugees. This joint Call for Proposals (CFP), by UNDP and UNHCR, is specifically related to “Establishment of Greenhouses and Value Chains”. In view of the low probability that violent conflicts in Syria will be resolved in near future, it is expected that the inhabitancy of Syrian refugees in the camps will endure for at least the next couple of years. In this context, UNDP has recently undertaken a feasibility study for “Resilience Building in Syrian Refugee Camps and Their Neighbouring Host Communities in KRI”. The feasibility study aimed to provide a systematic, evidence-based and in-depth overview of the ground realities, needs and priorities of the selected Syrian refugee camps and the neighboring host communities for resilience- building of these camps. Two of the main findings of the study state that; - External assistance is a key element on the food procurement system for Syrian refugee households as there is a significant proportion of families depending on it.
- The KRI is currently under a deep economic slowdown. This strongly determines the capacity to generate employment. Significant differences persist between the average household income in refugee camps and in the host community.
The study recommends to undertake an integrated program of human and institutional resilience building, supported by the international community in face of declining humanitarian aid. And as strategy, it suggests livelihood interventions in the areas of employment generation through value chains as well as development of agriculture and small-scale agro-processing. |
