Iraq

Since 2004, UNIDO has supported sustainable industrial development in Iraq. In this framework UNIDO’s first assistance has been focusing on helping reconstruct devastated livelihoods as well as the production capacity of the country. As the security situation started to improve, the assistance expanded, focusing on private-sector initiatives and economic reforms, including support to government institutions dealing with private sector, energy and environmental sectors.

Inclusive and more equitable economic growth

The programmatic activities undertaken by the UNIDO fall under the scope of the International Compact with Iraq and the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) priorities of attaining inclusive, more equitable and sustainable economic growth in a competitive market economy. In this context UNIDO’s main focus is on promoting capacity building within the governmental and private sectors, specifically:

The Micro Industries Support Programme (MISP)

The MISP represents a particular approach to Iraq’s economic development. Combined with development of vocational training centres and their staff MISP provides training in basic agro-industrial and manufacturing skills and business development to vulnerable populations. This assistance supports the employability and start-up of micro businesses of the participants. The MISP concept has shown duplication/expansion and job creation potential as seen from the recently introduced sixth programme, which was initiated in Ninewa Governorate.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development Programme

With the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Programme (EDIP), UNIDO focuses on supporting the creation and expansion of SMEs. Just recently, three Enterprise Development Units (EDUs) in three governorates (Baghdad, Erbil and Thi Qar) have been established, supporting 242 SMEs through counselling services. Recently, the project was reinforced and expanded by integrating the traditional UNIDO approaches in local and foreign investment promotion with the use of an innovative e-learning platform.

In this context, UNIDO also focuses on rehabilitating and upgrading existing agro-industrial enterprises with its assistance in Technology Acquisition to Re-start and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) in the governorate of Ambar and also supports the rehabilitation, modernization and upgrading of the country’s once thriving date and dairy processing industry.

Policy and Institutional Support

Within the Private Sector Development Programme for Iraq (PSDP-I) UNIDO, as lead agency in this programme along with UNDP and ILO, is working to improve the institutional, legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks to help the private sector to growth in a sustainable way. Furthermore, UNIDO supports the Office of the Prime Minister with specialized inputs for efficient modernization of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and the Industrial Strategy for Iraq.

UNIDO is also engaged in a technical cooperation agreement with the Government of Iraq to develop industrial zones as well as modernization and upgrading of the Iraqi Specialized Institute for Engineering industries to adhere to national and international industrial standards.

Programme on energy and environment

A joint UNIDO-UNDP Environmental Impact Mitigation Programme aims to assess the impact of the industrial, power, agricultural, transport and housing sectors on the Iraqi environment. The programme also aims to promote energy efficiency, renewable energies, and environmentally sound technologies, including sound waste management techniques. UNIDO has already launched a preparatory assistance with the Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production and renewable energy (small hydro-power) programme components.

For more information contact:
Renato Fornocaldo, Special Representative to Iraq