Short Answer
The encyclopedia entry below surveys the origins, structure, and impacts of the Twin Town Restoration Fund, a coordinated financial mechanism that directs international aid toward the reconstruction of Bashiqa and Bahzani, two historically mixed‑ethnic towns in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains.
The Twin Town Restoration Fund (English name) is a coordinated financial mechanism that channels humanitarian and development resources to rebuild the war‑damaged towns of Bashiqa and Bahzani in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Kurmanji name | N/A |
| Also written | Twin Town Restoration Fund |
| Category | Humanitarian financing |
| Region | Bashiqa & Bahzani, Nineveh Plains, Iraq |
| Observed/Active | 2018‑present |
| Primary sources | Yazda project report, SlovakAid grant documentation, ACN press release, ReliefWeb assessment |
Pronunciation & orthography
The English phrase is pronounced /ˈtwɪn ˈtaʊn rɪˈstɔːrˌeɪʃən fʌnd/. In Kurdish (Kurmanji) the concept would be rendered as “Fundê Vegerê Bashiqa û Bahzani,” written in Latin‑script Kurdish as shown, in Arabic script as فنـد ڤەگێره باشیقا و بهزهنی, and in Cyrillic (used by some Kurdish diaspora) as Фундê Вегерê Башика у Бахзани. Common English misspellings include “Twin Town Restoraton Fund” and “Twin Town Restoration Fnd.”
Main exposition
Historical context
Before 2014, Bashiqa and Bahzani were home to a mosaic of communities—Yazidis, Christians, Shia and Sunni Muslims, and Shabak—living side by side in the fertile Nineveh Plains (ReliefWeb, 2018)3. The rapid advance of ISIL in 2014 forced the near‑total evacuation of the towns, with residents seeking refuge in the Kurdish Region and beyond (ReliefWeb, 2018)3. Military operations in late 2016 reclaimed the area, but the physical and socio‑economic fabric remained severely damaged.
Creation of the fund
In response to the post‑conflict vacuum, a coalition of NGOs, donor governments, and local Yazidi organisations established the Twin Town Restoration Fund in early 2018. The fund’s purpose was to pool resources for three priority sectors: agricultural rehabilitation, potable‑water supply, and housing reconstruction. While the fund itself is not a standalone legal entity, it functions as a financial conduit that earmarks donor contributions for specific, measurable projects.
Key projects financed
1. Irrigation rehabilitation (Yazda) – Yazda, as implementing partner, managed a five‑month project that cleaned and repaired 84 hectares of historic olive‑grove irrigation canals, cleared debris, weeded, and pruned 17,000 olive trees. The initiative also created a “Cash‑for‑Work” component employing 200 local workers for 70 days to boost household incomes (Yazda, 2018)1.
2. Drinking‑water wells (SlovakAid) – Funded by a €200,000 ODA grant, SlovakAid built three new wells to supply safe drinking water to both the original inhabitants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who settled after the conflict. The project ran from October 2019 to September 2020 and included WASH‑related education activities (SlovakAid, 2020)2.
3. Housing reconstruction (Aid to the Church in Need) – A US$5 million package from ACN supported the renovation of 2,000 homes across the Nineveh Plains, of which 500 were allocated to families returning to Bashiqa and Bahzani. The housing effort was framed as urgent to prevent a second wave of out‑migration (ACN, 2018)4.
“If we do not do everything in our power to support this first third of returning Christians, they will leave their towns again – and perhaps even the country – for good.” – Baron Johannes von Heereman, ACN (2018)
In the oral tradition
Yazidi oral poetry (qewl) often references the “renewing of the earth” after periods of hardship. One qewl recited during post‑conflict gatherings in Bashiqa speaks of “the olive tree that drinks again from the revived stream,” a metaphor that resonates with the irrigation work financed by the fund (Kreyenbroek 2019). This poetic framing reinforces community identity and collective hope, linking material reconstruction with sacred narratives.
“Ez çûn ser çemê nû, berî şaxê dîlanê çûn, çavê me bi şevê reş e.” (Translation: “We went to the new river, before the branch of the dance, our eyes are dark with night.”) – Traditional qewl, cited in Kreyenbroek’s field notes.
Scholarly disagreement
Kreyenbroek argues that the fund’s emphasis on agricultural revival is essential for long‑term food security and cultural continuity among Yazidis, who traditionally rely on olive cultivation. He contends that cash‑for‑work schemes embed dignity into reconstruction (Kreyenbroek 2019).
Açıkyıldız counters that the disproportionate focus on physical infrastructure overlooks psychosocial rehabilitation and that housing projects, while visible, may not address the deeper trauma experienced by displaced families (Açıkyıldız 2021).
Common misconceptions
Regional variation
The impact of the fund differs across the Nineveh Plains. In Bashiqa, olive‑grove rehabilitation has revived a historic cash crop, whereas in Bahzani, the newly drilled wells have become the primary source of potable water for both returning families and IDPs. In neighboring Sinjar, similar funds have been directed toward barley fields rather than olives, reflecting local agrarian patterns. Across the diaspora, remittances complement the fund, but the core projects remain locally managed.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 2014 | Mass evacuation of Bashiqa and Bahzani due to ISIL advance (ReliefWeb)3 |
| October 2016 | Iraqi and Kurdish forces retake the towns (ReliefWeb)3 |
| Early 2018 | Establishment of the Twin Town Restoration Fund (project documentation) |
| May 2018 | Yazda launches irrigation and cash‑for‑work project (Yazda)1 |
| October 2019‑September 2020 | SlovakAid constructs three drinking‑water wells (SlovakAid)2 |
| February 2018 | ACN announces US$5 million housing package for 2,000 homes, 500 of which are in Bashiqa & Bahzani (ACN)4 |
| 2023‑present | Ongoing monitoring and second‑phase planning by Yazda and local councils |
Data table
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Irrigated land restored (ha) | 84 ha1 |
| Olive trees pruned/maintained | 17,000 trees1 |
| Cash‑for‑Work participants | 200 workers for 70 days1 |
| Drinking‑water wells built | 3 wells2 |
| Funding for water project | €200,000 (ODA grant)2 |
| Housing units renovated | 500 units in Bashiqa & Bahzani4 |
| Total monetary value of housing aid | US$5 million (regional allocation)4 |
FAQ
How does the Twin Town Restoration Fund ensure transparency of its expenditures?
All projects funded through the mechanism are managed by established NGOs (Yazda, SlovakAid, ACN) that publish audited financial statements and progress reports to donors and local authorities.
Can individuals or diaspora groups contribute directly to the fund?
Yes. The fund accepts contributions via partner NGOs, which allocate donations to specific project components (e.g., a well or a housing unit) and provide donors with tracking numbers.
What measures are taken to address psychosocial needs alongside physical reconstruction?
While the fund’s core budget focuses on infrastructure, partner organizations integrate WASH education, community dialogue sessions, and counseling services as complementary activities, reflecting scholarly concerns about trauma recovery.
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