Beyond Borders: Innovative European Frameworks for Mitigating Housing Disparities in Post-Conflict Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3166Keywords:
Post-conflict, housing disparity, microfinance, development schemesAbstract
Since the Gulf wars of 1991 and 2003 and the fall of the Ba’ath government, Iraq has been in a state of uneven recovery across all economic sectors. Housing remains a key obstacle to stability, and navigating this housing crisis with a growing population is a daunting challenge. The wars have displaced millions of citizens. The displacement has been a fundamental source of economic and development degradation as the population lacks critical access to healthcare, education, and reliable infrastructure.
This paper analyzes various approaches of post-conflict countries to their housing crises and explores their applicability to Iraq’s post-conflict landscape. Ireland and Armenia offer initiatives that increase housing and regulate demand from investors and developers in the housing market.
Ireland, a post-conflict country with a history of housing scarcity, has implemented development schemes that bypass bureaucratic authority and utilize independent planning authorities to accelerate development. Given the Iraqi government’s delay in employing solutions, the incorporation of independent authorities on a localized basis can significantly aid the construction of housing.
Armenia, a post-conflict country with a 96% homeownership rate, has circumvented a weak banking sector by introducing commercial and non-profit microfinance institutions (MFIs). The integration of both types of microfinance institutions is critical: commercialized MFIs offer funding and efficiency, while non-profit MFIs aid impoverished communities locally. These successful elements from each country’s housing model can help design a more developed housing scheme in Iraq.
The paper undertakes a comparative analysis utilizing statistical and qualitative data regarding the countries’ demographics, cultures, and characteristics to consider the possibility of applying these post-conflict initiatives to Iraq and evaluate their potential for success given Iraq’s unique economic landscape.
Keywords: Post-conflict, housing disparity, microfinance, development schemes
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