UN‑Habitat and Japan Expand Access to Education with New School in Mosul’s Japan Village

Erbil, March 31, 2026- As part of its ongoing commitment to creating inclusive, resilient, and people‑centered urban communities, UN‑Habitat is expanding its support to ensure that children in Mosul have better access to safe and quality education. 

Building on years of work to restore services and revive neighbourhoods affected by conflict, UN‑Habitat—together with the Government of Japan—is now investing in the construction of a new public school in Mosul’s Japan Village. This initiative reflects the programme’s broader vision: that sustainable urban recovery must go hand‑in‑hand with expanding opportunities for learning, growth, and long‑term community stability.

Scheduled for completion in March 2027, the school is expected to serve approximately 500 children in 12 classrooms, expanding equitable access to education for returnees and neighbouring communities.

The construction process will also generate meaningful socio‑economic impact, employing and building capacities to approximately 500 individuals from Rajm Hadeed and surrounding districts. This reflects UN‑Habitat and Japan’s continued commitment to integrated urban recovery, linking housing, services, livelihoods, and community infrastructure as part of Mosul’s broader post‑conflict reconstruction.

This new facility builds on the progress already achieved in Japan Village, where 72 housing units have been constructed to accommodate more than 500 residents, and where upgraded infrastructure, services, and community amenities now benefit over 10,000 people in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Developed through a Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) with Japanese and local private partners, community facilities such as the public library, community toilets, a solar‑powered multi‑purpose court, and solar streetlights have improved overall quality of life. The project is expected to further expand the PPP model, reinforcing both its physical (hard) components and its community‑building (soft) elements.

The investment aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025–2029 in Iraq, supporting priorities on inclusive urbanization, equitable basic services, and resilient community development. 

By strengthening access to education within a compact and walkable neighbourhood, the Japan Village continues to demonstrate how people centered, high density urban development can contribute to long term stability and create opportunities for Mosul’s returning families to both rebuild their lives and remain in their community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Ryosuke Teraoka | Team Leader 

(Head of UN-Habitat’s Kurdistan Region of Iraq Office)

email: ryosuke.teraoka@un.org 

Ana Paes | Communication Officer

email: ana.paes@un.org