Funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), AVSI and partners – the Board for Construction of Baghdeda (BCfB) and the Women’s Production Association of Qaraqosh (WPAQ) - are implementing the project “A virtuous production cycle to relaunch a city and its economic fabric for IDPs and returnees to the Ninevah Plains, Iraq” in Qaraqosh, in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq.
The goal is to provide livelihood opportunities that contribute to the creation of economic recovery and the full return of Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) to their original homes through the reconstruction of farming businesses.
Challenge
Over 3.6 million IDPs have returned to safe areas of Iraq after being displaced by conflict. The Government of Iraq and communities are overwhelmed by the flow of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable families back to their towns and cities of origin, until very recently occupied by ISIS, and the gaps to be filled are many.
Furthermore, there are no regional response plans in place to guide reconstruction. In this context, the efforts of civil society and religious groups are important to encourage the return and restarting of livelihoods and local markets.
The most pressing constraints and requirements of the agricultural sector are restoring farm equipment and irrigation systems, providing seeds, fertilizer and livestock for farmers to resume their agricultural activities, as well as refurbishment of structures.
Response
AVSI will work with local actors to create an association that will guide a new investment fund to refurbish 71 small and medium farms, while also fostering civic engagement and social cohesion through community gardens and conflict sensitive life-skills training over two-years.
By using a Cooperative Profit-Sharing System, AVSI will work with family-owned businesses to restore productive assets and market linkages to “jumpstart” agricultural livelihoods that will allow IDPs to earn income and begin to accumulate assets to rebuild the Qaraqosh economy and re-supply food markets.
AVSI will put into place sustainability mechanisms from the start to ensure that initial funds are reinvested in additional farms and other projects that will benefit the agriculture sector and the community at large.
AVSI will facilitate the restoration of the vegetable, poultry, and sheep value chains by:
- Working together with the community to identify constraints to rebuilding, including financing the replacement of productive assets.
- Convening workshops to restore traditional and establish new market linkages.
- Providing life skills training.
- Targeting women as potential income earners.
Beneficiaries
AVSI will reach 71 family-owned businesses and 2 Community Gardens in Qaraqosh:
- Direct: 6,100
- Indirect: 10,000