Iraq expands nationwide job search support to address youth unemployment

Baghdad, IRAQ (ILO News)— 10 February 2026

The Ministry of Youth and Sports celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the National Job Search Clubs Programme in Baghdad and Ninewa, in the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ahmed Al-Mubarqa. The event marked an important milestone in the institutionalization of the Job Search Clubs model in Iraq.

The initiative is led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the continued support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the PROSPECTS Partnership and with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The Job Search Clubs are implemented by trained Ministry staff and integrated into youth service delivery systems to ensure continuity, quality and scale.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ahmed Al-Mubarqa emphasized the centrality of national ownership: “The National Job Search Clubs Programme and its integration within the Ministry’s structure reflect our commitment to building sustainable and scalable services that respond to the aspirations of young people and the realities of the labour market. Today’s graduation demonstrates the potential of this model to improve employment opportunities, enhance service quality and establish practical support within our national systems.”

The Job Search Clubs adopt a practical, labour market-oriented methodology that equips young people with self-marketing tools, job search strategies, interview preparation techniques and access to real-time labour market information. Early results indicate promising progress; with several participants securing job offers and others advancing to final recruitment stages.

Under the PROSPECTS framework, support is aligned with national systems to enable sustainability and facilitate further expansion.

Igor Bosc, ILO Country Coordinator in Iraq, noted: “Youth represent 37 per cent of the population and are a cornerstone of the country’s strength. While youth unemployment remains high, the ILO is supporting the Government to expand employment opportunities through the National Employment Policy, the Labour Force Survey, and the institutionalization of Job Search Clubs within the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”

Israa Al-Juboori, Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist at UNICEF, highlighted the importance of supporting the transition from education to work: “Institutionalized youth employment services help ensure that young people successfully bridge the transition from learning to earning. Through PROSPECTS, we are supporting national structures that equip youth with practical, market-relevant skills.”

The graduation highlights the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ commitment to strengthening institutional youth employment services while reinforcing national systems that support young people’s transition from education to decent work across Iraq.

This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Iraq, supporting youth employment, decent work, and inclusive economic growth.

About the PROSPECTS partnership

The Partnership for Improving Prospects for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities (PROSPECTS) is a groundbreaking partnership funded by the Government of the Netherlands. It brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Bank with the collective goal of improving the lives of forcibly displaced persons and their host communities.