ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Iraqi Supreme Council for Youth launched on Sunday an initiative for empowering youth in the sectors of agriculture, food security, livestock, and climate, a key step aimed at fostering economic growth and creating jobs.

The initiative – called “the Goodness Initiative” by the Council – was launched under the direction of Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

The initiative “includes providing financial funding through very easy loans for young project owners in these sectors, training,” a statement by the Prime Minister’s office read on Sunday. 

According to data from the German firm Statista, specializing in global market insights, Iraq grappled with a staggering unemployment rate of 15.55 percent in 2022, placing it among the highest ranked globally. Notably, 2021 witnessed Iraq's highest unemployment rate in two decades, peaking at 16.23 percent.

The unemployment crisis deepens for Iraq's younger demographic, particularly those aged 18 to 30, a pivotal segment of the country's population, with hundreds of thousands graduating from universities and institutes annually, eagerly searching for elusive job opportunities.

The statement details that the initiative also includes assistance in the provision of modern equipment to improve agricultural production and follow-up to ensure the sustainability and maintenance of the projects and maximize their chances of success.

The Supreme Council for Youth called on people who wish to “establish their own projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security, livestock, and climate” to register on their website.

The Iraqi Government’s Supreme Council for Youth has recently ramped up efforts to develop the capabilities of the youth, and invest in their potential through cooperation and agreements with leading international institutions.

In September Iraq announced a partnership with Apple to launch a training and development program aimed at creating job opportunities for Iraqi youth and advancing the country's digital economy.

According to the final results of the November census, Iraq’s working age (15-64 years) population was placed at 60.44 percent of the overall population, those aged below 15 years old accounted for 35.9 percent, while those aged 65 and older made up 3.66 percent.