IRAQ COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE PROGRAM (ICRRP): ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES
PROVINCES
Central and Southern Iraq
LIFE OF ACTIVITY
Sept 2019 – June 2024
USAID FUNDING
$23.2 million
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
UNDP
OVERVIEW
Residents of the southern provinces of Iraq rely on the Shatt al-Arab river and its freshwater canals for water. Overuse, pollution, and reduced rainfall have contributed to a significant decline in freshwater flows. Basrah’s cracked and contaminated piping network and outdated public water plants are inadequate to ensure the delivery of sufficient potable water to the city’s residents. In 2018, nearly three decades of water scarcity in Basrah culminated in a water contamination crisis that sent over 118,000 people to the hospital and triggered mass protests that spread to Baghdad and other areas of Iraq.
GOALS
The USAID-supported Iraq Community Response and Resilience Program (ICRRP) rehabilitates critical water infrastructure to expand access to potable water. It provides new livelihood opportunities for residents, in part by introducing climate-friendly practices in rural and agricultural areas and by providing business development services. ICRRP provides mental health services to address vulnerabilities and strengthen communities’ resilience.
IMPACT
- Rehabilitated eight water treatment plants.
- Strengthened community security, stability, and social cohesion through improved reliability of water resources, street lighting, campaigns for clean public spaces, and renewable energy solutions.
- Trained more than 140 youth on renewable energy in nine provinces (Babil, Basrah, Karbala, Maysan, al-Muthanna, Najaf, al-Diwaniya, Dhi-Qar, and Wasit).
- Achieved significant improvements in water governance, wastewater and solid waste management, access to clean renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture by promoting environmentally friendly interventions across government institutions, households, and the private sector.
- Supported institutions to plan, budget, and provide services in an accountable and transparent manner for all citizens.
