ILO, Ministry of Youth and UNICEF train facilitators to support young job seekers in Iraq

ERBIL, Iraq (ILO News)–The ILO this week completed an intensive training in Erbil for facilitators of the National Job Search Clubs (JSC) programme, as part of ongoing efforts to institutionalize this model across Iraq. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Iraq and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the training brought together facilitators from provinces across the country.

Over the week-long course, participants engaged in a comprehensive, hands-on training programme covering behavioural skills development, facilitation techniques, the use of digital tools and global employment platforms, and applications of artificial intelligence in job-search processes. The training also included dedicated sessions on the green economy and green jobs, alongside practical exercises to strengthen CV writing and interview skills.

“Iraqi youth possess tremendous potential, and our role is to provide them with the skills and opportunities needed to enter the labour market with confidence,” Ahmed Saad Aleawi, Director General of the Directorate of Regions and Governorates Affairs at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Iraq. “This programme offers an effective, practical model to support their transition to decent employment.”

The Job Search Clubs initiative is an ILO-developed methodology designed to provide youth with structured activities that support them in finding suitable employment in a short period of time. The initiative marks a significant step toward equipping Iraq’s youth, including internally displaced people and refugees, with the tools and skills needed to navigate the job market effectively.

“We are investing in the capacities of facilitators as the cornerstone of the success of this programme on the long term, towards empowering the young people to access the labour market and improve their employability. And we are looking forward to seeing these clubs within the work plans of the ministry of youth in Iraq,” said Bashar Samarnah, ILO PROSPECTS Iraq Programme Manager.

The workshop ended with a full simulation of establishing and managing a Job Search Club, ensuring facilitators are now equipped to deliver a model that responds to the needs of the Iraqi labour market.

“When young people have the right skills, support, and opportunities, they can drive economic and social transformation in their communities,” said Israa Al-Joburi, Youth Programme Manager at UNICEF. “This initiative provides practical tools that enable them to navigate the labour market and access decent employment that matches their ambitions and capabilities.”

The Job Search Club National Programme is part of the broader PROSPECTS partnership, supported by the Government of the Netherlands. PROSPECTS focuses on skills education, employment, and critical infrastructure in contexts of forced displacement, with the goal of improving the prospects of host communities and displaced populations.