The “Resilience and Social Cohesion Programme (RSCP) - Strengthening the resilience of host communities and Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (Kurdistan)” is a regional Programme funded by the European Union Trust Fund “MADAD” and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the French Development Agency (AFD) with a total budget of EUR 22,045,500. The component implemented by the Italian Cooperation has a total allocation of EUR 12,595,500. It aims at improving the coverage and quality of basic social services provided to the most vulnerable host communities affected by the influx of Syrian refugees, as well as to the Syrian refugees (and IDPs in Iraqi Kurdistan), while empowering local communities socially and economically and decreasing inter and intra-community tensions. Moreover, in line with national priorities (crisis response plans), it aims at building the capacities of national institutions, both at central and local levels, and at strengthening the role of the civil society (NGOs and CSOs), providing effective instruments to enable the development of medium and long-term sustainable delivery solutions.

In September 2021, the European Union Regional Trust Fund and AICS, together with the Directorate of Irrigation in Shaqlawa – DOI Erbil, have completed the cleaning and maintenance of 59.9 km of concrete canals and 23.16 km of soil canals.
In May 2022, the DOI Erbil completed the construction of 515 m of a new main water canal for agricultural purposes.

The intervention has provided better access to agricultural lands and products for approximately 90,000 people. 270 beneficiaries (244 men and 46 women) have benefitted from job opportunities provided by the project, for a total of 7,415 working days. 40.4% from the host communities, 29.6% from Iraqi IDPs, and 30% from Syrian refugees.

Each beneficiary has been remunerated with an average salary of EUR 570 for 28 days of work.