ILO Unveils Job-Boosting Investment Guidelines for Iraq

The International Labour Organization, together with governmental and development partners, has launched comprehensive technical guidelines on Employment-Intensive Investment approaches in Iraq this week, marking a key step towards scaling up employment-rich public investment and supporting the development of a National Public Works Programme across the country.

Supported by the Government of the Netherlands through the PROSPECTS partnership, the guidelines provide Iraqi institutions with a practical framework for integrating employment creation, decent work and inclusive, climate-resilient infrastructure into the planning and implementation of public works projects. Their launch comes at a critical time, as decades of conflict and instability have strained infrastructure, institutions and livelihoods, leaving refugees, displaced people and vulnerable host communities facing significant employment and economic challenges.

The new guidelines build on practical experience implementing employment-intensive approaches in Iraq. Between 2021 and 2025, EIIP interventions supported through the ILO PROSPECTS programme in Kurdistan region and Nineveh governorate generated more than 82,000 workdays, benefiting over 1,400 job seekers, while rehabilitating infrastructure and focusing on green works that contributed to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

"As the local government in Duhok, we are very pleased that these guidelines have been developed based on the practical experience of employment-intensive investment projects implemented under the first phase of the PROSPECTS programme," said Majid Sayed Salih, Deputy Governor of Duhok. "We look forward to applying this comprehensive guidance more widely through other projects and continuing to build on the experience gained."

Employment-Intensive Investment Programmes (EIIP) make public investment work simultaneously for infrastructure and people. Their approach combines local employment creation with the rehabilitation and development of essential infrastructure, including roads, buildings, drainage systems and agricultural and water infrastructure, while promoting decent work principles such as fair wages, safe working conditions and timely payment.

"The experience gained through PROSPECTS and reflected in these guidelines provides a strong foundation for scaling up employment-intensive public works in Iraq. The Netherlands is pleased to support this important step towards strengthening the capacity of government institutions and promoting more inclusive and sustainable public investment," said Bertrille Snoeijer, Deputy Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the ILO and Iraqi institutions to build on this experience, create decent employment opportunities and support the development of a National Public Works Programme in Iraq."

The launch was followed by an ILO-run technical workshop bringing together government, social partners, UN agencies and implementing partners to share lessons from EIIP implementation, explore the practical application of the new guidelines and identify opportunities to integrate employment-intensive approaches into government programmes and public investment.

"Building on more than a decade of EIIP implementation across the Arab States, the Iraq EIIP model has undergone continuous refinement and innovation, culminating in its successful integration within government-led Public Works Programmes," said Bashar Al-Samarneh, ILO PROSPECTS Project Manager in Iraq. "These guidelines are the tangible outcome of this journey, translating accumulated knowledge, operational experience, and proven practices into a practical resource for policymakers and practitioners. We see this as an important step towards strengthening government capacity and supporting the transition from successful local experience to a more structured and scalable National Public Works Programme in Iraq."

During group discussions, participants explored key areas for applying the Guidelines, including policy and institutionalisation, capacity and ownership, technical application, integration into the project cycle, and monitoring and accountability. The discussions will inform the final Guidelines and recommendations for their adoption and integration into government projects and policies.

"The guidelines represent a great opportunity to build on the practical experience and lessons learned through projects implemented under the PROSPECTS programme in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," said Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Al-Farraji, Head of the Experts Team at the Ministry of Planning. "This workshop will help take these approaches forward towards a broader public works programme across the region."

Iraq's experience forms part of a wider expansion of employment-intensive investment across the Arab States. Over the past two years, ILO-supported EIIP interventions in Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Occupied Palestinian Territory have generated around one million workdays, providing decent and dignified employment opportunities to thousands of refugees, displaced persons and members of host communities, including women and persons with disabilities.

By linking immediate employment with investments in infrastructure and public services, EIIP provides a bridge between humanitarian response, development and peacebuilding.