Three years after the defeat of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the country is still painfully recovering from the aftermath of its brutal and ruthless occupation, in particular in Mosul City and in the Nineveh governorate. Although major efforts are underway to rebuild the country and jumpstart local economies, significant barriers to stabilisation endure, including security concerns, fear and trauma, lack of social cohesion and lack of livelihoods opporunities, in particular for the Youth. 

The present project is aimed at fostering Youth involvement in the stabilisation process through increased civic engagement and economic empowerment. By promoting active participation of Youth in all spheres of society, EF will support the capacity development of young people and youth-led organizations as key actors of change, social cohesion and socio-economic recovery.

Through this program, EF will promote opportunities for Iraqi youth to constructively engage in addressing social problems within their communities by creating a strategic link between local NGO, Mosul University Career Centers and local business incubators. Promoting youth engagement in local civil society and fostering dialogues with local authorities, the project will enable youth to better engage local decision-makers to meet their expectations and reinforce the bond of trust between government and population. Revitalising academic, social, and cultural life on the campus of the University of Mosul - the largest in Northern Iraq - the project will help restore the universities’ central role in producing knowledge and sharing ideas locally and nationally whilst fostering a counter-narrative that can weaken the ideology ISIS inculcated into society before and during the occupation. By fostering job creation and providing livelihoods for young people in Baghdad, Mosul and KRG, the Action will contribute to redress the impact of the current crisis and prevent future crises.

This 24-month project is composed of three main components:

1. Support to the students of Mosul and Nineveh universities:

• Improving students’ access to more efficient career guidance services;
• Encouraging the emergence of opportunities for professional work experience, employment, and civic engagement;
• Extending partnership between Mosul and Nineveh Universities and a major institution for adult education (CNAM).

The project supports these Universities’ ability to promote knowledge sharing, intercommunity dialogue, social cohesion and tolerance, thus contributing to the intellectual and moral revival of Mosul and Nineveh, both deeply affected by socio-economic crisis.

2. Foster youth civic engagement:

• Educating young people on civic engagement with local CSOs to positively contribute to stabilisation within conflict-affected communities;
• Reinforcing the capacities of local CSOs to participate in stabilisation efforts, whilst providing civic engagement opportunities for the youth;
• Engaging youth through Iraqi CSOs in community service projects and fostering dialogue with local authorities.

3. Promote youth entrepreneurship & economic empowerment:

• Encouraging young entrepreneurs through a network of accessible two business incubators and one accelerator programs for start-ups in Mosul, Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah;
• Promoting an entrepreneurship culture through events, pitch contests and networking sessions;
• Engaging the private sector to support youth entrepreneurship through exchange of best practices and networking.

This component is implemented in partnership with the American University of Sulaymaniyah and The Station’s incubators of Baghdad and Mosul.