From Italy to Iraq: new Peer-to-Peer partnership to improve local waste management in Thi-Qar Governorate

Thi-Qar, 10 June 2021,

June 14, 2021

Iraq is at a crucial moment of change to its approach in combatting climate change, having recently finalised the final draft for its Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris agreement through the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment, and with the support of the UNDP.

Within this context comes this new Peer-to-Peer project between the municipality of Prato, Italy and the Governorate of Thi-Qar, Iraq, aimed at boosting Iraq’s capacity to manage local waste. The project, which was developed around the peers’ selected area of cooperation, has kicked off recently with a virtual meeting between the two.

Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project uses a participatory approach that allows the peers to exchange best practices and lessons learned, and address the gaps identified during the assessment phase. Through a series of interventions and activities, the cooperation will result in an ad hoc Waste Management Action Plan tailored to the needs of Thi-Qar and a Pilot Project to be implemented in cooperation with Prato Municipality and PIN Prato (Prato University Campus of the University of Florence)

Prato is a municipality in Italy, which is one of the leading countries today in recycling and waste management. The municipality itself has a long history in recycling, and has honed its techniques over the past century, making it a very vital partner to Thi-Qar in that field.

The kick-off meeting represented the landmark of a process undertaken between the peers over the past months, which will come to realisation with the start of the implementation phase.

The enthusiasm shown by the peers during this kick-off meeting reflects their willingness to commit to implementing this project that will benefit the municipality of Thi-Qar majorly, and develop a mutual greater understanding of local needs while increasing the capacity of the local authorities to address challenges in the waste management field.

The Peer-To-Peer project is a series of collaborations between Iraqi Governorates and European local authorities, aimed at the development of infrastructure, services and the betterment of Iraqi livelihoods.

This initiative is implemented under the programme Supporting Recovery and Stability in Iraq through Local Development, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP Iraq.