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Home Pathways to Jobs in Iraq

Pathways to Jobs in Iraq
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Video Pathways to Jobs in Iraq

Pathways to Jobs in Iraq

Promoting Employment Opportunities and Fostering Entrepreneurship Across Iraq

The upcoming conference will bring together influential leaders from the public, private, and non-governmental sectors to address the pressing challenges and opportunities related to labour demand, economic transformation, entrepreneurship, and SME growth in Iraq. We will explore innovative solutions and policies that will foster a sustainable economic ecosystem, paving the way for robust job creation across the country. The conference will underscore the crucial role of the private sector in Iraq, showcasing its potential to foster economic diversification and create employment opportunities. Co-funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union through the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, the ‘MADAD’ fund, the conference stands as a testament to the commitment of international partners to support Iraq’s journey towards a prosperous and inclusive economy.

For more information
Thursday, 22 June, 2023
Join us online!
Tickets for Pathways to Jobs in Iraq are now available Get your tickets here
Event details Thursday, 22 June, 2023 09:00 - 17:00 Join us online!
Partners

Schedule

09:00-10:15
Registration and Networking
10:15-10:25
Welcoming
10:25-11:15
Keynote Speakers
11:15-12:30
Panel Discussion: Entrepreneurship and private sector development: an overview of challenges, best practices and suggestions
12:30-14:00
Break
14:00-15:30
Workshop 1: Closing Gap between Higher Education and the Labour Market: Enhancing Skills and Abilities of Youth
14:00-15:30
Workshop 2: Creating a Progressive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
14:00-15:30
Workshop 3: SME Growth & Access to Finance for SMEs
14:00-15:30
Workshop 4: Strengthening Youth Leadership in Iraq
15:30 - 15:45
Break
15:45 – 17:00
Presentations of the Groups - Open Discussion

Speakers and Panellists

Michel Richter

Director of Programmes at SPARK
Speaker Michel Richter

Director of Programmes at SPARK

Prof. Dr. Haidar Abd Dahid

Deputy of Minister of Higher Education, Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Speaker Prof. Dr. Haidar Abd Dahid

Deputy of Minister of Higher Education, Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Hans Sandee

Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq
Speaker Hans Sandee

Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq

Prof. Dr. Salah Fatlawi

Head of Supervisory Authority, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Speaker Prof. Dr. Salah Fatlawi

Head of Supervisory Authority, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

View all speakers

Workshops

  • Workshop

    Closing Gap between Higher Education and the Labour Market: Enhancing Skills and Abilities of Youth

    Workshop Closing Gap between Higher Education and the Labour Market: Enhancing Skills and Abilities of Youth

    Globally, there is often a skills mismatch between the skills acquired by students at higher education institutions (HEIs) and the skills needed for the labour market, which leads to youth unemployment or underemployment. The process of international standardisation and recognition of courses and degrees through the Bologna process in Iraq will ensure that new graduates are more competitive in the national and international job market. However, the private sector needs to intervene and deliver skills/tools/solutions to close the skills gap as well. 

    According to SPARK’s labour assessments, the Iraqi private sector does not have enough qualified individuals applying for posts, resulting in an unmet demand in the private job market, including in the highest-earning occupational sectors across the country. Furthermore, the emerging digital economic ecosystem and Industry 4.0 with its all aspects have been channing our understanding of (higher) education and the roles attributed to it during the last century. This shift towards virtual and remote interactions through digital tools can provide more rooms for youth to be part of the labour market either as entrepreneurs or employees. For this reason, skills related to the future jobs, such as green and digital jobs, are indispensable for Iraqi youth.

    Key questions that the workshop will answer:

    1. What are the current skills gaps between higher education graduates and the labour market needs? What are the dynamics and features of skills mismatch in Iraq?  

    2. What are the ‘21st Century Transversal Skills’ and how can we provide them to the students? How can we prepare the students for the job market in terms of acquiring these skills?  What changes can we make in Iraqi educational systems/HEIs that would narrow this gap?

  • Workshop

    Creating a Progressive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    Workshop Creating a Progressive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    Due to low entrepreneurial capacity and financing difficulties, young Iraqis have limited opportunities to start their own businesses. In fact, skills gaps can affect an entrepreneurs’ abilities to grow their businesses and access capital – from the ability to develop business strategy and navigate available financial products, to the ability to apply business skills and manage operations. With a young and growing Iraqi population, there is an urgent need to create new opportunities.

    Promoting entrepreneurship has proven to be an effective solution for job creation. Entrepreneurs can generate new ideas, new products, and create new businesses. They could also help Iraq diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on the oil sector. Establishment of research and development centres, technology parks, innovation centres and public business development centres can enable Iraqi entrepreneurs to keep pace with the global competition. Access to the capital including enhancing seed fund programs can help them start and/or scale their businesses. Along with these, a set of structural conditions within which entrepreneurs can operate will be addressed during this workshop.

     

    Key questions that the workshop will answer:
    1- Away from the oil sector, what is the competitive advantage of Iraq as an economy that entrepreneurs should focus on their innovation?
    2- If we need to review Iraq’s policies and laws, what are the main changes that have to be conducted in order to allow SMEs and startups growth?
    3- What is the role that each stakeholder is (or should be) playing to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem development in Iraq?

  • Workshop

    SME Growth & Access to Finance for SMEs

    Workshop SME Growth & Access to Finance for SMEs

    Emerging and innovative financing solutions need to be encouraged and supported as well as much more effort should be invested in reaching out to the SME sector to provide them with more suitable financial products. Moreover, digitalization has already proved to be one of the key factors in closing the gap between large and small firms, and the internet has provided small firms with access to markets. Digitalization can also help improve accessing finance for SMEs.

     

    Targeting scaling up the access financing as well as financial inclusion strategies for small and medium sized businesses in order to create jobs in Iraq, this workshop aims to:

     

    – identify key drivers of SME access to financing, 

    -review the existing efforts to increase the SME financial inclusion, 

    -suggest policy approaches and action plans  

     

    Key questions that the workshop will answer:

    1- Currently how do you see and evaluate the financial institution activities for the SMES? What existing opportunities/obstacles are there?  

    2- What are the main obstacles that prevent and limit the financial institution to target more SMEs? How can SMEs improve themselves when it comes to A2F?

    3- How do you see the Central Bank, Ministry of Trade, Chamber of Commerce roles for supporting financial institutions for more SME financing targeting? What policies/ practices can these entities develop to guarantee better access to finance for SMEs? 

  • Workshop

    Strengthening Youth Leadership in Iraq

    Workshop Strengthening Youth Leadership in Iraq

    In a country of over 40 million, and 56% under the age of 25, Iraq’s unemployment rate increased to 14.2% in 2021 from 13.7 % in 2020. The unemployment rate averaged 9.7% from 1991 until 2021, reaching an all time high in 2021. Unemployment is just one of  the many challenges Iraqi youth are facing in their strongly divided and conflict-affected country. When provided with the right leadership opportunities and encouraged to raise their voice, youth can be effective drivers of change and innovation. However, many tend to see youth as part of the problem, not the solution. Youth in Iraq find themselves under severe pressure and face lack of education and job opportunities. Hence, many Iraqi youth take dangerous migration journeys, start protesting, are at risk of radicalisation and violent extremism or falling into poverty. Youth need opportunities to develop their leadership skills and find alternative pathways to participate in social, economic and political spheres of life. That’s what this session is about: creating positive, alternative opportunities for youth in Iraq.

Full programme
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