Sustainable environment, sustainable livelihoods

Drought conditions have had a devastating impact on communities throughout Iraq and the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI). Communities have not only faced damaging losses to their crops, but also have been forced to sell their livestock at lower prices. These conditions have not only affected Iraqis, but also Syrian refugees in KRI who own livestock and use them as a key source of income.

Responding to this situation is the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Livelihood and Cash programme in Duhok, with support from the European Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP II) for Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, which is supported by the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland and Switzerland. The programme targets affected communities with training and cash assistance to help purchase livestock and enable people to support themselves through sustainable livelihoods.

“As a start, we provide individuals with agricultural training for three days. The training includes innovative, new ideas for livestock farmers on how they can conduct their activities without harming the climate and the environment,” says Pirjeen Ibrahim, NRC’s Livelihoods Project Manager in Dohuk.

Pirjeen Ibrahim, NRC’s Livelihoods Project Manager in Dohuk, KRI. Photo: Fareed Baram/NRC

After participating in the agricultural training, participants receive USD $300 to purchase livestock. But the programme team’s assistance doesn’t stop there. They also visit the community members to provide practical training and further support or guidance.

Khokha and Ahmed are both Syrian refugees who have been living in Semel town in Dohuk governorate since 2013. They are livestock farmers who were affected by the drought conditions and were forced to sell some of their livestock.

“I first learned about NRC’s intervention through my relatives in the area and I registered and thankfully was selected to receive the grant and buy livestock. We first participated in a training where we learned about livestock breeding, how to treat them when they are infected with diseases, the right medication and the right feed,” says Khokha.

“When I received the cash assistance, I bought two goats. I will use their milk to feed my youngest son, sell the milk to neighbours and later, I might sell baby goats if my goats give birth,” she continues.

“These projects are very important, especially for very vulnerable families like us. I know a woman who was selected for the poultry project, and now she can sell the eggs and the chicken to support her family and improve her income,” says Khokha.

Khokha, on her piece of land that she rented for her livestock. Photo: Noor Taher/NRC

Ahmed, who was also a livestock farmer in Syria, benefitted from the NRC training that gave him new ideas and introduced him to more sustainable practices that don’t harm the environment.

“When I received the money after completing the training, I bought two goats to use their milk and then to have more goats in the future. I am also considering expanding my enterprise so I’ll have a herd of goats and every several months, I will sell one to support my family in addition to selling their milk.”