Background

The Durable Solutions Technical Working Group (DSTWG) was set up at the end of November 2020 under the overall leadership of the Durable Solutions Task Force (DSTF). The DSTWG is a task -oriented technical body responsible for providing guidelines, tools, frameworks and overall direction for the development and operationalisation of durable solutions plans of action (POAs) at the area-level, in locations where area-level DS groups are activated. To ensure harmonisation of approaches and adherence to best practice, area level groups, with the support and guidance of DSTWG, will lead on the development of POAs in line with objectives, frameworks and approaches set out by the DSTWG. The DSTWG has developed an Operational and Strategic Framework, outlining specific objectives towards achievement of Durable Solutions. In support of the DSTWG, as agreed by members of the DSTWG, time-bound task-oriented groups will be established when the development of tools and guidelines requires focused discussions and specific technical expertise and knowledge – particularly.

Objectives

The Housing-HLP Subgroup aims to assist the DSTWG and the Government of Iraq to find durable solutions for the Iraqi displaced population and returnees on Housing and HLP related issues. The specific objective of the Housing-HLP subgroup is:

Provide technical support to the DSTWG and area-based coordination groups (ABCs) to identify, address and resolve Housing-HLP issues and develop strategies related to durable solutions.

Functions-Tasks of the Housing-HLP Subgroup

As outlined in the Iraq Durable Solutions Strategy and Operational Framework established under Strategic Objective 2, the Housing-HLP Subgroup for Iraq, under the guidance of the DSTWG, will support the affected populations to have access to housing and security of tenure. More specifically, the Housing-HLP Subgroup shall:

• Actively seek to engage with Housing and HLP partners who are able and willing to contribute to expertise, knowledge and/or resources relevant to Housing-HLP durable solutions;
• Bearing in mind the timebound existence of the subgroup, support the development of the Plans of Action (PoA) led by the ABCs by providing short notes on the HLP/Housing situation in prioritized areas/locations e.g. number and categories of damaged houses, secondary occupation situation…
• Provide advice and guidance to the DSTWG, ABCs and Housing/Housing/HLP partners acting under the durable solutions umbrella, through the development of materials and legal, legislative, technical, and practical guidelines with particular focus on the durable solutions concerns and objectives; this could include:
  
  • HLP support and housing reconstruction in areas of origin for returnees – e.g. War Damaged housing units rehabilitation
  • HLP support and housing solutions for local integration of IDPs unable to return e.g. - social housing, rental support, support for hosting arrangements while keeping in mind the ultimate objective of achieving durable solutions.
  • HLP support and settlement integration efforts for formal camps and informal sites - inclusion of informal sites into urban planning, housing upgrades to provide medium durable solutions in smaller camps (e.g. mud-brick housing, camp integration into surrounding settlements, etc..)

The Housing-HLP Subgroup is also expected to provide strategic guidance for the achievement of durable solutions including for through:

• The identification of activities requiring complementary support to achieve durable solutions e.g. rental support, transitional shelter options (RHU, shelter kits), and advices on pertaining strategies/best practices.
• Identification of options to address secondary occupations and support security of tenure.
• The determination of strategies and best practices to support property access for widows and female headed households.
• The development of an index of best practices, examples and lessons learned from Iraq partners on durable shelter solutions/HLP prerequisites at the household level.
• Any other relevant materials in line with the objective of the subgroup, in agreement with the DSTWG.