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

With the support of the European Union, a strategic partnership consisting of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Center (ITC) in partnership with the Government of Iraq will implement Project ‘Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation’ (BEIT). The project aims to stimulate decent work opportunities for youth and young adults by addressing the urgent need for affordable housing, especially for the lowest income and vulnerable people in Iraq. In an introductory meeting on May 30, which coincided with World Environment Day, representatives from the EU, project partners and officials from the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works participated. All partners expressed their enthusiasm for the project and hope that the results can be scaled up and used as a model for future efforts.

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

In response, the Deputy Minister of Construction Mr. Jaber Al-Hassani, acknowledged that affordable housing and unemployment pose major challenges for Iraq. He acknowledged the need for support and expressed appreciation for the initiative. God. 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 results of the BEIT project can be scaled up and implemented in more areas of the country, especially in relation to increasing the inclusion of private sector. The Deputy Minister further assured the implementing partners that his ministry will work together in realizing the goal of the project.

After deep and constructive discussions for the effective implementation of the project, 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 contextualized to accommodate the needs of Iraq’s vulnerable populations. He elaborated that all efforts will be made to cooperate in achieving the project’s objectives of increasing affordable and sustainable housing, creating decent employment and stimulating the private sector.