STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOODS IN IRAQ

In November 2021, AFC was awarded the contract for the implementation of the “Strengthening Agricultural Livelihoods in Anbar” to be implemented under the project “Restoration of Peace, Livelihoods and Economic Cycles in Anbar (RePLECA)”! RePLECA is implemented by the Ministry of Planning of Iraq and local partners with the support of GIZ, acting on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project focusses on rebuilding infrastructure and business activities in Anbar. The assignment of AFC started on November 2021, and is at the time of writing slated to end by October 2023.

Historically, Anbar, with its fertile farmland and water supply from the Euphrates River and surrounding lakes, was Iraq’s breadbasket, located in Western Iraq. Agriculture was the main source of employment and livelihood for Anbar’s rural and semirural population. This was especially true for women, of whom more than 40% earned their living in agriculture.

During the years of armed conflict, the productive and social infrastructure in Anbar was severely damaged or destroyed. The still fragile security situation adds to uncertainties the local population faces. As a result, a large part of the population lacks important prerequisites for peaceful social coexistence, livelihood security and income generation.

Combined with the particular socioeconomic circumstances of Anbar governorate, the lack of productive employment opportunities and the resulting low household incomes mean that many families have difficulty or no means of meeting their basic needs. This causes or increases distrust of the government in Baghdad.

To improve the livelihoods of households and families in Anbar, the restoration of productive and social infrastructure is crucial.

To address the issues, RePLECA interventions target vulnerable individuals living in rural and semi-urban regions in the North of Iraq’s Anbar Governorate as well as administrative staff at sub-national level as intermediaries. By supporting incomegenerating measures in agriculture, the strengthening of economic cycles, and peacebuilding measures, the household and municipality level is to be positively impacted. The field of agriculture has been identified as particularly promising and with great potential. Boosting the yields of small-scale farms and farming households can contribute to improved food security and higher family income. Increasing employment prospects in the upstream and downstream sectors of the agriculture and food industry also provide income and meaning to those benefitting. Supporting social reconstruction by improving the organisational basis for peaceful participation and decisionmaking processes with a view to increasing the economic, social and political involvement of the population provides purpose and a positive outlook.

Within its contract, AFC is responsible for implementing a set of activities aimed to contribute to the positive development of the economy and cementing social cohesion through the improved potential for securing livelihoods. These include:

1. Conduct value chain studies and develop/validate value chain upgrading strategies based on the findings.

2. Improve farmers’ access to knowledge and training and developing the partner’s capacities.

3. Set up/strengthen farmer organisations.

4. Support job skills training in the value chains. TVET education and training programmes are to be developed.

5. Design and implement business start-up and development activities such as incubation/acceleration with a focus on small producers and the introduction of agri-tech in collaboration with local training partners.

During the first year of implementation, AFC Iraq was legally established as an Iraqi company in order to be able to operate in Anbar. Studies were conducted focused on the value chains of potato, tomato, cucumber, dates, and wheat. As of March 2023, the studies are undergoing final layouts for publication.

Other activities have focused on the training of 30 local staff and seven female freelance trainers, drafting a training concept and training trainers. The trainers then implemented a first cycle of farmer field schools (FFS) on the production of potato, tomato, cucumber, and dates in 40 different sites, reaching 1,000 farmers. The focus is on introducing new methods of alleviating climate change’s impact and improving production efficiency. The feedback of participants is very positive; the FFS approach can significantly contribute to the development of farmers’ operations. In a planned second cycle, the focus will be to incorporate even more aspects on entrepreneurship development. Other activities aim to provide training and advisory services to ten existing or new farmer organisations, assisting them to develop new or improve existing business plans and providing material support.

About 50 teachers of vocational institutes, and at least 200 participants, will receive skills training following a prior needs assessment. Lastly, selected start-ups and entrepreneurs will receive – in kind or cash – grants under a fund for business activation grants, totaling EUR 695,000.

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