by Ingrid Næss-Holm, ACT Alliance gender campaign manager

As a child, I had a book called “The Girl No One Wanted” and it told of the disappointment of a girl’s parents when they got a daughter – and not a son. Luckily, the parents ended up loving her as much as her brothers. But she did not have the same opportunities as them in the society she grew up in. Unfortunately this lack of opportunity is the reality for women and girls in most places.

I was born and raised in Bangladesh, I have lived in the Philippines, in the UK, in Zimbabwe and in Norway. All different locations, but one thing is true for all of them: gender justice is not yet fully realised in any of these places.

Gender injustices affect many groups and individuals. But the biggest one is half of the population – namely women and girls. And those are who we are celebrating today on the 8th of March, International Women’s Day.

The world we see

• Globally, 200 million girls and women have been subject to female genital mutilation or cutting.
• Innumerable perpetrators of sexual violence as a weapon in war are never sentenced or punished.
• Almost one third of women who have been in a relationship have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.
• 59 countries do not have laws against harassment in the workplace.
• Only 24 per cent of all national parliamentarians are women.
• 104 countries have laws that prohibit women from having certain jobs.
• Unless we change the direction or pace of things, it will take 202 years (!) until men and women have equal pay.

The world is not fair.  And that is why ACT is scaling up its gender work today.  That is why ACT members have been working for years with communities, individuals, local organisations and religious leaders to fight gender injustice. We are challenging governments and other authorities to change laws and regulations to make sure that all people, especially women and girls, can realise their rights and live good lives.

Existing work

Created Equal, ACT’s gender campaign, is not starting from scratch. It is a continuation of all the work that is already going on.

In Eastern Africa, FECCLAHA, is spearheading the Tamar Campaign which seeks to equip and challenge churches to break the silence on Gender Based Violence using contextual Bible Study methodology.

In Armenia, the World Council of Churches Armenia Round Table Foundation, is supporting computer literacy and internet classes for youth and women, aimed at improving their ability to find jobs and to improved access to information and communication means.

In Indonesia, the Christian Foundation for Public Health (YAKKUM), provides capacity building for health providers to develop young people friendly clinics and builds awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In Brazil, Diaconia is training church leaders on Transformational Masculinities based on the principles and sacred texts of world religions that value the well-being and equality of all human beings.

Globally, the Salvation Army run maternity hospitals and clinics that contributes specifically to reducing maternal mortality.

And the list goes on!

Our vision

In ACT we want to see a world where girls are always wanted, and where they through their adolescence, adulthood and old age enjoy the same rights and possibilities as their male counterparts. If we achieve progress in any area, be it economic, social or any other, we have only come so far if the progress only benefits half of the population.

Today we are celebrating all women. Tomorrow we will roll up our sleeves and continue our journey together on the path towards gender justice.

Because we believe that all people deserve justice.  We believe that all people are Created Equal.

As the Syrian conflict enters its ninth year, and the humanitarian situation remains dire for millions of affected people, the EU and the UN will co-chair the third conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, which will take place in Brussels on 12-14 March 2019. Its aim will be to mobilise humanitarian aid for Syrians, both inside the country and in the neighbouring refugee-hosting countries, as well as to strengthen political support to the UN-led peace process. ACT Alliance, whose members have been engaged in supporting those affected on the ground since the very beginning, will be present with a delegation to give voice to our call for sustained engagement and durable solutions. ACT’s key messages are expressed in the following statement:

ACT Alliance – Jordan Syria and Lebanon forum urges for stronger solidarity and humanitarian support

The Syria crisis has had a devastating humanitarian, social and economic impact on Syria and neighboring countries for eight years now. People affected by this crisis require a strong commitment and collective effort by the international community to help those in need.  

The severity and complexity of the humanitarian situation across Syria continues to be overwhelming with over 13 million people in direct need of humanitarian assistance. Although refugee registration activities ceased in 2015, it is estimated that Lebanon and Jordan are hosting 1.6 million refugees, and significant support has been extended both by governments and non-governmental actors, including ACT members. Nonetheless, in many cases harsh living conditions have forced large numbers of people into poverty and consequently made them extremely vulnerable.^[1] Even though the regional dynamics have significantly changed in 2018, the scale of humanitarian needs has remained. 

Before the crisis began, Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance members, local and international, had a presence on the ground in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, allowing members to react swiftly to humanitarian needs as they developed. ACT members continue giving humanitarian assistance both in Syria and in surrounding countries.The valuable placement of ACT members and  their partners in Syria specially allows for the unique opportunity to respond quickly as a locally rooted yet globally connected alliance.

• ACT Jordan Syria Lebanon (JSL) Forum members call for stronger solidarity and humanitarian support to Syrian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons inside Syria. Although the protracted humanitarian crisis continues inside Syria and neighboring countries, year by year the local and international humanitarian actors are struggling to receive adequate funding for responding to the basic needs of millions of affected people. Regional appeals including the ACT appeal for refugee response, particularly in the host countries, where ACT members and their partners operate, must see an increase in required contributions to be able to effectively respond to humanitarian needs that remain at an alarming level.
• While acknowledging that the need for emergency basic needs in Syria is still great, ACT Alliance members, national partners and communities strive and call for an earliest possible shift to interventions that ensure dignity of those effected by the conflict and decrease aid dependency in Syria and within those countries supporting Syrian refugees. In host countries, this would mean continued support for improved access to local labour markets and integration into local economies, as well as access to health care and education, whereas in Syria this would mean continuing to look at emergency needs in a sustainable, transparent manner, aiming for multi-year programing to allow Syrians to seamlessly move from emergency to recovery while building their resilience.
• Regarding other durable solutions, there is still a wide gap between the numbers of refugees in need of resettlement, and the number of resettlement places being offered globally, and Syrians have been among the groups most affected by this. We therefore call for expanded resettlement options, including by encouraging third countries to offer complementary pathways for refugees – this option has been under-utilized so far, and our members can offer their support and expertise.
• As noted by UNHCR, returns to Syria in safety and dignity are still not possible under the present conditions. While we support the right to return for any refugees wishing to do so, we emphasize the need to guard against premature and coerced actions by governments and other actors in this regard. Any return options being considered thus must offer all guarantees and comply fully with international law and standards. Returns should therefore only be facilitated after the preconditions for a sustainable and safe return have been assessed in an independent and participatory manner, ensuring dignity and access to services, including by providing clear and accurate information, and having obtained the consent from those returning. Always in such scenarios, other alternative durable solutions must be made available for those who do not feel that a return is possible for them.
• The social fabric in Syria has been eroded by the displacement of 12.2 million refugees and internally displaced people. The JSL forum urges decision makers in Brussels III to increase funding to build social cohesion for refugees looking to return as well as to build social cohesion inside Syria in preparation for that return. ACT Alliance will continue its involvement and commitment to humanitarian action, the effective protection of human rights^[2], and the sustainable and participatory development of the futures of all people in need, especially as ACT members are seen as natural actors within communities. 
• Strategies should be in place to allow for protected sustainable assistance, especially in the area of Health, WASH, Shelter, Livelihood and Education. The ACT JSL forum calls on Member States to ensure that humanitarian service delivery is not tied to political conditions, and consider the effects on the population when rehabilitation efforts that are based on transparent and conflict-sensitive criteria are delayed.

The ACT Jordan Syria and Lebanon members and partners work in the region and in particular those working inside Syria, have the added value of working as first responders in hard-to-reach areas. ACT members and partners work with local faith and non-faith actors who are committed to work for humanity and dignity, motivated and framed by faith, and in full respect to the humanitarian principles and standards. Continuing our involvement and commitment to provide assistance and protection to all people in need is not only and expression of our faith and our conviction to humanity, but is also inspired by our wish to contribute to peace and restoring the social cohesion of multi-diverse societies of the Middle East .

[1] https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria_durable_solutions.

[2] ACT Alliance Founding Document, ‘Vision Statement’, p.2

Super Typhoon Mangkhut known locally as ‘Ompong’ made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan in the Philippines on September 15, 2018, at 1:40 AM, carrying winds of up to 200 km per hour and heavy rainfall. “It was the longest and strongest typhoon that we have ever experienced in our area,” said Gil Oamil, a rescue responder from the Centro 1 Barangay in Sanchez-Mira.

An early warning system notified residents of the typhoon two days before making landfall allowing families to get to the nearest evacuation centre. The tropical cyclone lasted 18 hours, wreaking damage to the community and destroying livelihoods.

ACT Alliance member the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) was the only organisation to provide support to the Centro 1 Barangay in response to Typhoon Mangkhut. Centro 1’s Barangay Captain, Melbina Mangasing, who is involved with the local church, coordinated with the local bishop and NCCP around meeting the needs of the Barangay. As ACT members are rooted in the communities which they serve, NCCP was able to quickly respond to the immediate needs of the Barangay.

NCCP distributed food packs consisting of rice, sugar, legumes, dried fish, canned food, biscuits, salt, oil and other food items to thirty-eight families. As each food-pack could feed a family of five for two weeks, NCCP helped to alleviate hunger until families were able to return to their livelihoods.

Despite the strength of the typhoon, ongoing emergency preparedness initiatives from the local government in collaboration with churches limited human suffering in the Barangay.

The Centro 1 Barangay community centre conducts disaster preparedness training twice a month where senior citizens, widowers and other vulnerable groups are urged to participate. Before Typhoon Mangkhut, residents received training on how to secure their homes from strong winds and heavy rainfall. Other capacity building sessions offered include preparedness and response to tsunamis, earthquakes and fires.

Residents are also encouraged to ensure that they keep a fully equipped emergency pail in their homes, consisting of canned food, water, a first aid kit, a radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, clothes and other essentials. Many families relied on their emergency pails once the typhoon made landfall.

“The trainings are critical to ensuring that everyone in the community is prepared for an emergency,” said Mangasing. “Because of our efforts in this Barangay, we were more prepared than we were last time.”

As the Philippines is particularly prone to typhoons and other disasters, emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction initiatives will remain essential for the resilience of the Filipino people. NCCP will continue to work with local government units in the areas which they responded to Typhoon Mangkhut to build the capacity of communities to better cope with disasters.

Super Typhoon Mangkhut locally named Ompong battered the province of Cagayan in the Philippines on September 14^th 2018, destroying homes, severely affecting agricultural lands and livelihoods and damaging evacuation centres where residents fled for safety. Residents of the Sitio Laoc, Barangay Pateng, are still recovering from the effects of the typhoon.

“Every time it rains my children get scared that it will happen again,” said Rema Orden, a survivor of the typhoon and mother of two. “I will never forget how wet and cold my children were and how there was nothing that I could do.”

Sitio Laoc is predominantly a farming community of indigenous peoples who migrated to Cagayan in search of a better life. Many rely on their harvest for sustenance and live in poverty where basic amenities such as safe drinking and potable water are difficult to access.

Given the financial constraints of the community, many small-scale farmers in the Sitio Laoc have no choice but to borrow money from local investors to purchase seeds, fertiliser and other farming equipment, repaying the loans when they sell their crops. Farmers whose livelihoods are the most vulnerable to natural hazards faced the brunt of the impacts of Typhoon Mangkhut which destroyed their crops shortly before the harvesting season, leaving families unable to complete the planting cycle or repay their debts.

“My house was completely destroyed, and I lost most of my harvest,” said Valentino Gonzalez, a farmer from the Sitio Laoc. “I was only able to harvest 20 bags of rice which I shared with the other families who were affected by the typhoon,” he continued.

Gonzalez is one of the many farmers whose debt has increased since the typhoon. “This typhoon doubled our debt because we still had to buy seeds for the following planting cycle even though we were not able to sell any of our harvest from the previous cycle,” said Valentino.

ACT Alliance member Christian Aid in partnership with the Humanitarian Response Consortium and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council responded to the needs of the most affected residents of the Sitio Laoc. An unconditional cash transfer of USD 48 (based on the minimum monthly wage) was distributed to two hundred and fifty of the most vulnerable families in November 2018 to help them to get through the season.

“Typhoon Ompong has had a huge impact on our lives. The cash transfer has helped us to meet our daily needs and the needs of our children,” said seventy-eight-year-old Kag Asaid Gonzales.

While some families used the unconditional cash transfer to repair their homes and clear their debt, other families faced great difficulties getting back on their feet.

“Before my husband died we worked very hard to build our house. Typhoon Ompong has destroyed it. I am now living in my small store under a tree. Now I am the only one working to pay off our debts so it has doubled. With the support of ACT Alliance, I have been able to pay off some of my debt and to buy some rice. I have also kept a small amount of money in case there is another emergency,” said indigenous farmer Charlita Taoil.

Despite the challenges faced by the residents of the Sitio Laoc during and after the typhoon, a spirit of Bayanihan (community unity) prevailed. Residents shared whatever harvest they were able to salvage, and those whose houses remained intact took in other members of their Barangay.

“We planned to get to the evacuation centre but galvanised iron sheets were flying because of the strong winds, so we went to our neighbour’s house instead. We thought that there was no hope for another day, but we prayed as one family, asking for the guidance of the Lord. In times of disaster, the love of family becomes stronger,” said Larmie Bayangan.

Eighty-one-year-old pioneer settler to the Sitio Laoc, Juan Bainan also emphasised the unity of the residents, “Even though we all came to Laoc from different tribes, through every disaster our spirit of Bayanihan has remained strong. I am proud to see that peace and unity prevail above all.”

On September 28, 2018, ten year-old Kirana (name changed) and her friends were at the mosque, preparing for evening worship when everything began to shake.  The walls began to collapse all around them, and they ran as fast as they could. 

Kirana wanted nothing more than to get home where her family was.  She was scared and worried about them, and wanted to be with them.  She cried out to people and to God as she ran from the mosque.

Hundreds of other people were also running from buildings, looking for safety during the violent earthquake.  As she ran past one building, the wall collapsed and masonry struck her in the head.  She collapsed, and thought she was going to die.

But a woman took her hand and pulled her to her feet.  Together, they ran until they reached the central yard in their village.  Here, she waited until the earth stopped shaking, together with many of her neighbours.

Soon after the earth stopped shaking, her sister came to the yard looking for her.  They hugged, crying, and left the village for the nearby fields where the rest of the family had fled for safety.

No sooner had they arrived than they had to flee again- running up the hills to higher ground.  Because the earth began to collapse and move underneath them.  Liquefaction had begun, and entire houses just flowed along with the liquid ground, some ending up hundreds of meters away.

Kirana and her family were safe, although their house had collapsed and their motorcycle was crushed.  As they calmed down, Kirana began to feel the pain in her head.

It took a few days for the road to be rebuild enough to be safe for relief teams to come to Kirana’s village.  ACT member Pelkesi sent a doctor and health workers to take care of people in the temporary camp they had built. Kirana was one of their patients.  They treated her injury and gave her medicine to complete the cure.

Through the ACT appeal, the ACT Indonesia Forum provided health care, water, sanitation, temporary housing, and relief supplies to families like Kirana’s.

Today, Kirana is all better.  She helps her family by looking after her baby cousin when the rest of the family is busy.  She is back in school with her friends.  And she is free to dream again.  Her dream is to grow up to be a police woman.  “Our lives will never be the same after the disaster,” Kirana said.  “Living in the camp is never easy.  But thank God we are all safe, and things are improving!  May God help us and may there be no more disasters in Palu!”

After 60 years of isolation and armed conflict, Myanmar has embarked in a historic process of democratic and economic reform. However, according to UN women, one half of women are still out of the workforce. 

The Rakhine state in the west part of Myanmar has a long history of settlements and migration. It is one of the poorest and most populated states in the country. An estimated 140,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) live in camps, making the situation in this region of Myanmar a humanitarian emergency. The majority of the displaced are Muslims who fled their homes due to widespread violence against their villages. Initially, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled to neighboring countries, however increasing travel and movement restrictions have condemned the displaced to camps where they need to rely on assistance from NGOs for their survival.

Due to persistent gender discrimination and inequalities, the situation is even more dire for women and girls.Women in Rakhine State have limited access to livelihood opportunities, making them vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and poverty.

ACT Alliance members Finn Church Aid, ICCO Cooperation and Lutheran World Federation have joined forces with UN Women and other civil society partners to support women’s entrepreneurship by providing them with skills and vocational training.

One of the main challenges to market entry in Myanmar is the low level of access to education. This is especially true for women and girls who have to face bias and discrimination. Skills development is crucial for households to earn income and increase women’s level of resilience.

The consortium of partners held a project inception workshop to raise awareness among participants and promote coordination and cooperation with government departments and local communities. The project team visited several IDP camps for focus groups and discussed potential handicraft and weaving products, community and market needs.

Participants showed interest in weaving and embroidery. Muslim women, in particular, wanted to promote Muslim traditional dress and hijab, and traditional hats for men.

“Training women on sewing and weaving skills not only helps them and their families to make a living but it empowers them, it strengthens their confidence and it brings hope and resilience to the entire community,” says a representative from FCA. “Many of the local businesses that employed women saw this as an opportunity to make profit but also to promote the traditional culture of Rakhine”.

Employment-oriented training courses and employment promotion, especially in conflict prone areas, are among the most effective means to drive progress on gender equality and promote poverty eradication. An inclusive approach that welcomes women from different ethnic groups also helps build trust and promote a culture of cooperation and community resilience.

ACT Alliance firmly believes that the lack of access to economic resources, the unequal access to education and employment and the under-representation of women in decision making processes are a consequence of a patriarchal system that is built on exclusion and inequality. Economic empowerment has an impact in all areas of women’s lives and in the sustainable development of their families and communities.

In the spirit of “Leaving no one behind”, in December 2018, ACT Alliance Assembly adopted a new strategic plan, which includes a Gender Justice component committing ACT to actively work to address the systemic causes of poverty and lack of access to resources promoting economic rights of women and girls.

“The government helped save many girls  abducted by Boko Haram, but it doesn’t protect them from physical abuses by government armed forces. In one village I have visited eight girls below 17 who said they had been raped by government soldiers”,  says Nubwa, who works in a local organisation that cooperates with NCA on GBV.

Borno State in North East Nigeria has experienced nine years of Armed Organized Group (AOG) insurgency and counter military operations. As of October 2018, approximately 2.3 million of internally displaced people have been registered, around 300 000 of them live in over-congested camps.

The displacement and continued movement of IDPs creates major protection concerns, causing arbitrary detentions, family separations and increased gender-based violence. The situation caught international headlines when in April 2014 Boko Haram attacked a boarding school in the town named Chibok in North East Nigeria. 276 young were taken away, most of them Christians.

Reports on sexual abuse and exploitation reflect an increase of rapes of women and girls by Nigerian security forces and Armed Organized Groups. According to a UNFPA report, six out of ten women have experienced one or more forms of GBV. Traditional cultural beliefs and practices further exacerbate  protection and GBV issues.

There is a pressing necessity to continue providing assistance to prevent and mitigate gender-based violence towards women and girls, and to provide specialised GBV response services to those affected. 

NCA has actively responded to GBV in Borno, North East Nigeria, since early 2017. 

Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) are at the core of NCA’s GBV prevention and response services.  So far NCA has established 7 WGSSs in the country. These are entry points for psychosocial support,  livelihood skills teaching and livelihood support, distribution of hygiene kits, including kits for menstrual hygiene.  Survivors are referred to health clinics where available, and health personnel are trained on Clinical Management of Rape.

About the girls who were abducted by Boko Haram, Nubwa says: “The girls that have been released returned to empty houses. Men in the community will not marry them, as many girls in reality were sex slaves, being forced to sell their body to survive in exchange for food and protection.”  

Nubwa works for an organisation which belongs to the same church as the Chibok girls.  She is responsible for the GBV program in cooperation with NCA. Fighting stigma and awareness raising on GBV targeting both men and women is part of the work Nubwa carries out.

Nubwa says that child marriage has become more common than before. Many parents wants their young daughters to be married, in the hope that they will be less exposed to kidnapping by Boko Haram. 

“It’s about survival”, Nubwa says. “It is quite common that 15 years old girls are married to  50 years old men . The man who offers most dowry is easily accepted by the parents of the girl.”

Notwithstanding the GBV crisis in North East Nigeria, Nubwa  believes there is hope – and that girls who have experienced severe GBV can be re-integrated. “More women than before now dare to raise their voice, both about abuse and the lack of rights”, she says.  Nubwa also told us how important is for those working on GBV and women’s and girls’ rights having continued international support and attention. 

This article was written by Anders Tunold, Senior Humanitarian Coordinator from Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) https://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/ 

“Financing for Development is not a magic bullet. There are many dimensions to it which we must harness to ensure that these investments are transparent and effective”, said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of ACT Alliance, during a session of the 5th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters, in New York, on 29 January.

“Among these dimensions is the added value and leverage that faith-based communities bring to the spirit of the 2030 Agenda. A value system that puts the wholeness of the human being at the center”, added de Faria.

The fifth edition of the Annual Symposium focused on the theme “Financing for Sustainable Development: Towards an Economy of Life” and was co-organized by ACT Alliance, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, Islamic Relief USA, the United Religions Initiative and the World Council of Churches, in partnership with the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development and the NGO Committee on Financing for Development Conference of NGOs.

The Financing for Developmentprocess is centered around promoting a comprehensive and integrated approach to ensure the policies and resources, both national and multilateral, needed for sustainable development. This includes the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2017 the World Bank estimated the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at roughly $80 trillion in nominal terms. The world’s top 10 economies together combine a huge two-thirds of global GDP. 

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will take between US$5 to $7 trillion, with an investment gap in developing countries of about $2.5 trillion per year. Based on these data, we can see who can drive the implementation of the SDG agenda and the future of humanity.

“Governments and the public sector will continue to play a key financing role, particularly in the delivery of essential public services. However, there is an evident need and scope for the private sector to engage in financing the SDGs to help close the gap”, said de Faria.

“The SDGs offer a common framework to harness the unique assets, networks, and value-system of faith-based communities. The financial contribution of Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) to the SDGs is remarkable, not only because of the impressive financial contribution we could reach, but also because of FBOs’ approach to sustainable development, which can multiply the impact of the financial investments”, he added.

Faith based organisations, including the ACT Alliance, contribute billions of dollars of work each iear to the achievement of the SDGs.  In addition, their presence in communities and the social and societal role places FBOs in a unique position to leverage their work for even greater gains.  Local faith leaders play a key role in achieving gains towards many of the SDGs, including goal 5 (Gender Justice), 13 (Climate Action), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Financing for Developmentis a challenge that will require the full engagement of a wide range of stakeholders, each pursuing the same ultimate objectives albeit in different ways. 

The annual symposium has become a regular fixture on the international calendar, and an expression of the increasing synergy between religious communities, faith-based organizations and the UN.

Gabey Mayow Kalmoy, 33 years old, is a resident of Busle village, a small community of 2000 people in the the Gedo region of the Jubaland State in Somalia.  She is married and a proud mother of 5 children. She gives an account of how her life has changed tremendously since the implementation of the Busle Water Project through ACT member Norwegian Church Aid’s (NCA) Drought Response and Recovery Program. 

Life was very tough due to the prolonged periods of drought which made finding access to clean water a nightmare. The only shallow well in the area was destroyed by flash floods, leaving the river almost 3km away from her house as the only remaining source of water  

“You don’t know the value of water until your only source is dirty water from the river.”  Gabey recounts how she and her children used to walk for long distances just to fetch water, which was not safe for human consumption , but she had no other choice but to use the same water for her family and the livestock. Water safety was not the only concern she had.  Fetching water was also extremely dangerous, especially for women and girls. “We used to walk for almost 3km to fetch water. Some of us were pregnant while some carried babies on their back. Children were also sick on a daily basis with acute watery diarrhea. Life was really hard,” said Gabey.

According to her, the life of her family changed immensely after the water kiosk was built in May,2018.  

 “I had not imagined I would get access to such clean and sweet water before in my life. I felt like my prayers had all been answered” Gabey tells us with a big smile on her face. “Nowadays, I don’t have to worry about how we will get water for drinking and other household chores because it is available all the time.” 

 “I have not only gotten access to clean water, but I have learnt about proper hygiene for myself and my family. The hospital will not be seeing me for acute watery diarrhea cases any time soon.”

Gabey is very grateful to those who made this possible.  NCA and its implementing partner, NAPAD have helped her and the community with something extremely valuable. 

Although they still need to buy water, it comes at the very cheap price of $3 per month for a single household. Gabey says the system is sustainable and now she is able to focus on other priorities. She urged NAPAD and  NCA to continue implementing similar projects to ensure that other villages have access to sufficient, good quality and sustainable water.

Through the ACT Appeal SOM171 Drought Response, NCA and NAPAD were also able to build a solar powered water pumping system, a twin latrine at the village primary school, build  a connection of piped water to the Busle health center.  The also trained 30 school children health club members, 20 hygiene promoters,  and organized hygiene demonstrations and awareness campaigns for two villages. 

Download the story booklet here

text and pictures: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance

Mosul, Iraq – Most days in Mosul, Younis Ghanim wears a yellow vest and rubber boots, grabs a shovel and sets off to pick up garbage. It’s a small task in the massive reconstruction effort of this northern Iraqi city that for three years formed the capital of the Islamic State caliphate and was liberated by Iraqi soldiers in 2017. But it’s the kind of job that will determine the livability and the future of the city.

“I want my neighborhood and city to be clean and beautiful again,” said Ghanim, who before IS earned a living selling clothing from a rack he pushed through the streets. That stopped under the jihadis because people had little money to spend. Now he earns 25,000 Iraqi dinars a day, just over $20, picking up garbage in a cash-for-work project sponsored by the ACT Alliance. He spends most of his salary on food for his expanding family – his second child was born in November – and diabetes medicine for his mother. Their home in west Mosul was completely looted during the fighting, and the walls lean perilously in the wake of the repeated air strikes on the neighborhood. But it’s home.

“The biggest problem we face now is finding work. I looked and looked until I found this job, and I feel proud I can now earn money to buy milk and diapers to take home,” Ghanim said.

The garbage collection project is part of a larger sanitation and community health program managed by Rehabilitation, Education & Community Health (REACH), an Iraqi NGO supported by Hungarian Interchurch Aid and ICCO Cooperation, both members of the ACT Alliance.

“The people of Mosul are struggling to survive, and often don’t have time to clean the streets and communal spaces. Garbage is everywhere,” said Brwa Abdul Rahman, REACH’s acting program manager.

“We’re working to increase the capacity of the municipality and help the community become more aware of the need to keep the communal spaces clean.”

REACH is helping the municipality fix its garbage trucks and acquire more collection bins and tools. It also carries out door-to-door needs assessment, yielding information it will share with city officials.

Rahman says the cash-for-work element of the program is just as important as encouraging hygiene.

“Most people still don’t have jobs or money. When we go door-to-door, although we ask questions about garbage, everyone asks us for jobs. They say assistance will eventually run out. But if we can get people jobs, they say, it will be more sustainable for their families,” he said.

“I love to work”

RNVDO is another Iraqi NGO supported by Lutheran World Relief, DanChurchAid and other ACT members. It helps Iraqi women with their sewing skills.

Ekhlas Mohammad is one of them. She and her family survived the three years of IS occupation, though they were often hungry. One of her sons sold cigarettes to earn cash, but the jihadis caught him and beat him. During the final stages of the war they fled the city, living in a camp for displaced families for six months. When they returned home, their house was intact but empty, though she says there wasn’t much to steal in the first place. What they left behind was her old broken sewing machine.

“I heard from my neighbor about the sewing classes, and I signed up with enthusiasm. I knew little about sewing, just enough to sew pillow cases. In class I learned how to sew blouses and pants, and I began to take orders from neighbors. They bring me the cloth, and I sew what they want. I only charge about 3,000 dinars (about $2.50) for a dress. I’m keeping my costs down to attract more customers,” she says proudly.

“The little I earn goes to food and education of my children. I don’t want my sons to work. I want them to study.”

A neighbor who’s a tailor helps her keep her old sewing machine functioning. Her new business has earned her new respect.

“I love to work, and I feel proud to do so. Men respect us women more when we earn money for the family. And now I want to expand my business,” she said.

According to Omar Amer, a project assistant at RNVDO, helping women to earn an income is an important step in Mosul’s economic reconstruction.

“On the west side of Mosul, it was just the men who worked before IS. A few women had jobs but not many. Now women have a new opportunity. We just need to give them a chance, and for them, working, it is a matter of pride,” he said.

“There’s nothing impossible for them. They realize they can work and make money, they can open a workshop, they can work alongside men. They have nothing to lose anymore because they lost everything to IS during the war. They lost their sons and husbands, and now they aren’t afraid.”

Countering a legacy of violence

The recovery of Mosul is neighborhood-specific. On the wealthier east side of the Tigris River, recovery has been swift. Restaurants are packed and businesses flourish. But in the western portion of Mosul, particularly the old city, block after block of rubble hide decomposing bodies and unexploded ordnance, the legacy of months of heavy fighting and air strikes as IS fighters made their last stand, often using residents as human shields.

“They called it our liberation, but it was really our destruction,” said Hussain Ahmed, an Islamic teacher in the old city who has returned to live in the remnants of his heavily-damaged house.
It’s also becoming clear that the so-called liberation is not over. Iraqi security forces continue to arrest IS fighters who have tried to blend back into the civilian population. The army has renewed air strikes against IS fighters who hide in caves and tunnels in the nearby mountains. The car-bombing of a Mosul restaurant in November served as a graphic reminder that IS isn’t totally defeated.

“Daesh isn’t gone,” said Father Amanuel Adel Kloo, referring to IS by its local name. He’s a Catholic priest who has returned to Mosul to rebuild one of many damaged churches. “There are sleeper cells and fighters who have merely shaved off their beards. But the bigger problem is that 70 percent of the people in Mosul still support the ideology of Daesh. They may not have a weapon in their hands, but they have the mentality of Daesh.”

RNVDO is working to undo the ideological legacy of IS by sponsoring after-school classes to help children catch up to their grade level.

“During IS many schools were closed. Parents didn’t want to send their children to schools fearing IS. Many children were out of school for three years. When they went back they were automatically promoted from second grade to fifth grade, but they don’t know English, mathematics or how to write. All they know is the Islamic State,” he said.
“They watched the killings, the bombings. They saw Iraqi forces kill IS fighters. They witnessed the air strikes. Children learn from what they see. So today the kids know the names of the weapons, the names of IS and Iraqi army leaders. But they don’t know math. They don’t know the difference between right and wrong. Their families have been focused on survival, not education.”

Twelve-year old Mohamad Omar Ahmad is one of those kids. He signed up for the catch up class in English as soon as he could. He can already read in Arabic, but wants to learn English so one day he can be a teacher.
He’s glad the IS rule came to an end. “We couldn’t watch television or use a mobile phone, or play football. It was terrible. But now that’s over and we’ve got a lot to learn ,” he said.

Rebuilding trust

Some residents of Mosul are still unable to return home, either because their former homes were destroyed or they are worried about security. Some people commute back to the city every day, navigating through a maze of checkpoints ran by the police, the army, or the dreaded Hashed al-Shaabi militia where both Christians and members of the local Sunni majority are regularly harassed and threatened by the Shia militants.

Hind Saffa Jijji, a Catholic from Mosul who escaped to Erbil before the takeover, hasn’t even gone back to see what has happened in her city. When IS was driven out, rather than returning to Mosul, Jijji relocated to Qaraqosh, a largely Christian town on the Nineveh Plains.

“Our family still has a home in Mosul. IS families lived in it, but now it is empty. My father and mother went to see it. The house is still there but our furniture and all our things were stolen,” said Jijji, who manages livelihood projects for the Baghdad Women Association.

But more than her family’s furniture is missing. The trust that once wove different faiths together into one shared neighborhood vanished during the war, when many religious minorities felt betrayed by Muslims they had considered their friends.

“It’s hard to live alongside people and suddenly lose trust in them. All of a sudden you aren’t sure they won’t hurt you,” Jijji said. “I was attending university when IS came, and some of my fellow students started supporting them. They were my friends. How can I go back now to be with people who I thought were my friends but suddenly changed? How can I be sure they won’t change again?”

A pile of rubble

For Iraq’s Yazidis, a minority that suffered genocide under the Islamic State whose women and children were subjected to the worst atrocities, the war is far from over. They continue to wait for the day they can return home, in the Sinjar region. Many are living in cramped settlements with other displaced people.

One such camp is located next to the village of Dawodiya in the Dohuk province of Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Initially a camp intended for Christians, Muslims and Yazidis, after the liberation of Mosul almost all the Christians and Muslims have left, leaving behind some 600 Yazidi families. Although IS was officially defeated in 2017, camp residents say it’s still not safe to return home, nor do they have the resources to rebuild their lives there.

Abbo Bobbi lives in the camp. Because he is a member of the Peshmerga, the Kurdish army, he recently visited Sinjar while on patrol. He pulls out his mobile phone to show a photo of his family’s house there. It’s a pile of rubble.

“It was destroyed by air strikes. The Iraqi government is pushing us to return there but there are no schools, no houses and no money to build anew. And there’s no security. It’s not safe for us to go back,” he said.
The Lutheran World Federation has contributed to building the camp. LWF hired camp residents to run a garbage collection service and maintain a functioning sewage system. LWF also drilled wells to ensure a supply of fresh water.
Through the “women-friendly spaces” run by LWF the Yazidi women are learning skills that will help them earn money. Like many of the programs in the camp, it’s also open to residents of the host village.

“Since we opened the camp in 2015, LWF has always been here, providing essential services and covering the gaps that the government couldn’t cover,” said Clara Gorial, the Dawodiya camp manager.
Bobbi’s mother, Adlane Saido is one of seven people crowded into a modular housing unit with her son’s family.

“I’d prefer to be home,” she said. “But since we can’t go home yet, life in the camp isn’t terrible. There are no jobs, so there’s little money but we are safe.”