Weaving Communities Back Together: Resilient Minorities in the Nineveh Plains
Major military operations against ISIS concluded in late 2017, following successive waves of conflict and displacement since June 2014. But the need for humanitarian assistance in Iraq is far from over. Over 6.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance according to the UN (2019 HRP), almost 2 million people remain displaced and over 4 million are in the returns process. Many areas of Nineveh continue to face significant challenges and service gaps. The rationale for this intervention is that many people have returned to their homes, however the vast majority of families do not have sustainable incomes and much of the money they do generate goes to paying off debts. Families need to re-establish strong and sustainable livelihoods and are struggling to do so without external support. The lack of income for people who have returned is currently a factor discouraging others from returning.
The aim of this project is to strengthen the income generation capacity of women and youth to support their livelihoods. This will be achieved by training youth in key skills for employment and training women in developing textile production skills and linking them to local markets.
240 youth will receive employment skills training and support. This will include identifying employment opportunities, CV writing and interview skills, English Language lessons for use in the workplace, career mentoring and linking youth to employment offices and job centers operated by the state and other humanitarian actors.
120 women will be trained in textile production (embroidery, rugs weaving and knitwear) and supported to sell their products at local markets and out-of-town urban markets through village collectives. The 14 weeks training in textile skills will be delivered by female trainers who have experience of conducting such trainings in the context of Iraq. The beneficiaries will be provided with the supplies that are needed to make the products such as yarn, handheld equipment and other materials needed.They will also receive small business training to enable them to market their products.
Project details
Irak
