Iraq: Commitment and involvement of
government and a broad range of actors in a
complex urban response
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Displacement in Baghdad
Roughly 1.6 million Iraqis displaced following
violence in 2006:
Host families, rental, new housing, IDP
Camps/Informal Settlements
Source: UN-Habitat; IOM
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Displacement in Baghdad: Camps
Vacated Government Building used by IDPs. Photo by NRC
Tin Can Houses. Photo by NRC
Concrete Block House. Photo by NRC
Straw House Photo by NRC
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Durable Solutions: Options & Approaches
National Level IDP Requirements on Durable Solutions
RETURN ( 35%)
INTEGRATE (44 %)
RESETTLE (16 %)
Source IOM 2011
Baghdad IDP Requirements on Durable Solutions
Survey of Camps in Baghdad
(Source NRC 2011)
By now: 80% of IDPs in camps in Baghdad wish to integrate locally (NRC)
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Direct implementation challenges
•
•
•
•
•
Access to land
Access to services
Allocation process
Livelihood and social capital
Cost – is it justified in middle
income country?
UN-Habitat IDP Housing in Soran
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Iraq National Strategy
Longer-term shelter solutions for people affected by displacement
Strategy
Principles
Land for Housing
Dispute Resolution
Basic Services
Housing Options
Housing Finance
Host community
Livelihoods
Governance
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Durable Solutions: Options & Approaches
RETURN
INTEGRATE
RESETTLE
Relocation
(ideally locally)
Upgrading
Land Sharing

Pool land together to
conduct urban upgrading

Focus on collaboration
among landowners, land
users, the government, and
private developers
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Relocation
When to Relocate?
1. Residents understand the need to relocate and agree.
a. Lost land or hazardous land.
b. Conflict/Insecurity threatens lives.
c. Land is not suited/ zoned for residential uses
2. Public Interest (i.e. right of way, school, clinic).
3. Relocation site meets requirements.
4. Clear plan to stop future encroachment and use land
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
In-situ Upgrading
When to upgrade?
1. Housing conditions in the
settlement are acceptable to the
IDPs in the short run.
2. The involved IDPs cannot return to
place of origin.
3. Land is not needed for public uses.
4. Existing land subdivision, land uses, and building structures
meet planning standards.
5. The settlement is free of health and environmental hazard risks.
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Land Sharing
When to conduct land sharing?
1. The involved IDPs prefer to stay in the area because of jobs
or income generating opportunities and social capital.
2. The community is organized and values improvements in
neighborhood amenities.
3. The area is under redevelopment pressure with high land
value increment potentials.
4. Different land interests are willing to explore win-win options
and to compromise.
5. Local governments are eager to redevelop the area but lack
financial resources.
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Stakeholders
•Technical Committee: Ministries – Displacement; Municipalities; Housing;
Agriculture; Baghdad PC; Baghdad Mayorality
•Key Decision Makers – Prime Minister Office; Governor of Baghdad;
•Communities: opinion surveys
•Provincial Council; District Councils
•Private Sector
Consensus Reached for Baghdad
Relocate: Only if it is the only option (this is a huge turnaround of government
opinion)
Upgrading: Not popular with government but could be considered in low
value, peripheral sites
Land Sharing: Preferred Option
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Value Capture through Land Sharing:
Informal settlement, 9 Nissan, Baghdad
BEFORE: 1120 families living informally – high proportion IDPs
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Value Capture through Land Sharing:
Informal settlement, 9 Nissan, Baghdad
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Design
After
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Sequencing
Phase 1
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Sequencing
Phase 2
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Sequencing
Phase 3
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Outcomes
• Creates public and private land spaces:
– Social housing—131,000 m2 (35%): 2080 units
– private residential—93,000 m2 (25%): 1010 units
– commercial/industrial—12,900 m2 (3%)
– Governmental—11,800 m2 (3%)
– Educational and other social services 16,500 m2 (4%)
– open/green space—13,000 m2 (4%)
– Street and main roads—77,000 m2 (22%)
• Generates a surplus of 94.8 billion IQD (US$82 million)
• Requires an initial capital investment of 11.3 billion IQD (US$9.8 million),
leading to an IRR of roughly 123%
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Programme Components (UN-H +NRC + Iraqis)
Consensus Building – getting agreement amongst
stakeholders on the right approaches
Community engagement – enumerations; District Council
Coordination Meetings (NRC +UNHCR)
Normative Framework – decision making tools (land sharing,
upgrading, relocation); implementation tools – enumeration;
cooperative housing; pro-poor housing finance; legislation
Pilot Projects– different custodians and investors
District Strategies – that will be incorporated into Baghdad
Master Plan
Going to Scale – political will; strong partners; clear evidence
based strategy; experience learned; cost recovery
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq
Results so far
1 – consensus of high level government on land sharing
approach: pilot projects initiated
2 – agreement of Ministry of Housing to provide 25% of new
houses built to IDPs (9000 units handed over since Jan 2012)
3 – COM Order 254 issued enabling land to be allocated to
residents of informal settlements
4 – Amanat Baghdad is formalising 14 settlements – MOCH
will provide housing
5 – Poverty Alleviation Committee is preparing a national
programme to address all informal settlements
6.4 Durable solutions for IDPs and returnees in post-conflict Iraq