Baghdad — The Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are strengthening efforts to support sustainable reintegration, livelihoods and social cohesion among vulnerable communities in Ninewa Governorate, through two complementary initiatives in Sinjar and Ba’aj.

Supported by a combined contribution of approximately US$1.33 million from Japan, the initiatives focus on vulnerable returnees and host communities, including Yazidi survivors of genocide and families returning from Al-Hol. Together, they target 624 direct beneficiaries.

The first initiative, Advancing Human Security through the HDP Nexus Approach in Crisis-Affected Countries, provides vocational training, agricultural toolkits and grants, enterprise support, and trauma-informed psychosocial support. The second, Human Empowerment and Assistance for Reintegration of Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sinjar and Ba’aj, complements these efforts through the rehabilitation of community infrastructure, training for local peace actors, mentorship for women engaged in civic space and peacebuilding, and six community-led peace initiatives.

Speaking at a visibility event in Baghdad, Japanese Ambassador to Iraq Akira Endo said the initiatives reflect Japan’s support for strengthening human security in Iraq through an integrated approach that brings together humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding. He expressed his appreciation to all those contributing to the implementation of the initiatives and to efforts to improve the living conditions of the Iraqi people.

Ambassador Endo stressed that the projects come at an important time, as communities in Sinjar and Ba’aj continue to face challenges related to return and recovery. Families, including Yazidi survivors and other returnees, are working to rebuild their lives amid damaged infrastructure and limited services.

Community participation is central to the implementation of both initiatives. In Qahtaniyah, town hall meetings are supporting an inclusive process to identify vulnerable beneficiaries, while in Ba’aj, Local Peace Committees and local authorities are contributing to beneficiary identification. A dedicated vulnerability assessment will help ensure that support responds to the socioeconomic conditions and needs of participants.

UNDP is also undertaking an integrated assessment covering conflict dynamics, market needs, value chains, women’s empowerment and social cohesion in Qahtaniyah and Ba’aj. The assessment is intended to provide evidence to guide programming and ensure that interventions respond to local realities.

The new initiatives build on Japan-supported efforts already undertaken in the same communities, including assistance to 253 vulnerable families to restore their livelihoods, home rehabilitation for families of women survivors of violence, and mental health and psychosocial support.

The partnership is also drawing on collaboration with Japanese NGOs. Through dialogue with Japanese NGO IVY on their lessons learnt and good practices, UNDP has updated the livelihoods trainings under the programme to offer literacy and numeracy support, helping vulnerable beneficiaries who require additional basic skills to participate more effectively in vocational and business development opportunities.

UNDP Resident Representative Titon Mitra highlighted the importance of sustained engagement in Ninewa, noting that the challenges facing Sinjar and the wider governorate cannot be addressed through isolated projects, but require continued efforts connecting reintegration, economic recovery, social cohesion, peacebuilding and local development.

The initiatives contribute to broader efforts to address Sinjar’s complex development challenges through an integrated, area-based approach, including the Sinjar Investment and Development Plan.

Through its partnership with Japan, UNDP is supporting communities to rebuild livelihoods, strengthen social cohesion and create the conditions for lasting peace and development.