Attachments
Erbil, 3 February 2026
Validation workshop advances TVET reform in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region under ILO PROSPECTS Phase II
The International Labour Organization, in cooperation with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, convened a validation workshop today to review strategic recommendations for strengthening the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in the Federal Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Supporting TVET reforms in Iraq is part of Phase II of the PROSPECTS partnership, a multi-partner initiative supported by the Government of the Netherlands, which aims to enhance youth employability, promote inclusive skills development, and strengthen alignment between education and labour market needs.
Persistent challenges and the role of TVET
TVET plays a critical role in improving employability, supporting private sector development and fostering inclusive economic growth. However, the current system remains characterized by fragmented governance, uneven quality, limited labour market relevance, and weak coordination among institutions. Access to training opportunities remains particularly constrained for women, persons with disabilities and displaced populations.
The assessment conducted under PROSPECTS Phase II analyses these structural gaps and presents evidence-based recommendations to improve governance, quality, equity, relevance and the financial sustainability of the TVET system.
“The validation process is a critical step in ensuring that the recommendations are both technically sound and nationally owned. The focus now should be on translating these strategic directions into implementable reforms.”
Dr. Ghinwa Mikdashi, TVET Expert
Key findings presented for validation
Participants reviewed key findings of the assessment, including: fragmented institutional arrangements and limited inter-ministerial coordination; inconsistent implementation of competency-based curricula and weak quality assurance mechanisms; insufficient work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities; barriers to access for women, persons with disabilities and displaced populations; predominantly supply-driven programme design with limited labour market linkages; and heavy reliance on donor funding and centralized financing models.
“This workshop contributes to building a more inclusive, relevant and sustainable TVET system in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Strengthened governance and deeper engagement with the private sector are essential to ensure that skills development responds effectively to labour market needs.”
Bashar Elsamarneh, Project Manager – PROSPECTS, ILO
Strategic recommendations under review
The workshop aimed to validate a set of strategic directions, including strengthening TVET governance through the operationalization of a functional National TVET Council; enhancing quality and relevance through systematic implementation of competency-based curricula, the TVET Qualifications Framework and quality assurance mechanisms; and expanding structured apprenticeships and work-based learning.
Further recommendations focus on improving labour market alignment through the establishment of sector skills councils and sustained employer engagement; promoting equity and inclusion through targeted outreach, flexible delivery modalities and recognition of prior learning; and reforming financing models to improve sustainability and institutionalize donor-supported innovations.
“We support the International Labour Organization’s recommendations for developing Iraq’s technical and vocational education and training system, as they provide a clear implementation framework, provided they are accompanied by binding governmental commitment, effective institutional coordination, and unified governance that overcomes system fragmentation and aligns TVET with real labour market demand—thereby improving quality, strengthening confidence in outcomes, and transforming TVET into a sustainable driver of development.”
said Dr. Hasaneen Fouad Kazem, Legal Adviser
“There is an urgent need to conduct a labour market assessment and establish a mechanism to employer demand into TVET outcomes, as no labour market information system currently exists. In this regard, forming an inter-ministerial committee in the Kurdistan Region is essential to strengthen coordination and support evidence-based policymaking,”
said Mr. Meriwan Bagok Aziz, Director General at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
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, that unites the International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Labour Organization (ILO), UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Bank. With the collective goal to improve the lives of forcibly displaced people and their host communities.