Shared Future: Durable Solutions for a Cohesive and Diverse Ninewa Plain, Kirkuk, and Hawija

SHARED FUTURE: DURABLE SOLUTIONS FOR A COHESIVE AND DIVERSE NINEWA PLAIN, KIRKUK, AND HAWIJA 

PROVINCES

Ninewa Plain (Bartella, Bashiqa, Nimrod, Telesqof, Tal Kayf, Qaraqosh, and Wanna), Kirkuk, and Hawija

LIFE OF ACTIVITY

June 2018 – Sept 2025

USAID FUNDING

$28.8 million

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with sub-awardees Caritas Iraq, Iraqi Al-Amal Association, and YouthBuild International

OVERVIEW

The violent, multi-year occupation by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in northern Iraq forced many religious and ethnic minority groups to flee, breaking up communities and exacerbating the fragility of the region. The ISIS invasion destroyed much of the social fabric binding the diverse communities of the Ninewa Plain and western Ninewa, resulting in lack of trust and tolerance for displaced persons in their communities of origin and in neighboring communities. 

GOALS

Shared Future supports the durable return of displaced persons to the Ninewa Plain, focusing on the historic home of Iraq’s religious and ethnic minority communities. Along with its partners, USAID works with youth, communities, and religious leaders to:

Increase mutual understanding, tolerance, and trust both within their communities of origin and with other communities through the innovative “3 Bs” methodology of binding, bonding, bridging, developed by CRS.

Improve vocational and leadership skills to help youth get good jobs or start businesses.

Improve youth livelihood opportunities through vocational training for sustainable income generation.

IMPACT

• More than 1,000 youth in Ninewa completed the Shared Future Foundations Training, which builds leadership and life skills. 
• 36 community development projects led or co-led by youth in Ninewa engaged over 15,000 community members.  
• Nearly 230 community and religious leaders and 730 youth participated in social cohesion activities in Ninewa between 2018 and 2023. 
• Over 700 youth have had entrepreneurship and work- readiness training since 2018. 
• Over 765 businesses received start-up or professional development grants. 
• Eight youth clubs established in Ninewa benefited more than 180 participants aged 15–19 through education and recreation activities.