The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has worked to support the Government and people of Iraq in their transition towards reconciliation, peace and stability since 1976 in the areas of democratic governance; poverty reduction; crisis prevention and recovery, and energy and environment. Since 2003, UNDP has also been supporting emergency physical rehabilitation projects and has been enhancing the quality of basic services, including water and electricity.

An estimated 1.5 billion people, the majority of whom live in the world’s least developed countries, are affected by conflict, violence or high levels of crime. Fragile states are often unable to include their populations in decision making, enforce or protect their rights, distribute resources fairly and provide basic services, justice and security.

UNDP’s engagement in response to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Syria and impacting Lebanon and Jordan has been to support communities in the greatest need.

This programme has been jointly developed by the United Nations and the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) under the leadership of UNDP.

Decades of political instability, along with protracted periods of armed conflict, have tested the resilience and masked the true potential of the Lebanese people.