United Nations in Iraq

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Iraq:

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Press Release

04 January 2026

The United Nations’ Continued Engagement in Iraq after UNAMI

Following the conclusion of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on 31 December 2025, the United Nations continues its work in Iraq under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, in close partnership with the Government and people of Iraq.This marks a new phase of cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations, reflecting Iraq’s transition toward long-term sustainable development. The United Nations’ engagement is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025–2029), signed with the Government of Iraq on 25 December 2025. The Framework serves as the UN’s strategic roadmap for supporting Iraq’s national priorities and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations Country Team in Iraq, comprising 26 UN agencies, funds and programs, will continue to support Iraq through policy advice, institutional and capacity development, and technical assistance, in line with national plans and priorities and aligned with Iraq’s Vision 2030. Key areas of cooperation include improved access to education, health and social services; economic growth; environmental protection and climate action; and good governance and the rule of law.The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Government and people of Iraq in advancing inclusive and sustainable development, working toward a future of shared prosperity for all Iraqis.

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Press Release

25 December 2025

Government of Iraq and United Nations Sign the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Period 2025–2029

Today, the Government of Iraq and the United Nations in Iraq signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period 2025 to 2029. The Cooperation Framework was signed by H.E. Dr. Muhammad Ali Tamim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning on behalf of the Government of Iraq, and Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Isaczai, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator on behalf of the United Nations. Under this Cooperation Framework, 25 United Nations’ agencies, funds and programmes will provide technical assistance in support of Iraq’s national priorities and plans aligned with Iraq’s vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. It reflects a shared vision to advance progress in key areas such as education, healthcare, job creation, climate action, and good governance. It also emphasizes the importance of ensuring no one is left behind, with a special focus on vulnerable groups.The UNSDCF focuses on four key strategic priorities that align with Iraq’s National Development Plan 2024-2028 and Vision 2030:Better Access to Education, Health, and Social Services: Ensuring all Iraqis, especially women, children, and displaced families, have access to quality services and social protection system.Jobs and Economic Growth: Creating opportunities for employment, empowering youth and women, and supporting sustainable and green economic initiatives.Protecting the Environment and Fighting Climate Change: Helping Iraq manage its natural resources, adapt to climate change, and reduce disaster risks.Good Governance and Rule of Law: Strengthening public institutions, promoting fairness and justice, and advancing peace and social cohesion. Speaking at the event, Dr. Tamim added: “This partnership reflects Iraq’s dedication to building a brighter future for its people. With the support of the United Nations, we can focus on achieving meaningful progress that benefits all Iraqis. The new framework will allow us to combine resources and expertise, and programmes to achieve our goals and deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”“Signing the Framework is a natural and honorable transition of the relationship between the United Nations and the Republic of Iraq. It reflects an orderly and responsible departure from support to political stability to the stage of consolidating sustainable development partnership between Iraq and the organization”, Said Dr. Al-Hassan in his speech.The UNSDCF marks a significant shift in the UN’s engagement in Iraq - from humanitarian response to long-term sustainable development - as the country moves beyond post-conflict recovery and builds on the achievements of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) over two decades of presence.“This agreement marks a new chapter in our partnership with Iraq following the departure of UNAMI and phase out of our humanitarian activities. The new Cooperation Framework will focus on providing integrated and high-quality technical expertise and policy advice to support Iraq’s socio-economic development and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mr. Isaczai said at the event.Under the joint leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Ministry of Planning, this Cooperation Framework was developed through a consultativeprocess involving government entities, donor partners, civil society actors, and representatives from the private sector. Implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the UNSDCF will be guided by a High-Level Joint Steering Committee co-chaired by the Ministry of Planning and the UN Resident Coordinator, bringing together government institutions and UN agencies to review progress annually and ensure the framework remains on track. Implementation will be supported by a dedicated Partnership Fund, alongside a resource mobilization strategy to secure the necessary funding.

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19 August 2026

United Nations in Iraq Commemorates 23rd Anniversary of Canal Hotel Bombing

The United Nations in Iraq today commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, honouring the 22 United Nations colleagues who lost their lives in the attack on 19 August 2003 and paying tribute to the survivors, families and all those affected.The commemoration brought together United Nations personnel and H.E. Ambassador Al-Manhal Hussein Al-Safi, representing the President of the Republic of Iraq. The ceremony included the Iraqi national anthem, a moment of silence, remarks, a staff reflection and the laying of wreaths in remembrance of those who lost their lives.Addressing the commemoration, acting United Nations Resident Coordinator in Iraq, Peter Hawkins, recalled the human toll of the attack and paid tribute to the colleagues whose lives and service continue to inspire the United Nations.Twenty-two UN colleagues were killed in the bombing, while many others were injured. Hawkins also paid particular tribute to the survivors, some of whom attended today’s commemoration, as well as to the families whose lives were forever changed by the attack.“The greatest tribute we can pay to those we lost is to carry forward the values for which they lived and served,” Hawkins said.He stressed that the attack, which sought to spread fear and division, instead strengthened the United Nations’ determination to continue working for peace, humanity and dignity. He also recognized the profound contribution Iraqis have made to the work of the United Nations and their resilience, courage and determination through years of challenge and hardship.Speaking on behalf of the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq, Ambassador Al-Safi reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to its partnership with the United Nations, emphasizing that the attack failed to break the partnership between the Organization and the Government.“The attack did not weaken the relationship between Iraq and the United Nations; rather, it strengthened our determination to continue cooperation and joint work in the service of peace and humanity,” Ambassador Al-Safi said.The ceremony concluded with Ambassador Al-Safi laying a wreath on behalf of the President of the Republic of Iraq, followed by Hawkins laying a wreath on behalf of the United Nations.The bombing of the Canal Hotel remains a defining moment for the United Nations. The anniversary, observed on World Humanitarian Day, is an occasion to remember those who lost their lives, stand in solidarity with survivors and families, and reaffirm the values of peace, dignity and shared humanity for which they served.

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24 September 2026

Building Peace: Stories from Iraq

Peace is often understood as the absence of conflict. Yet for many people in Iraq, peace takes many forms. It is the opportunity to learn, work and provide for a family. It is a safe place to belong. It takes shape when people recover from hardship, reconnect with others and begin to look towards the future with confidence.For Adnan, peace took root in a greenhouse. For Hasna, it meant water reaching her field again. For Rana, it began with a return to the classroom.Across Iraq, people are building peace every day with the support of the United Nations. Pooling together diverse expertise from various agencies, the UN in Iraq is laying the foundation for long-term sustainable development, even as the country grapples with the deep wounds of conflict. Everyday acts of reconstruction and connection may seem small, but they are the bedrock on which lasting peace can grow.Peace Through Education and InclusionEducation can open doors that conflict and displacement have closed. Inclusion helps people walk through those doors and take their place in the communities around them.In Fallujah, Rana is finding her way back to school.After more than two years away from education, Rana returned home carrying memories of displacement, profound loss and the uncertainty of an interrupted childhood. At a Government-run Falluja Community Centre supported by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), she found a safe place to begin again.Through UNICEF-supported interventions, the Centre offers accelerated learning classes, psychosocial support, and legal assistance to help uprooted children obtain civil documentation, along with a space where students like Rana can learn, play, and slowly rebuild their confidence.For Zainab, education became a bridge between communities.A Syrian refugee who grew up in the Domiz 1 camp, Zainab excelled at school but faced the financial barrier of continuing her education. An Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) scholarship from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) enabled her to study political science at the University of Duhok, where she graduated top of her class.She studied alongside Iraqi students. “I never felt different,” she says.Today, Zainab wants to use her education to strengthen connections between refugee and host communities. What began as an opportunity for one student has become a chance to contribute, participate and help bring communities closer together. These stories remind us that education and inclusion are essential to the cycle of peace: schooling and belonging lead to stability, which in turn opens doors to investments in education and social cohesion. Caption: Education can open doors that conflict and displacement have closed. Inclusion helps people walk through those doors and take their place in the communities around them. Photo: © UNICEF/UNI513813/Jalal
Peace Through Entrepreneurship and Decent Work Education can broaden horizons. But people also need opportunities to turn their skills, ideas and hard work into a livelihood. A skill can become an income. An income can become independence. In Nineveh, Yaseen and Taha met during a training course in CCTV installation and maintenance at Mosul Vocational Training Centre. With funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) supports the centre by overseeing training, building workshop spaces and learning infrastructure, contributing to the curricula and connecting participants to employers.Before they had even completed the course, Yaseen and Taha decided to start a business together.They worked alongside an established company, gaining experience while building their own client base. They then promoted their services on social media and gradually earned customers' trust through reliable work, professionalism and competitive prices.Their ambition now goes beyond finding a job. They want to expand their business, open a shop and provide for their families.Caption: Stability is not only about rebuilding infrastructure or restoring services. It is also about transforming lives, strengthening relationships and creating the conditions for communities to move forward. Photo: © UN Iraq
Similarly, in Domiz refugee camp, Adnan Mohammed is also envisioning a new future through his work.A Syrian refugee and farmer, Adnan has built his livelihood by growing vegetables in a greenhouse. As rising fertilizer and agricultural costs made farming harder, he adapted by using locally produced organic fertilizers and traditional pest-control methods.The EU-funded JOBS project, implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), supported his work. Adnan was able to maintain his greenhouse, acquire small machinery and improve his farming practices, helping him meet buyer requirements and increase the value of his produce. The ITC coordinates field-based training, knowledge exchange between farmers and linking them to retail markets and buyers in other governorates. “When farmers come together, everyone brings their own experience. We learn from each other, share what we know and make better decisions.”In Fallujah, Anbar, peace looks like water reaching a farmer’s field again. Displaced by conflict in 2014, Hasna Suhail returned home with nothing and turned to farming to restart her life. Through the World Food Programme (WFP)’s modern irrigation support, she now grows wheat, alfalfa and vegetables, and has launched a fish farm that feeds her family and community. Nearby, Khudair Ali Jurdy restored the orchard he lost to war after canal rehabilitation brought back his irrigation water, and composting training now strengthens his soil and yields.Delivered over three years ago, these interventions continue to sustain thousands of families — proof that investing in peace pays dividends for years to come.Caption: Education can broaden horizons. But people also need opportunities to turn their skills, ideas and hard work into a livelihood. Photo: © UN Iraq
Peace Through Protection and ReconciliationSustaining peace in the long term depends on safety and protection. In Baghdad, a women’s shelter is helping create safe spaces for Iraqi women and girls. With support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the shelter provides safety alongside accelerated learning and skills development in areas such as embroidery, drawing and handicrafts. This not only provides women with a means of income, but also restores hope and a sense of normalcy through art. In addition to protection, avenues for reconciliation also need to be prioritised.During a visit to Al Jad’ah Camp, a community leader from Al Qa’im spoke against the return of families who were previously living under the ISIS occupation. The memories of conflict remained painful for the leader, who suspected those families of participating in the crimes committed during the conflict. Then his sister was called into the room. They had been separated for seven years during the conflict. When they saw each other, they embraced.The leader started recognising that some of the women and children in the camp had endured loss and displacement. After returning to his village, he encouraged tribal and community leaders to consider the return of women and children who were not responsible for crimes.One encounter did not erase years of pain. But it changed the way one person saw another, fostering reconciliation.Building Peace TogetherThese stories share a common foundation. Stability is not only about rebuilding infrastructure or restoring services. It is also about transforming lives, strengthening relationships and creating the conditions for communities to move forward. Building peace starts with people. And every day, across Iraq, it can be seen in a livelihood taking root, a child returning to school or water flowing back to a field.

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25 May 2026

Iraqi farm profits jump 48% with direct supermarket sales

When a consignment of 1.5 tonnes of potatoes arrived at Carrefour's store in Dohuk, they sold out within 24 hours. Customers came back asking for more. Three additional tonnes were ordered and delivered. They sold out just as fast. The sale was the first commercial transaction through the Faida Aggregation Hub, a facility where refugee, displaced and host community farmers pool their produce to reach buyers they could not access alone. More than a standalone facility, the hub is part of a systemic market-linkages approach that connects smallholders to formal retail value chains, strengthens quality standards, and builds lasting buyer–supplier relationships. Dohuk, in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, has hosted hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people who fled violence elsewhere in the country and refugees from neighbouring Syria, many for over a decade. Finding steady work and income is among their biggest challenges. For these farmers, the hub is a financial boon: compared with selling through traditional wholesale channels, farmers are earning up to 48% more per kilogram. Washed, graded and ready for retail The difference starts before produce leaves the farm. At the hub, potatoes are sorted, graded, washed, professionally packaged and held in short-term cold storage – all to standards agreed with buyers in advance. Post-harvest losses have fallen, and the consistency retailers demand is now something these farmers can deliver. ‘This level of potato quality is rarely found in the market, washed and professionally packed. The three tonnes delivered last week sold out within 24 hours, and customers are already requesting the same product with the same quality standards,’ said the Carrefour Dohuk team (Can we name the speaker?). Farmers also receive training in post-harvest handling and basic business skills, and get access to real-time market pricing. Such information was previously out of reach for many smallholders. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) built the hub in 2025 with support from the United States of America. It opened in 7 October 2025 to bring together refugee, displaced and host community farmers. The initiative reflects the International Trade Centre’s inclusive trade model, which combines infrastructure, capacity-building and private-sector partnerships to integrate vulnerable producers into sustainable, higher-value markets. This work forms part of the JOBS project (Jobs and Entrepreneurship Opportunities to Build Sustainable Inclusive Development) implemented by the International Trade Centre with the financial support of the European Union, in collaboration with the Dohuk Directorate of Agriculture and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

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15 January 2026

The Mesopotamian Marshes: A World Heritage on the Brink

THE MESOPOTOMIAN MARSHES: A WORLD HERITAGE ON THE BRINKIn the heart of southern Iraq lies a landscape long described as the “Garden of Eden.” The Mesopotamian Marshlands - the Ahwar - are one of the world’s largest inland delta systems, an ecological miracle in an otherwise arid region. They shelter endangered species, sustain migratory birds, and carry the living heritage of the Marsh Arabs, whose culture stretches back to the Sumerians. In 2016, UNESCO recognized this extraordinary blend of biodiversity and human civilization by naming the Ahwar as a World Heritage Site.Today, this heritage is vanishing. Despite international recognition and national commitments, the marshes continue to shrink. Buffalo herders – once the backbone of the marsh economy - are selling their livestock or shifting to cattle that need less water. This is not only environmental degradation; it is cultural erasure. Families who rebuilt their lives after decades of conflict are being displaced again. Fishermen abandon their boats. Women artisans lose the reeds and papyrus that sustained their craft. The soul of Mesopotamia is slipping away. A COLLAPSE MEASURED IN LIVELIHOODS, CULTURE, AND LOSSThe 2023 UNDP-led Participatory Ecosystem Assessment puts hard numbers to a painful reality: Buffalo herds have fallen by more than 76%, with milk production collapsing and prices pushing livestock out of reach for most families. Fishing, the primary livelihood for over 40% of marsh residents, has crashed from 80 tons a day to nearly zero due to water scarcity, illegal fishing, and invasive species.Water systems are failing, with over 86% of desalination plants insufficient and nearly 40% non-operational, forcing families to buy costly tanker water. Migration is accelerating. Since 2018, more than 170,000 people have been displaced; nearly half the marsh population has left their homes, and 7.5% have left Iraq entirely.Women lose economic roles, undermining household resilience and widening gender inequality.These losses ripple far beyond the wetland boundaries. They erode food security, destabilize communities, drain local economies, and weaken progress toward nation development goals. The marshes are not a side issue – they are a pillar of Iraq’s ecological, cultural, and economic identity. EFFORTS UNDERWAY – BUT NOT AT THE SCALE REQUIREDIraq and its partners are working to reverse the decline. UNDP is advancing Iraq’s Climate Investment Plan through marshland restoration and community-led adaptation in six governorates, including Al-Chibayish. IOM continues to document climate displacement and support resilience efforts such as wetland construction. FAO and the Green Climate Fund are investing $39 million in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, while WFP promotes high-impact nature-based solutions sch as mangrove restoration in Basra with vast carbon sequestration potential. UNESCO supports transboundary water cooperation, legal reform, and environmental protections that have already halted oil exploration in parts of the marshes. National authorities, such as the Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, are updating Iraq’s Strategic Study of Water and Land Resources to strengthen water allocation, monitoring, and environmental safeguards. These initiatives deserve recognition. But they are not enough. The UNESCO inscription was never a trophy - it was a responsibility. A promise. A global acknowledgment that this landscape is irreplaceable. Recognition without restoration will remain hollow. THE WAY FORWARD: FROM RECOGNITION TO RESTORATION1. Secure and sustainably manage water for the MarshesStrengthen basin-wide water governance - reduce losses across all sectors, regulate pollution, and expand wastewater treatment. Without reliable, clean water flow, restoration is impossible.2. Build climate-resilient, diversified livelihoods for marshland communities.Support buffalo herders with sustainable feed systems; expand fish farming, reed harvesting, handicrafts, and eco-tourism. Reviving the marshes means reviving the people who sustain them. 3. Empower communities through data, participation, and climate-smart infrastructure.Develop robust monitoring systems, strengthen early warning systems; and ensure inclusive decision-making - especially for women and youth. Restoration succeeds only when communities lead it. THE MOMENT FOR ACTION IS NOW These ideas are not new. They have been studied, debated, and documented for years. What has been missing is scale, urgency, and political will. Iraq has taken meaningful steps, from joining the UN Water Convention to advancing major climate and development partnerships and plans. But the marshes cannot survive on plans alone. They need investment, protection, and bold decisions. They need leadership that matches their historical and ecological importance. They need a national commitment that makes restoration a legacy for future generations, not a footnote in history. The Mesopotamian Marshlands cannot wait. If we fail to act, we will lose not just a landscape – but a living civilization, a cultural heritage, and a vital ecological system that once breathed life into the cradle of humanity. This is the time to choose between restoration and regret.

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09 January 2026

From Stability to Sustainability: The UN’s Transition in Iraq

This blog was authored by Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq Mr. Ghulam Isaczai. I am serving in Iraq at a moment of real transition - for the country and for the United Nations. As Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, I have seen firsthand how changes on the ground are reshaping Iraq’s priorities - and how the UN must adapt to remain relevant and effective.After decades of conflict, Iraq is seeing tangible progress. Improved security has enabled nearly five million internally displaced people to return home. Economic activity is recovering. State institutions are rebuilding confidence. Regionally, Iraq is re-engaging with its neighbours. These gains remain fragile, but they are real - and they demand a different kind of international partnership.Moving Towards Sustainable Development in Iraq This progress is also changing the UN’s role. As humanitarian needs decline and the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) concluded in 2025, the UN is shifting from a mission-led presence to a development-focused partnership aligned with national priorities. This transition has required careful sequencing, trust and close coordination with the Government of Iraq and across the UN system - to responsibly scale down humanitarian assistance while safeguarding continuity where setbacks would carry real human cost.The result is a UN Country Team working increasingly as one. Humanitarian action, development cooperation and peacebuilding are now aligned under a shared direction, anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The Cooperation Framework, signed recently, sets clear priorities on economic diversification, social protection, climate and water resilience, governance, human rights and the rule of law.Central to this transformation is the Resident Coordinator’s leadership, which bridges the humanitarian, development and peace pillars. This approach ensures seamless coordination and continuity across all these tracks, promoting national ownership and preventing fragmentation during sensitive periods. United for ImpactFinancing is central to this transformation. As Iraq moves beyond traditional aid, the focus is on unlocking more predictable and sustainable financing - through closer engagement with international financial institutions, development banks and the private sector. The Government’s openness to pooled funding under the Cooperation Framework reflects growing confidence in a more coordinated and accountable UN Country Team.This coherence is already delivering results. In social protection, agencies are aligned behind a single, nationally led strategy. In climate action, a joint advisory platform brings Government, the UN and donors together to support Iraq’s climate commitments. In sensitive areas such as durable solutions for displacement and returns from Al-Hol camp, fragmented efforts have given way to a nationally led, One UN approach.The UN’s role is evolving into high quality policy advice and technical assistance replacing two decades of service delivery model to sustain gains built over years. At the same time, closer integration across the UN has generated around $10 million in savings in operational costs over the past few years - resources that matter in a constrained global environment and can be reinvested for development purposes.The challenges ahead are real. Financing remains uncertain. Capacities vary. Risks of backsliding persist. But this transition shows what is possible when reform is driven by leadership, trust and purpose. At a pivotal moment for Iraq, the UN is not holding on to old models - it is adapting, and moving decisively from stability to sustainability.Caption: Improved coherence amongst the UN, Government and partners is already delivering results in social protection, climate action and security challenges.Photo: © UN Iraq

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18 December 2025

Community driven recovery to support sustainable return in Mosul, Iraq

Mosul, Iraq- December 2025 - For many in Iraq, access to decent work remains a challenge. At 40 years old, Yousif Ayed Saleh faced this reality first-hand. Living in Hay Al-Tanak, Mosul, with his parents, wife, six children, and two brothers-in-law with disabilities, and carrying the responsibility of providing for a family of ten, he relied on daily-wage jobs—often physically demanding and unstable—to support his household. Over time, these strenuous tasks led to a severe back injury, forcing him to stop working and putting his family’s well-being at risk. “I was unemployed and worried about how to meet my family’s essential needs,” Yousif recalls. “It was a very stressful time.” His story reflects a broader challenge in Iraq, where unemployment affects 14% of the working-age population and reaches 32% among youth, according to the 2024 national census. This is one of the reasons why UN-Habitat integrates livelihood opportunities into its housing initiatives, ensuring solutions are sustainable and human-centred. Through the Japan Village project in Mosul—funded by the Government of Japan and Japanese private entities, and implemented in partnership with Peace Winds Japan—UN-Habitat integrates housing solutions with skills development. The initiative trains local residents in construction-related trades, enabling them to help rebuild their communities while securing sustainable employment. In 2025 alone, 100 young men and women completed training in these trades, gaining valuable skills and jobs while contributing to the recovery of the Rajm Hadeed neighbourhood, which is planned as a residential area for returnees under Mosul’s City Master Plan. Yousif joined the programme’s electrical workshop, where he learnt the foundations of electrical installation and maintenance—skills he had never had the chance to study before—and is now applying his new skills on-site: “I feel proud to finally have a profession in electrical work,” Yousif shared. “This job helps me support my family and gives me the chance to serve my community by helping build safe housing for returnees.” Beyond technical training, the programme was also a source of confidence and stability. Yousif notes that the opportunity has improved his financial security and overall well-being, motivating him to continue learning and growing in the field. “To consider myself both financially and emotionally stable brings me happiness and relief. This opportunity gave me hope and motivation to keep improving my skills.” Hay Al-Tanak, Yousif’s neighbourhood, was heavily affected by conflict with ISIL. Even after ten years of liberation, recovery efforts remain pressing, requiring both investment and skilled labour. Today, projects like Japan Village are helping communities recover by combining housing solutions with capacity building—contributing to development for a better and more sustainable urban future. Yousif’s message to others is clear: “Take any opportunity to learn and work, even if it’s a skill you can practise from home. It can change your life.” He extends his gratitude to UN-Habitat, the Government of Japan, and Peace Winds Japan for providing an opportunity that improved his family’s standard of living and restored his sense of purpose and hope in the future.

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Press Release

25 September 2026

GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ AND UN PARTNERS REVIEW PEACEBUILDING PROGRESS IN SINJAR

The Government of Iraq and the United Nations convened the second Steering Committee meeting of the UN Peacebuilding Fund project “Advancing Peace and Stability in Sinjar”. Participants reviewed progress, discussed the workplan, completion timeline and ways to sustain the project’s results.Representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister's Advisor on Human Rights, the Ministry of Planning, Ninewa Governorate, the Sinjar and Ninewa Plains Reconstruction Fund, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women took part. "Advancing stability in Sinjar requires national and international efforts to come together, and human rights and citizens' needs to be placed at the forefront of priorities, with a focus on social cohesion, the rule of law, reconciliation, and conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified return,” said the Representative of the Office of the Prime Minister's Advisor on Human Rights.Funded through the Peacebuilding Fund’s Immediate Response Facility, the project is implemented by IOM, as convening agency, in partnership with UNDP and UN Women, and works to strengthen community participation and cooperation between communities and government institutions in Sinjar.“Peace in Sinjar will be built by its communities, working with the government of Iraq. This project is giving women and young people a stronger voice in local decisions and helping link peacebuilding to livelihoods. Our task now is to carry those gains beyond the project and into the wider plans for Sinjar’s recovery,” said Peter Hawkins, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim in Iraq.Through the Sinjar Open Space network, 125 people, many of them young women, were trained in advocacy, peacebuilding, negotiation and policy development. Five local peace structures bring 50 women across Sinjar together to identify community priorities, while communities are leading three memorial initiatives in Hardan, Khanasor and Dae Peri. A further 55 community peace actors were trained and supported to implement 11 community-led initiatives for peace, 110 people received livelihoods support through vocational training and enterprise activities, and 411 returnees were reached through psychosocial support services. “Our collective success will be measured when a family in Sinjar chooses not only to return, but to remain, confident that they can build a safe, dignified, and prosperous future in the place they call home,” said Pascal Reyntjens, IOM Iraq Chief of Mission.“For families who have experienced conflict, displacement and loss, recovery is not only about rebuilding infrastructure. It is also about being able to rebuild livelihoods, regain a sense of security and dignity, access the support needed to recover from trauma, and have confidence that their concerns are heard and reflected in decisions that affect their communities”, said Mahab Madani, UNDP Head of Governance and Economic Diversification Pillar.“Sinjar’s recovery will be sustainable only when women are recognized not merely as beneficiaries, but as leaders and decision-makers. By connecting women-led Local Peace Structures with public institutions and recovery mechanisms, we can ensure that community priorities translate into practical action, greater trust and lasting peace,” said Amy Nishtha Satyam, UN Women Representative in Iraq.Ninewa Governorate now includes a Sinjar Open Space representative in its Area-Based Coordination meetings.“What has changed in Sinjar is that the rate of return is better and there is greater stability, particularly on security, and the work of organizations has become smoother. I believe the current situation greatly helps the return of the displaced and the closing of this humanitarian file,” said Ali Omer Gabu, Assistant Governor of Ninewa for Displaced People and NGO Affairs.Partners agreed to closely follow up on the implementation of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) project and its achievements, ensuring that interventions remain responsive to community needs, peacebuilding efforts, and transitional justice priorities in Sinjar. They also discussed the final external evaluation, alignment with the Sinjar Investment and Development Platform and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2025–2029, and steps to sustain results after the project ends. Note to editorsUNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.IOM is the leading United Nations organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. UN Women is the United Nations organization dedicated to advancing the rights, safety and opportunities of women and girls worldwide. It works with governments, civil society and other partners to develop laws, policies, programmes and services that respond to the needs of women and girls and support their full and equal participation in all aspects of life. For media inquiries: Zainab Salih, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office – zainab.salih@un.org

IOM Iraq Media and Communications Unit – iraqmcu@iom.int Mohammed Al-Bahbahanee, Communications Analyst, UNDP Iraq – mohammed.al-bahbahanee@undp.orgDoaa Farooq. Communication and Partnership Assistant, UN Women Iraq - doaa.farooq@unwomen.org

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Press Release

22 September 2026

PRESS RELEASE: IRAQ, IOM CHART PATH TO RECOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, AND SAFE MIGRATION

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq, in cooperation with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, launched its Iraq Country Strategy 2025-2029 this week in Baghdad and Erbil, setting out how the Organization will support national efforts to strengthen migration governance, advance durable solutions to displacement, and expand safe and regular migration pathways. The launch events brought together representatives of the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the international community, United Nations agencies, partners, media and academia. "As we move from humanitarian response to development and durable solutions to displacement," said IOM Iraq's Chief of Mission Pascal Reyntjens, "the operationalization of the strategy will build on past successes, adapt to present day realities and leverage the future aspirations of the people of Iraq." Iraq has made significant progress in recovery and stabilization, with more than 4.9 million people returning or relocating since the end of the conflict with Da'esh. Yet more than one million people remain internally displaced; and housing, infrastructure, access to services and gainful employment remain barriers to sustainable return. More than 30,000 families have been displaced by climatic factors in central and southern Iraq, adding a new dimension to internal displacement. The strategy reflects IOM's continued support to the country and the people of Iraq, even as national institutions take on greater ownership in managing displacement and migration. “IOM’s nationwide operational presence, technical expertise, migration and displacement data, and longstanding relationships with national and local institutions enable IOM to connect policy with practical delivery,” said United Nations Resident Coordinator for Iraq Peter Hawkins. Anchored in IOM's Global Strategic Plan 2024-2028, the Strategy applies three objectives in the Iraqi context: saving lives and protecting people on the move, driving solutions to displacement, and facilitating pathways for regular migration. IOM is a key partner in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2025-2029, which is aligned with Iraq's National Development Plan 2024-2028, Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact for Migration. In Baghdad, the launch event was attended by Dr. Kareem Al-Noori, Deputy Minister of Migration and Displaced, and Dr. Khaled Al-Saegh, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; and in Erbil the event was attended by Rebar Ahmed, Minister of Interior (KRI) and Minister Safeen Dizayee, Head of Dept of Foreign Relations (KRI), alongside various esteemed government officials, members of the international community, media and academia. Operationalizing the vision of the strategy, IOM will continue providing shelter and protection where humanitarian needs persist; supporting returnees to access basic services and reintegrate; expanding livelihoods and enterprise development; strengthening climate adaptation and water management; and supporting national authorities in expanding regular migration pathways and modernizing border management. Underpinning this work is IOM's nationwide operational presence, technical expertise, data and convening role, delivered through the support of national partners and the international community. Photos: Download here Read more: IOM Strategy for IRAQ 2025 – 2029 in English, Arabic and Kurdish Note to editorsThe International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. Since 2008, IOM has implemented projects and programmes in Iraq worth US$ 1.7B, supporting nearly 5 million people in all governorates. For more information, please contact: iraqmcu@iom.int

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Press Release

22 September 2026

Iraq advances dialogue on labour legislation through engagement between Parliament and social partners

BAGHDAD, Iraq (ILO News) – Representatives of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, government, workers’ and employers’ organizations have agreed to strengthen consultations on labour legislation, following a high-level dialogue held in Baghdad on 3 September 2026 with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The session, “Social Dialogue for Advancing Labour Legislation in Iraq: Towards a Modern Legislative Framework that Promotes Decent Work and Rights at Work,” brought together the Council of Representatives and the Social Dialogue Forum in Iraq to discuss the development of Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 and priorities for further tripartite consultation. More than a decade after the adoption of the Labour Law, the discussions provided an opportunity to reflect on experience gained through its implementation, changes in the labour market and emerging forms of work, as well as relevant international labour standards and developments in Iraq’s labour and social protection framework. Opening the dialogue, Nahla Al-Fahdawi, Senior Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Civil Society Institutions, Federal Public Service, Youth and Sports, Culture and Tourism, highlighted the importance of updating labour legislation in response to the rapid transformations taking place in the world of work, particularly the expanding use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. Khalid Amjad Al-Saegh, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and Deputy Chair of the Social Dialogue Forum, stressed the importance of consultation between the Council of Representatives and the Social Dialogue Forum on labour legislation. He noted that the Forum brings together the principal actors concerned with labour legislation – the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, workers’ organizations and employers’ organizations – providing an institutional platform through which their perspectives can be discussed. The Social Dialogue Forum provides an institutional framework for dialogue and consultation among these three constituents and a platform for discussing policies, legislation and other issues related to the world of work. Claire Courteille-Mulder, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Arab States, reaffirmed the ILO’s readiness to provide technical support to Iraq in its efforts to update labour legislation and highlighted the importance of social dialogue in ensuring that the perspectives of government, workers and employers are considered throughout this process. Participants discussed issues requiring further technical examination and tripartite consultation, as well as mechanisms for strengthening communication and information exchange between the Council of Representatives and the Social Dialogue Forum as the legislative discussions progress. The dialogue was designed to identify priorities and establish a structured consultation process rather than negotiate specific legal provisions or reach agreement on individual amendments. Next steps in the consultation process At the conclusion of the session, participants agreed to continue consultations between the Social Dialogue Forum and the Council of Representatives, with the Forum providing its observations and proposals to the relevant parliamentary Labour Committee. They also agreed to convene a series of workshops to examine the observations and proposals submitted to the Committee, allowing the issues to be discussed in greater technical detail and providing space for continued engagement with the tripartite constituents. The participants further agreed to coordinate with the ILO on the provision of technical support for this process. These next steps are intended to establish a more structured channel for continued engagement between the legislative process and Iraq’s tripartite social dialogue mechanism, while enabling the parties to draw on relevant international labour standards and technical expertise. This reflects the broader objective of establishing sustained cooperation between the Council of Representatives and the Social Dialogue Forum on labour legislation. The high-level dialogue was supported by the ILO through the Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) project, funded by the European Union, as part of efforts to strengthen social dialogue and advance labour legislation in line with international labour standards and Iraq’s national context. At the request of its national constituents, the ILO provides technical expertise on international labour standards and comparative practices, supports tripartite consultations and strengthens the capacities of constituents to contribute to labour law and policy processes. Through this initiative, the ILO contributes to Iraq’s efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, by strengthening social dialogue, inclusive policymaking and effective labour governance. The initiative also contributes to the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Iraq. To contact ILO Iraq Communication - Raghda Muhi +964 790 194 6269 - muhi@ilo.org

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Press Release

21 September 2026

Iraq Marks Foundation Stone Ceremony for 100 Affordable Housing Units and Green Building Technology Centre in Mosul

The Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) Project, funded by the European Union, today marked an important milestone with the foundation stone ceremony for the construction of 100 affordable housing units and a Centre for Green Building Technology in Mosul, Ninewa Governorate. The ceremony brought together representatives of the Government of Iraq, Ninewa Governorate, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, and Ministry of Migration and Displacement, Mosul Municipality, the United Nations and other stakeholders supporting the implementation of the BEIT Project. The BEIT Project aims to support equitable and inclusive transformation through practical housing solutions that contribute to improved living conditions and more sustainable development. The Mosul housing development has been designed as a practical and replicable model for affordable housing delivery. It incorporates climate-responsive design, thermally efficient construction materials, improved insulation and rooftop solar energy systems. These measures aim to improve household comfort while reducing long-term energy consumption and operating costs. The Centre for Green Building Technology will complement the housing development by supporting the demonstration of environmentally responsible construction methods and strengthening the knowledge and capacity of government institutions, construction workers and local businesses. The foundation stone ceremony represents an important step in translating these objectives into a tangible housing development in Mosul and strengthening cooperation among national and local authorities, the United Nations and other stakeholders. The ceremony also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of continued coordination and partnership in expanding access to affordable housing and promoting the wider application of green building technologies in Iraq. The Governor of Ninewa, Mr. Abdul Qader Al-Dakhil, welcomed the beginning of construction, stating: “This project represents an important investment in the future of Mosul and in the wellbeing of families who need access to adequate and affordable housing. The development also supports the continued recovery and renewal of the city by introducing more sustainable approaches to construction. We appreciate the efforts of all institutions and partners that have contributed to reaching this milestone and look forward to maintaining close coordination throughout implementation.” Mr. Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Iraq highlighted the project’s contribution to sustainable recovery and improved living conditions, stating: “Safe, affordable housing is vital to families’ wellbeing and to Mosul’s continued recovery. Through the BEIT Project, the European Union is supporting Iraq to demonstrate how well-designed, energy-efficient homes can improve living conditions, lower household energy costs and reduce environmental impact. We hope the approaches demonstrated through this development can inform future housing delivery and contribute to more sustainable and inclusive urban development across Iraq.”The United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim in Iraq, Mr. Peter Hawkins, highlighted the wider development significance of the project, stating: “The laying of this foundation stone is a tangible step in Mosul’s continued recovery and long-term development. It reflects the Government of Iraq’s leadership and commitment to expanding access to safe and affordable housing. These 100 homes will provide families with greater stability and opportunity, while the Centre for Green Building Technology will promote sustainable and energy-efficient building methods. The United Nations is proud to work alongside national institutions, Ninewa Governorate and local authorities to improve people’s lives and build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.”The Head of UN-Habitat in Iraq, Mr. Muslim Qazimi, emphasized the potential for the development to inform future housing delivery, stating: “This development is the result of a careful process to produce homes that are affordable to construct, appropriate for Iraq’s climate and capable of being replicated elsewhere. The designs use passive solar principles, improved insulation, thermally efficient materials and rooftop solar systems. The Centre for Green Building Technology will help turn the experience gained here into practical knowledge for Iraq’s wider housing and construction sector.” For additional information, please contact: Marcus Tudehope Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Iraq marcus.tudehope@un.org Communication team:Saad Mahdi
Data Management Associate, UN-Habitat Iraq
saad.mahdi@un.org Bozhan HawizyProgramme Officer bozhan.hawizy@un.org

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Press Release

09 September 2026

Five years of partnership on social security in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

ERBIL (ILO News) – Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, the International Labour Organization and the European Union marked five years of partnership on social security at an event in Erbil. Over the course of this partnership, the share of workers registered under the Region’s social security law more than doubled.The event was co-hosted by the ILO and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), under the EU-UN Joint Programme on Social Protection in Iraq, funded by the European Union and delivered by the ILO, UNICEF and the World Food Programme.During the event, KRI Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Kwestan Mohamad thanked the EU, the ILO and their partners, for their continued cooperation in supporting social security in the region, pointing to progress in social security, digital services, private-sector pensions and working conditions, as well as the rise in the Region’s minimum wage from 275,000 to 450,000 Iraqi dinars.In her opening remarks, she said: “The support of these five years has moved social security and services for workers forward. I thank the ILO and the partners supporting the Kurdistan Region. I hope now to see the digitalization of services for private-sector workers implemented, so that workers receive better quality of service.”KRI law covers more than 434,000 private-sector wage employees, as measured for the first time by the Iraq Labour Force Survey 2021. The share registered rose from 20 percent in 2021 to above 40 percent in 2025. Coverage for women nearly doubled, from about 13 to nearly 23 percent of new registrations.Nineteen administrative processes at the Erbil directorate have been redesigned to cut the compliance burden and cost for employers: a document that once took up to a month now clears in about two hours. The Ministry also presented its online social security services, job matching platform and grievance handling portal, all running as pilots. Improving the service workers receive is the next step.Since 2024, a tripartite technical working group convened by the Ministry has set the reform agenda, meeting six times with the Kurdistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KFCCI) and the Kurdistan United Workers Union, and produced the Region’s extension and formalization strategy.Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Iraq Wim Riepma said the European Union had invested in institutions rather than one-off support, so that what has been built remains a public service of the Region. He concluded by stressing the need to strengthen the system’s financial and administrative sustainability, and to deliver more short-term protection to workers against employment injury, sickness and maternity.ILO Deputy Regional Director for Arab States Claire Courteille-Mulder praised KRI’s sustained commitment, visible in rising coverage, and thanked the European Union for its sustained support, as the Region prepares a new law to align with ILO Convention No. 102 and reach parity with federal Law No. 18 of 2023. Iraq ratified the Convention in March 2023, accepting all nine branches, which few ratifying States do.Every registered worker represents a long-term commitment for KRI, lasting 20 to 50 years and often longer. Three next steps were named: the first actuarial valuation in the scheme’s history, the sickness and maternity branch brought into service, and stronger capacity among the tripartite partners.This partnership contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Iraq 2025–2029, particularly by supporting inclusive and sustainable economic development, strengthening social protection systems and advancing decent work and social security for workers. To contactILO Iraq Communication - Raghda Muhi+964 790 194 6269 - muhi@ilo.org

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