LocationsReborn, Yet Still Rising: Iraq’s Next Chapter After a Decade of Stabilization
October 29, 2025
Berlin - 29.10.2025
Ten years after the fall of Mosul, Iraq stands as a testament to resilience and international solidarity. With support from Germany and over 30 international partners, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has helped millions of Iraqis rebuild their lives and communities devastated by ISIS.
In 2014, ISIS seized major Iraqi cities, including Mosul, displacing more than six million people. Entire communities, particularly minorities including Yazidis, Christians, and Shabaks, suffered atrocities, while homes, schools, hospitals, and public infrastructure were destroyed. In 2015, Iraq launched a military operation to retake occupied areas, supported by the international coalition, paving the way for recovery and reconstruction.
A decade of stabilization
Following the liberation from ISIS, UNDP established the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS) in partnership with the Government of Iraq and more than 30 donors. Germany has been one of the Facility’s largest contributors.
Over the past decade, FFS has implemented more than 3,600 projects across 35 liberated cities in the governorates of Ninewa, Anbar, Salah al-Din, Kirkuk, and Diyala.
These efforts have restored over 3,100 key public infrastructures, including 700 schools, 250 health facilities, and hundreds of power and water plants, benefiting more than 8 million Iraqis. They have also supported the return of over 5 million displaced people and created hundreds of thousands of jobs, contributing to reviving local economies and rebuilding trust between citizens and the state.
‘Reborn’, a tribute to Iraq’s resilience
To celebrate this joint achievement and highlight Iraq’s ongoing transition efforts, UNDP launched the “Reborn” photography exhibition on 29 October at the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.
Captured by award-winning photographer Giles Clarke, the exhibition tells the powerful stories of Iraqi people rebuilding their lives, homes, and communities.
“Reborn” was launched on the sidelines of the Stabilization Leaders Forum hosted by the Government of Germany and accompanied the launch of the Reborn photo book, documenting the decade long impact of the Funding Facility for Stabilization.
“Since 2015, the Funding Facility for Stabilization has helped millions in Iraq. We celebrate these achievements as a global model for post conflict stabilization,” said Melanie Hauenstein, the Director of UNDP’s German Representation Office. “These important investments in reconstruction and recovery allowed 5 out of the 6 million Iraqis who were displaced by the conflict to return home and rebuild their lives.”
Towards national ownership and sustainability
As stabilization efforts transition to national ownership, the Government of Iraq has approved an exit strategy outlining a roadmap for sustainability. In 2024 alone, more than 2,500 public officials received specialized training in 122 technical fields, strengthening local capacities and ensuring the continuation of essential public services.
With growing stability comes opportunity, new prospects for trade, investment, and growth. UNDP is working towards transitioning stabilization into systems that deliver inclusion, climate resilience, and economic diversification. UNDP together with Germany and other partners continues to safeguard and advance them, ensuring that Iraq’s recovery endures for generations to come.