I2UD Works to Build Capacity of Local Officials in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

I2UD’s work in Iraq began this past October through UN-Habitat’s Capability Enhancement Program on Durable Shelter Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Returnees in Baghdad, Iraq. The program aims to build the capacity of Iraqi officials at all levels of government and from various ministries, as well as local stakeholders to address the long-term shelter needs of the displaced population, estimated at over 1.9 million Iraqis as of last summer. Vice President Dr. Mona Serageldin delivered a presentation on successful low-income housing delivery programs and institutional arrangements for social housing provision as part of the program. Due to the security situation in Baghdad, the workshops were held on October 23-25 in Amman, Jordan.

The Institute continues to support UN-Habitat’s work in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG). In March, Dr. Serageldin prepared a series of case studies and an accompanying presentation on municipal finance, which she delivered to urban planning trainees at a workshop in Erbil as part of the Strengthening Urban & Regional Planning (SURP) program. SURP is a UN-Habitat capacity building project developed in partnership with the KRG Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism & Erbil Governorate. The project aims to develop urban planning capacity and participatory processes that address issues of gender and environment for Erbil, as well as other districts and governorates in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Her presentation gave an overview of the general trends in municipal budgeting and fiscal decentralization, sources of municipal revenue, local capacity to raise and manage revenue sources, and the funding of capital investment programs. Photos from the workshop can be found here.

This past week Dr. Serageldin traveled to Erbil to deliver another presentation as part of the SURP program on strategies for the rehabilitation of non-monumental urban heritage. The workshop highlighted different methodologies for valuing heritage sites, the use of a buffer zone to regulate new development, ways to maximize private sector investments, and techniques to assess potential redevelopment projects. The presentation included case studies on Icheri Sheher – the old city of Baku (Azerbaijan), Quito (Ecuador), and Hafsia – the old quarter of Tunis (Tunisia). Photos from the workshop can be found here.

While in Erbil last week, Dr. Serageldin also presented an assessment of KRG’s housing program to the Minister of Planning. I2UD staff began this assessment (also sponsored by UN-Habitat) this past October. The assessment included an analysis of current housing laws as well as the program’s institutional organization, beneficiaries, criteria, and long-term sustainability. The assessment concluded by highlighting experiences in other countries in the Arab region to illustrate best practices. The most recent presentation and report focuses on analyzing current unmet housing demand, a projection of future demand, and policy recommendations for increasing annual funds for housing projects. The Institute looks forward to its continued participation in the housing assessment and other capacity building initiatives with UN-Habitat and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.