MAHARATI: Youth Innovation, Skills and Employment Pathways in Iraq

The UNICEF MAHARATI Initiative seeks partners to institutionalize youth innovation, life skills, entrepreneurship, and learning-to-earning pathways for adolescents and young people aged 10–24 years in conflict-affected districts of Ninawa Governorate, Iraq. The programme focuses on vulnerable groups—including girls, internally displaced youth, returnees, and young people with disabilities—by improving access to education, innovation, employability, entrepreneurship, and civic participation.

What is the UNICEF MAHARATI Initiative?

The MAHARATI Initiative is a comprehensive youth development programme designed to strengthen education, skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment pathways for young people living in conflict-affected areas of Ninawa Governorate, Iraq.

The initiative combines Life Skills and Citizenship Education (LSCE), digital learning, youth participation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment support into a single integrated model that can be sustained through government institutions and community platforms.

The programme is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sport, local authorities, vocational training centres, youth centres, and community organisations.

Background

Iraq has one of the youngest populations in the region, with nearly 60% of its population under the age of 25.

Although investments have been made in vocational education and skills development, many young people continue to face barriers such as:

• Limited access to quality education.
• High youth unemployment.
• Lack of transferable and digital skills.
• Limited entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Restricted access to innovation ecosystems.
• Challenges transitioning from education to employment.

These challenges are particularly severe in conflict-affected districts such as:

• Baaj
• Tal Afar
• Sinjar

The programme places special emphasis on supporting vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, girls, youth with disabilities, and young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Strengthen youth skills and employability.
• Institutionalize sustainable youth development services.
• Promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Improve pathways from learning to employment.
• Increase youth participation in civic life.
• Expand access to digital learning.
• Support inclusive and gender-responsive programming.
• Strengthen government ownership of youth services.

Key Highlights

• Programme Name: MAHARATI Initiative
• Organiser: UNICEF
• Country: Iraq
• Implementation Area: Ninawa Governorate (including Baaj, Tal Afar, and Sinjar)
• Target Age Group: Adolescents and youth aged 10–24 years
• Target Beneficiaries: Vulnerable adolescents and youth, including girls, displaced youth, returnees, and youth with disabilities
• Funding Information: Not specified in the programme announcement

Priority Focus Areas

Life Skills and Citizenship Education (LSCE)

The programme supports:

• Personal development.
• Communication skills.
• Leadership.
• Critical thinking.
• Civic responsibility.
• Social and emotional learning.

Digital Learning

Projects may include:

• Digital literacy.
• Online learning opportunities.
• Technology-based education.
• Digital skills development.
• Access to digital learning platforms.

Youth Innovation

The initiative promotes:

• Innovation Labs.
• Innovation challenges.
• Bootcamps.
• Creative problem-solving.
• Design thinking.
• Technology-driven solutions.

Entrepreneurship Development

Eligible activities include:

• Entrepreneurship training.
• Business idea development.
• Startup mentoring.
• Financial literacy.
• Business coaching.
• Enterprise development support.

Learning-to-Earning Pathways

Projects should help young people transition from education into employment through:

• Career guidance.
• Employability training.
• Skills matching.
• Livelihood opportunities.
• Workforce readiness.
• Connections with employers and private-sector mentors.

Youth Participation

The programme encourages:

• Youth participation platforms.
• Community leadership.
• Civic engagement.
• Youth-led community initiatives.
• Volunteer activities.
• Local decision-making participation.

Inclusive Programming

The initiative prioritises inclusive, gender-responsive approaches for:

• Girls and young women.
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Returnees.
• Youth with disabilities.
• Young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Projects should ensure equitable participation and accessible services for all beneficiaries.

Government and Community Partnerships

The programme promotes collaboration with:

• Ministry of Youth and Sport.
• Local government authorities.
• Youth centres.
• Vocational training centres.
• Community organisations.
• Private-sector partners.
• Service providers.

This approach supports long-term sustainability and institutional ownership.

Expected Outcomes

The initiative aims to achieve:

• Increased participation in structured education and skills programmes.
• Improved youth employability.
• Greater access to entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Stronger youth participation in civic and community development.
• Successful completion of innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.
• Improved access to employment and livelihood opportunities.
• Institutionalised youth services within government systems.
• Evidence generation to inform future youth policies.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is intended for organisations capable of implementing youth development programmes in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership and eligibility requirements.

Applicants should demonstrate experience in areas such as:

• Youth development.
• Education.
• Skills training.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Livelihoods.
• Innovation.
• Community engagement.

How to Apply

Interested organisations should:

1. Review the official UNICEF partnership requirements.
2. Confirm organisational eligibility.
3. Develop a project aligned with the MAHARATI objectives.
4. Design inclusive programmes targeting vulnerable youth.
5. Build partnerships with government and community stakeholders.
6. Prepare a detailed implementation plan and budget.
7. Submit the proposal through the official UNICEF application process before the stated deadline.

Why This Programme Matters

Young people are essential to Iraq’s long-term recovery and development.

The MAHARATI Initiative helps to:

• Improve youth employment opportunities.
• Strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Increase civic participation.
• Expand digital and transferable skills.
• Promote inclusive economic development.
• Support vulnerable youth affected by conflict.
• Build sustainable youth development systems.

By institutionalising youth services through government and community partnerships, the programme creates long-term opportunities for future generations.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

To improve your application:

• Demonstrate experience working with adolescents and youth.
• Include innovative and practical learning approaches.
• Show strong partnerships with local stakeholders.
• Present measurable outcomes and monitoring indicators.
• Ensure activities are inclusive and gender-responsive.
• Incorporate sustainability and institutionalisation strategies.
• Align activities with local labour market needs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues:

• Excluding vulnerable groups from project design.
• Focusing only on training without employment pathways.
• Providing limited community or government engagement.
• Submitting unclear implementation plans.
• Ignoring sustainability and policy integration.
• Omitting monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main objective of the MAHARATI Initiative?

The programme aims to institutionalise youth development services that improve skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, civic participation, and pathways from learning to employment.

2. Who are the target beneficiaries?

Adolescents and young people aged 10–24 years, particularly girls, internally displaced youth, returnees, youth with disabilities, and young people not in education, employment, or training.

3. Where will the programme be implemented?

The initiative focuses on conflict-affected districts of Ninawa Governorate, including Baaj, Tal Afar, and Sinjar, Iraq.

4. What types of activities are supported?

Activities include Life Skills and Citizenship Education, digital learning, Youth Innovation Labs, entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, mentoring, civic engagement, and youth-led community initiatives.

5. Does the programme support entrepreneurship?

Yes. Entrepreneurship training, business idea development, coaching, mentoring, and financial literacy are central components of the initiative.

6. Is funding information available?

The programme announcement does not specify a funding amount.

7. Why is this initiative important?

The initiative helps vulnerable young people build essential life and employability skills, access innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities, participate in civic life, and successfully transition into sustainable employment, contributing to Iraq’s long-term recovery and development.

Conclusion

The UNICEF MAHARATI Initiative provides an opportunity to strengthen youth development systems in Ninawa Governorate, Iraq, through integrated education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment programmes. By focusing on vulnerable adolescents and young people and promoting sustainable government-led services, the initiative seeks to improve livelihoods, increase civic participation, and create long-term opportunities for inclusive economic and social development.