Working the land, shaping new lives: Refugees and host communities join forces in Iraq

On World Refugee Day, the ILO celebrates the joint efforts of refugees, internally displaced people, and host community members in Iraq to support local development.

Through the ILO’s Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), refugees worked hand in hand with host communities to improve irrigation services across more than 50 villages—benefiting 5,000 farmers and 10,000 dunums of farmland.

Activities included building irrigation channels, installing pipes, and cleaning 220 kilometres of canals. These efforts, also supported through UNHCR's outreach, not only created short-term income but also helped participants develop skills for the long term.

The programme generated over 19,000 worker-days, with more than half filled by Syrian refugees and over a third by women. During the programme’s extension, 13 water distribution gates were completed in Bardarash and Akre.

Today, over 330,000 refugees live in Iraq. Despite having legal access to work, many still face high unemployment and often rely on informal, low-paying jobs with limited protections.

Yet, this initiative shows what’s possible when refugees are given the opportunity to contribute. Together, refugees and host communities are building a future rooted in dignity and shared progress.

The video was produced under the PROSPECTS Partnership, led by the Government of the Netherlands. The partnership supports host communities and displaced populations in eight countries across East and North Africa and the Arab States, and brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, and the World Bank.