Germany/KfW and UNOPS sign a new agreement in support of local communities in Anbar and Sinjar Governorates in Iraq

With the support from the Federal Republic of Germany, through KfW Development Bank, UNOPS will rehabilitate war-damaged shelters and basic community infrastructure such as water and sanitation stations and networks, roads and solar street lighting as well as provide capacity building training to relevant stakeholders. 

His Excellency Christiane Hohmann, German Ambassador to Iraq, stressed: “Through the rehabilitation of housing and basic local infrastructure, we support IDPs in Iraq together with KfW and UNOPS. I am pleased to announce that we will expand our engagement beyond Anbar with an additional focus on the Sinjar region. This will support the Ezidi community to return home”. 

“The new financial agreement is a testament to the Federal Republic of Germany’s commitment to supporting Iraq. The new funding complements and builds on the success of the project’s previous two phases. Together with KfW and local authorities we strive to support the country’s efforts to improve living conditions for people as they continue to return to their homes.”, said Mr. Muhammad Usman Akram, UNOPS Director of Amman Multi-Country Office.

The new agreement marks the third phase of the Local Infrastructure in Rural Anbar project with KfW in Anbar governorate. The agreement for the first phase was signed in December 2020 for the rehabilitation of 1,000 war-damaged shelters.

“We very much look forward to continuing supporting this project with a third phase. In close cooperation with relevant Iraqi authorities, we will rehabilitate war-damaged shelters and improve basic living conditions for returnees in rural Anbar and in Sinjar”, said Dr. Anna-Christine Janke, Director of KfW Office in Iraq. With the additional funding of EUR 15 million or more then USD 16 million for the implementation of the third phase of the project, the total project budget will increase to EUR 50 million (USD 54 million). The additional funding will help to continue improving basic living conditions for returnees in rural areas of Anbar Governorate as well as expand operations into Sinjar district in the Ninewa Governorate, enabling UNOPS to assist more than 466,000 women, men, boys and girls who have returned to the affected areas.

About KfW:

KfW Development Bank has been helping the German Federal Government to achieve its goals in development policy and international development cooperation for more than 50 years.  KfW is an experienced bank and a development institution with financing expertise, an expert knowledge of development policy and many years of national and international experience.

On behalf of the German Federal Government, and primarily the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW finances and supports programmes and projects that mainly involve public sector players in developing countries and emerging economies – from their conception and execution to monitoring their success. KfW's goal is to help partner countries fight poverty, maintain peace, protect both the environment and the climate and shape globalisation in an appropriate way.

About UNOPS:

UNOPS helps the UN and its partners provide peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions. The organization’s mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. UNOPS services cover infrastructure, project management, procurement, financial management and human resources. Partners call on UNOPS to supplement their own capacities, improve speed, reduce risks, boost cost-effectiveness and increase quality.

UNOPS Multi-country Office in Amman covers projects in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and implements work in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments and other UN agencies.