Strategic partnership of EU-funded BEIT project to address affordable green housing through decent employment and enabling private sector [EN/AR] – Iraq

With the support of the European Union, a strategic partnership comprised of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Government of Iraq will implement the ‘Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation’ (BEIT) Project. The project aims to stimulate decent work opportunities for young women and men while addressing the urgent need for affordable housing, especially for lower income and vulnerable people in Iraq. An introductory meeting on 30th May which coincided with World Environment Day was attended by representatives from the EU, project partners and officials from the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works. All partners expressed their enthusiasm for the project and hopes that the results could be scaled up and used as a model for future efforts.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Tsvetomir Tsekov, Programme Manager of the European Union Delegation to Iraq, emphasized the EU’s commitment to make a positive impact in the housing domain through collaboration with UN-Habitat, ILO, and ITC. He highlighted that the BEIT initiative promotes integrated approaches to affordable green housing in pilot areas, aiming to create jobs, empower SMEs, and mitigate climate change impacts in the housing sector.

In responding, the Deputy Minister of Construction, Mr. Jaber Al-Hassani, acknowledged that affordable housing and unemployment present formidable challenges for Iraq. He acknowledged the need for support and expressed appreciation towards the initiative. Mr. Al-Hassani also reiterated that addressing the housing crisis is a high priority for the Government of Iraq, and it is hoped that the process and outcomes of the BEIT project can be scaled up and applied in more areas of the country, in particular with regard to increased involvement of the private sector. The Deputy Minister furthermore assured the implementing partners that his ministry will work together in realizing the aim of the project.

Following insightful and constructive discussions on effective project implementation, Mr. Muslim Qazimi, on behalf of the UN implementing agencies (UN-HABITAT, ILO and ITC), assured the meeting participants that the project has been designed and contextualised to accommodate the needs of Iraq’s vulnerable populations. He elaborated that all efforts will be made to collaborate to achieve the project’s objectives to increase affordable and sustainable housing, create decent employment and stimulate the private sector are realized.