Integrating decent work and affordable green housing is an important step towards supporting developmental programs in Iraq

Baghdad, 21 May 2024

The BEIT program aims, among other things, to increase affordable green housing, provide decent job opportunities in Iraq, improve the business environment, and engage local micro, small, and medium enterprises, and investors in the construction sector.  It will also provide an avenue for establishing and implementing a national public works programme in Iraq.
On Sunday, May 19th, 2024, representatives from the Ministry of Planning, the European Union Delegation to Iraq, and the United Nations agencies partnering in implementing the project convened a joint meeting to discuss the project objectives, coordination and implementation mechanisms, the roles of government institutions, social partners, and the private sector benefiting from the project activities, and the duties of each United Nations agency partnering in implementation.
Mr. Lennart Deridder, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Iraq, outlined how the project interventions would provide affordable green housing, decent job opportunities and promote good practices by dealing with the needs of vulnerable groups in Iraq.  It was further noted that the European Union has worked hard with its partners in Iraq, to develop a strategic vision, with continued commitment to support Iraqi efforts as the BEIT project provides great opportunities for a model of collaboration with national partners in provision of affordable housing, decent work, improving the construction sector business enabling environment and stimulating medium and large projects.
Representatives of the United Nations organizations partnering in implementing the BEIT project presented the programme and key action items. In ensuing discussions, officials of the Ministry of Planning revealed that there is a real housing crisis in Iraq, with a demand for approximately 3.5 million housing units. The BEIT project provides an opportunity to link employment, housing in line with the government program and regional and local development plans, revealing that it is possible to provide Iraq with meaningful experiences that can be used to achieve this integration between decent work for most vulnerable groups or youth and the housing sector.