Deadline: 15-Jun-2026
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is inviting Expressions of Interest from eligible organizations to implement child protection, adolescent empowerment, and community reintegration initiatives in Iraq. The programme aims to support vulnerable children, adolescents, returnees, internally displaced persons, and families through protection services, psychosocial support, civil documentation assistance, youth participation, and skills development.
Programme Overview
The initiative is designed to strengthen child protection systems and improve the wellbeing, resilience, and social inclusion of vulnerable children and young people across Iraq.
The programme focuses on:
- Birth registration and civil documentation
- Child protection services
- Family tracing and reunification
- Gender-based violence prevention and response
- Psychosocial support and mental wellbeing
- Adolescent participation and leadership
- Youth empowerment and life skills development
- Vocational and micro-credential training
- Social cohesion and resilience building
- Reintegration support for returnees and displaced populations
- Government capacity strengthening
The programme will be implemented primarily in Ninewa, Salah Al-Din, and Anbar Governorates.
Background and Context
Iraq continues to face significant challenges related to displacement, return and reintegration of families, particularly those returning from northeast Syria and internally displaced communities.
Many vulnerable families continue to experience:
- Limited access to livelihoods
- Lack of civil documentation
- Barriers to education and social services
- Child protection risks
- Social exclusion and stigma
- Mental health and psychosocial challenges
UNICEF is working with government institutions and local partners to address these challenges and strengthen long-term protection systems.
Key Programme Components
Child Protection and Family Support
The programme will deliver comprehensive child protection interventions aimed at safeguarding vulnerable children and strengthening family environments.
Key activities include:
- Child protection case management
- Family reunification services
- Parenting support programmes
- Psychosocial support services
- Legal assistance for vulnerable families
- Gender-based violence prevention and response
- Specialized protection support for children at risk
These services are intended to improve child wellbeing while promoting family stability and protection.
Civil Documentation and Birth Registration
Access to legal identity documents remains a major challenge for many returnee and vulnerable families.
The programme will support:
- Birth registration services
- Civil documentation assistance
- Access to legal identity documents
- Referral pathways to government services
- Improved access to education, healthcare, and social protection through documentation
This component aims to ensure that children and families can access essential rights and services.
Adolescent Participation and Leadership Development
A major focus of the programme is empowering adolescents and young people to become active participants in their communities.
Activities include:
- Youth leadership development
- Adolescent participation initiatives
- Advocacy and civic engagement opportunities
- Safe and inclusive spaces for girls and boys
- Community-based youth activities
- Social cohesion initiatives
These efforts aim to strengthen confidence, leadership, and positive community engagement among young people.
Life Skills and Digital Learning
The programme promotes personal development and future readiness through structured learning opportunities.
Support will include:
- Online learning through the Learning Passport platform
- Life skills education
- Personal development training
- Communication and leadership skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Resilience and wellbeing activities
These activities help young people build competencies needed for education, employment, and community participation.
Vocational and Micro-Credential Training
The initiative provides practical skills development opportunities that support social and economic reintegration.
Training areas may include:
- Computer and digital skills
- Barbering
- Beauty services
- Handicrafts
- Demand-driven vocational skills
- Micro-credential programmes
These opportunities are designed to improve employability and support sustainable livelihoods.
Government Capacity Strengthening
The programme will work closely with national institutions to improve service delivery and strengthen protection systems.
Key partners include:
- Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
- Ministry of Youth
- Local government authorities
- Community-based service providers
Capacity-building activities will focus on:
- Improving child protection services
- Strengthening case management systems
- Enhancing service coordination
- Supporting government ownership of protection services
- Building sustainable institutional capacity
Who Can Benefit?
The programme targets:
- Vulnerable children
- Adolescents and youth
- Returnee families
- Internally displaced persons
- Children lacking civil documentation
- Survivors of violence and protection risks
- Girls and boys requiring psychosocial support
- Families facing reintegration challenges
Special attention is given to populations returning from northeast Syria and communities affected by displacement.
Why This Programme Matters
The initiative addresses critical protection and reintegration needs while helping children and young people build safer and more productive futures.
Key expected outcomes include:
- Improved child protection services
- Increased access to legal identity documents
- Stronger family and community support systems
- Enhanced psychosocial wellbeing
- Greater adolescent participation and leadership
- Improved employability and life skills
- Stronger social cohesion and resilience
- Increased government capacity to deliver protection services
Tips for Interested Organizations
Organizations preparing Expressions of Interest should:
- Demonstrate experience in child protection and youth programming
- Highlight capacity to operate in target governorates
- Show expertise in psychosocial support and case management
- Present strong partnerships with local stakeholders
- Demonstrate experience working with vulnerable and displaced populations
- Outline sustainable approaches that strengthen government systems
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the main objective of the programme?
The programme aims to strengthen child protection, adolescent empowerment, family reintegration, and access to essential services for vulnerable populations in Iraq.
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Which locations are targeted?
Activities will primarily be implemented in Ninewa, Salah Al-Din, and Anbar Governorates.
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Who are the main beneficiaries?
Vulnerable children, adolescents, returnees, internally displaced persons, and their families.
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What types of services will be provided?
Child protection services, psychosocial support, legal assistance, civil documentation support, leadership development, life skills education, and vocational training.
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What role does civil documentation play in the programme?
Civil documentation helps children and families access education, healthcare, social protection, and other essential services.
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How will adolescents benefit?
Adolescents will receive leadership training, life skills education, participation opportunities, digital learning, and vocational development support.
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Which government institutions are involved?
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Youth are among the key government partners supporting implementation.
Conclusion
UNICEF’s Child Protection and Adolescent Empowerment Programme in Iraq seeks to strengthen protection systems, improve access to essential services, and support the successful reintegration of vulnerable children, adolescents, and families. Through child protection services, civil documentation support, youth leadership development, psychosocial assistance, and vocational training, the initiative aims to build resilience, promote inclusion, and create sustainable opportunities for affected communities across Iraq.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.