Provision of immediate life-saving assistance, agricultural assets/inputs and improved livelihoods for income generation for vulnerable out-of-camp IDPs and returnees in Ninewa Governorate Measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, such as movement restrictions and lockdowns, and economic disruption have had a devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable in humanitarian crises. In Iraq, job losses, debt accumulation, and increased food expenditures have significantly increased the needs of the most vulnerable populations, particularly out-of-camp IDPs and returnees. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021, an estimated 2.4 million people are now in acute need, up from 1.8 million people in 2020 (HNO,2021). The proportion of internally displaced people in acute need outside camps increased year-on-year from 36% to 45%, while the proportion of returnees in acute need increased from 28% to 38%. Out of the 4.85 million returnees,1.9 Million are in Ninewa, ranking the Governorate with the highest number of returnees. According to IOM DTM data, in Ninewa Governorate, the District of Telafar currently host 357,042 returnees and 9,468 IDPs out-of-camp, Al Hamdaniya 168,726 returnees and 216 IDPs out-of-camp and Tilkaef 102,216 returnees and 8,538 out-of-camp IDPs. Moreover, Ninewa continues to be the Governorate with the highest number of food insecure returnees (167,980) and is among the Governorates with the most severely food insecure out-of-camp-IDPs. According to MCNA VIII data, average food expenditures among returnees and IDPs in- and out-of-camp has increased by 22% compared to 2019. According to the HNO 2021, 70% of out of camp IDP and 52% returnees rely on negative coping strategies. Ninewa has the highest number of returnees living in high severity conditions, with Tilkaif and Telafar are categorized as high on the return severity index, while Al-Hamdaniya District is overall categorized as medium on the return severity index (in total 64,280 people across the 3 Districts) indicating a dire livelihood- service provision and basic services in their return area. Identified root causes of food insecurity are lack of access to stable income or finances which is caused in rural areas by the loss of income generating assets and capital, contamination of agricultural land and insufficient access to financials means to recover income generating activities. In response to this humanitarian crises, and aligned with FSC Strategic Objective 1: Vulnerable IDPs in camps, acutely vulnerable out-of-amp IDPs and returnees are able to meet basic needs:
Over 8 months, World Vision together with Dorcas and Harikar, three active leading NGO’s in the FS sector, propose to support 4,540 (928 HH) severely vulnerable IDPs (out of camp) and returnees in Al Hamdaniyah (Markaz Al-Hamdaniyah and Bartella sub-districts), Telafar (Zummar sub-district) and Tilkaif (Wana sub-district) in Ninewa Governorate with access to productive assets through Cash+ distribution including the provision of agricultural assets and inputs to (re)start their livelihoods, CfW and training to promote increased production and productivity with a focus on small-scale food production. Special attention will be given to women headed households, who lost their bread winner in farming during the conflict, with at least 30% female beneficiaries for agricultural activities.

As aligned with HRP 2021, WV will be distributing Cash Plus including agricultural inputs training to a total of 185 HH (47 HH in Wana) and 46 HH in the other 3 locations locations of Markaz Al-Hamdaniya, Bartella and Zummar.  Harikar will be improving access to agricultural productivity through provision of CfW (93 HH), and open farms for wheat and small-scale vegetable production and training for rain-fed farming in Wana (56 HH). Lastly, Dorcas will be improving access to diversified and nutritious food through supporting small-scale vegetable production, rain-fed farming (49 HH), and CfW (50) through rehabilitation of irrigation systems and channels in Zummar.