Objectives
Fund scope
Since 2014, Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) incursions have resulted in large scale displacement across Iraq with effects that continue to reverberate. The ongoing conflict, insecurity, and instability has created deep-seated grievances that have been exacerbated by socioeconomic challenges that include the displacement of vulnerable people both inside and outside of Iraq. The emergence of ISIL exploited tensions and triggered a wave of violence leading to the displacement of 3.3 million people—1.2 million of which are still displaced.
Moreover, unequal distribution of development gains, income, and access to resources have escalated tensions and fueled conflict, particularly in the 32% of Iraqi communities where most people live below the poverty line. This, accompanied by a rising unemployment rate of 16% (28% for women and 15% for men), endemic corruption and weak governance, have aggravated the ability of stakeholders to provide basic services and security. It has also undermined public trust and fueled grievances.
In response, the Government of Iraq, United Nations, and local partners have designed and implemented Reintegration Through Integrated Support and Empowerment (RISE)—a conflict-sensitive, context-relevant and meaningful initiative to address the unmet needs of communities and returnees in age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, inclusive ways that also respect human rights.
The aims of RISE are to:
- Improve the capacity of relevant national and local authorities and actors to support and facilitate the reintegration process of returnees and ensure their safety and security.
- Support economic reintegration through livelihood support packages that include cash for work, vocational training and business development to Al Hol returnees and vulnerable host community members.
- Provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services for Al Hol returnees and vulnerable community members, including children.
- Provide protection and legal services for children (e.g., legal support/birth registration).
Stakeholders will engage targeted communities through regular discussions, roundtables, community, and civil society forums to overcome harmful gender norms and practices and create opportunities for inclusive growth and development. Additionally, partners will apply practices with comprehensive human rights due diligence methods that strengthen reintegration and reduce harm to RISE communities.
Strategic action and theory of change
To address the reintegration needs of vulnerable children, young people, women, and other stigmatized groups (e.g., families who are perceived to be affiliated with ISIL or conflict-affected host community members) stakeholders will apply a three-pronged approach that consists of evidence-based support, as well as age and gender-sensitive activities.
- At the individual level, ISIL-associated people and (host) community members receive support on methods to sustainably reintegrate ISIL-affiliated families and returnees from Al Hol, ensuring they have enhanced access to socioeconomic opportunities and legal and protection services.
- At the community level RISE partners will increase community acceptance and preparedness in selected areas to facilitate the return and reintegration of children, women, young people and adults formerly associated with ISIL.
- At the institutional level (local and national) focus on building and strengthening corporate and individual capacities that improve governance institutions, policies, and strategies for improved return and reintegration of people. Practices take the needs of women and girls into consideration.
The RISE theory of change assumes that if ISIL-affiliated people, vulnerable community members and communities of origin receive necessary reintegration support—from livelihoods, MHPSS, child protection, state and community coordination—to facilitate reintegration and capacity building for relevant national and sub-national authorities, this would ensure sustainable reintegration into their communities of origin and ability to contribute to their community, becoming agents of development and social cohesion and reducing the risk of turning to violence or extremism.
Part of the programme methodology is an area-based approach where coordination with relevant national and local stakeholders is employed to mainstream reconciliation and reintegration programmes with existing prevention of violent extremism, social cohesion, stabilization, recovery and development initiatives.
> $55M 
$55M - $25M
$25M - $5M
< $5M
