Working After War: The Women of Mosul

May 26, 2018

Photos: UNDP Iraq/Claire Thomas

In Iraq, one of the most committed groups determined to rebuild their country after ISIL are women. Here are some of the stories of women in Mosul rebuilding their lives and communities.

Elham

When Iraqi forces entered Mosul as part of an offensive to liberate the city from Islamic State control, Elham and her family became trapped. “We were hostages, stuck in all of the fighting,” she explains.

Today, Elham is employed by UNDP’s Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS) through its Cash-for-Work program — an initiative that gives locals the chance to earn an income while helping to rebuild their city. Participants like Elham receive $20 USD per day to clean up debris in damaged sites including schools, hospitals and local streets.

“I’m proud because I’m helping to clean my city,” says Elham.

Sara and Wejdan

Being a female engineer in Iraq can be a challenge — the profession is male-dominated, and opportunities for women are somewhat limited. But that hasn’t deterred Sarah (left) and Wejdan from doing their part to bring Mosul back to life.

“I enjoy working with UNDP because I love being around people and helping rebuild my city after ISIL,” says Sara. “We were treated very badly under ISIL. Women couldn’t work — their only choice was to stay at home. I was working in a pharmaceutical factory, but when ISIL came I was forced to stop.”

Rasha

Rasha’s husband was injured before ISIL took control of Mosul, and has since been unemployed. Her only option was to find work herself — so she joined the Cash-for-Work program.

Rasha’s story is a familiar one. “I have four children but I can’t afford to put them in school,” she says. “I’m very tired after what happened in Mosul.” The income earned through clearing debris from Ninewa University in West Mosul has provided Rasha with some reprieve — it’s enough to cover basic expenses needed to provide for her family.

Shayma

Shayma is part of 16-strong female crew working to repair 500 desks at Gogjali Primary School in Mosul — another site badly damaged by ISIL.

“Repairing these desks makes me feel really happy,” she says. “I have my own children and I love seeing other children benefiting from the new desks,” says Shayma.

Her husband died in an electrical incident at home seven months ago, leaving her with four children. “I will use the money from this job to buy food for my children, milk for my baby, and to pay for their schooling,” she says.

Nibras

Mother-of-five Nibras was shot in the stomach in 2010. She was caught in the crossfire between the Iraqi Army and extremists, before ISIL took over Mosul. Eight years later, she still feels the pain — but her determination to work has not waned.

“I couldn’t work for six weeks after I was shot,” she says. “Now I can work, but it’s still painful.” Through the Cash-for-Work program, helping to clean classrooms in a damaged school in Al Jadeda, West Mosul means Nibras can earn enough money to provide the basics for her family.

“When I received my first payment, I got electricity from the generator and bought fruit and vegetables and some biscuits,” she says.

Read More

About FFS

At the request of the Government of Iraq, UNDP established the Funding Facility for Stabilization in June 2015 to facilitate the return of displaced Iraqis, lay the groundwork for reconstruction and recovery, and safeguard against the resurgence of violence and extremism.

The Facility currently has more than 1,900 projects underway in 25 liberated cities and districts, helping local authorities to quickly rehabilitate essential infrastructure.