Evidence-based Inclusive policy development for improved labour market performance and integration of marginalized groups in Northern Iraq

In this assignment, the project would like to conduct assessments to better understand the policy environment and labour market situation in the Ninawa, Duhok, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah with a focus on youths, women, refugees, IDPs and host communities. ILO will also conduct sectoral assessment to identify sectors with a potential to create decent jobs to young people, including in marginalized situations of refugeehood and internal displacement as well as young women and youth with disabilities.

This Inclusive Employment platform will be responsible to guide all the assessments and policy papers that need to be generated by all actors which are involved to enhance the integration of young refugees/IDPs in the labour market. The IEP is a collaborative initiative whose purpose is to i) present evidence-based research findings and discuss policy options for the labour market inclusion of youths, refugee, IDPs, women and other vulnerable populations; ii) facilitate discussions on labour market and employment policies and iii) offer complementary measures and advocating for employment for everybody in Iraq, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities is led. The policy dialogue platform, the ILO will be actively engaged in presenting findings and recommendations from series of these planned assessments, policies and policy papers with the objective of sensitizing members of state actors and key stakeholders on issues related to inclusion of refugees, IDPs, women, Persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in the labour market. As a result, this will enhance their knowledge base and capacity to develop inclusive policy options and legal frameworks. As an entry point, during the first sessions of the IEP, the ILO being facilitator and supporting agency of the development of “Iraq national strategy to prevent and reduce inequalities in the world of work 2024-2028”, the project will present on the following agenda specific to refugees and IDPs to sensitize members of state actors and policy makers of relevant state structures and key stakeholders. The agenda includes but is not limited to forms of inequalities in the labour market and its consequences in Iraq; the importance of Iraq’s national strategy to prevent and reduce inequalities in the world of work; policy context and key opportunities to address root causes of inequalities in the world of work in Iraq; and Iraq’s national roadmap to prevent and reduce inequalities in the world of work. In subsequent sessions of the policy dialogue platform, the ILO will be actively engaged in presenting findings and recommendations from series of planned assessments and policy paper with the objective of sensitizing members of state actors and key stakeholders on issues related to inclusion of refugees, IDPs, women, Persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in the labour market. As a result, this will enhance their knowledge base and capacity to develop inclusive policy options and legal frameworks. All the assessments and evidence-based policy dialogue will culminate into the development of three distinct policies focusing on inclusion of refugees and IDPs in the labour market, women participation in the labour force, and inclusion of PWDs in the labour market. agenda includes but is not limited to forms of inequalities in the labour market and its consequences in Iraq; the importance of Iraq’s national strategy to prevent and reduce inequalities in the world of work; policy context and key opportunities to address root causes of inequalities in the world of work in Iraq; and Iraq’s national roadmap to prevent and reduce inequalities in the world of work. In subsequent sessions of the policy dialogue platform, the ILO will be actively engaged in presenting findings and recommendations from series of planned assessments and policy paper with the objective of sensitizing members of state actors and key stakeholders on issues related to inclusion of refugees, IDPs, women, Persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in the labour market. As a result, this will enhance their knowledge base and capacity to develop inclusive policy options and legal frameworks. All the assessments and evidence-based policy dialogue will culminate into the development of three distinct policies focusing on inclusion of refugees and IDPs in the labour market, women participation in the labour force, and inclusion of PWDs in the labour market.