The Issue
In Semel District, Dohuk Governorate, thousands of conflict-affected and displaced families continue to struggle with food insecurity. Years of economic turmoil, restricted access to agricultural land, and reduced household incomes have left many families unable to meet their basic nutritional needs.
Internally displaced persons, returnees, and other vulnerable groups are among the worst affected, with limited capacity to purchase food or engage in productive agricultural activity.
Without sustainable solutions, families remain dependent on food aid, which does not address the underlying causes of food insecurity and is increasingly difficult to sustain as humanitarian funding shrinks, and regional instability continues. For this reason, there is an urgent need for practical, community-based interventions that empower families to produce their own food, improve their diets, and build greater resilience over time.
The Project
This project provides 125 conflict-affected families in Semel District with everything they need to start growing their own food at home. Each household receives a package of hand tools – hoes, spades, and watering cans – along with vegetable seeds for two planting seasons and organic fertilisers to support healthy soil.
Families also take part in two-day training sessions on agro-ecology techniques, improved farming practices, and nutrition awareness, supported by two full-time agricultural technicians who provide ongoing mentoring throughout the six-month project.
To extend impact to the wider community, the project installs three medium-sized greenhouses, with solar-powered drip irrigation for community groups in the area. Greenhouses, fully equipped with tools, seeds, and fertilisers, enable year-round vegetable production even in challenging climate conditions. A community centre provides a space for training, meetings, and engagement throughout the project period.
The Change
By equipping families with tools, seeds, fertilisers, and the knowledge to use them effectively, this project gives households the means to produce nutritious food sustainably, reducing dependence on food aid and lowering household food expenditure. Households that previously relied on assistance will be able to put food on the table month after month, from their own gardens.
The three community greenhouses will extend food production throughout the year, benefiting the broader community through increased food availability. Agricultural training builds lasting skills that families can apply beyond the project period and pass on to their neighbours. Together, these changes contribute to greater food security, and improved nutrition.
About the Project
Title: Food Security and Livelihoods Support for Vulnerable Families in Semel District, Dohuk Governorate, Iraq
Timeline: 1 April 2026 – 31 October 2026
Amount: 68,844.00 USD
DCA Theme: Build
Estimated number of beneficiaries: 640
Donor: Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ
