Iraq lacks reliable data, which is a barrier for shaping the future. An innovative project now wants to analyse the data ecosystem in the country to fight youth unemployment via digital labour markets. So-called data ecosystem maps play a major role in this process and can even change the Iraqi economy.
Challenges in Iraq’s Data Landscape
Iraq faces unique challenges in data collection, especially in youth employment. Complex institutional structures, informal labour markets, and a limited digital infrastructure make reliable data hard to obtain. The Iraqi government is constantly working on digitalising its services and operations. In 2020, Iraq established its National Data Center (NDC) to serve as the sole integration mediator between government institutions.
The centre is offering support to government institutions in creating infrastructure and supporting data preparation. The centre’s goal is to offer data as a service.
Mostafa Sabah, director of software solutions and data management, NDC
However, fragmented and decentralised data systems continue to hinder evidence-based policies, particularly in employment.
How can data ecosystem maps address these challenges?
Data ecosystem maps are the first step to building a strong data infrastructure. They visualise the networks of people, organisations and communities managing, using, influencing, or being impacted by data and the data flows between these entities. These maps help understand and explain how data creates value: They identify key users and their relationships, recognise stakeholders’ roles and help develop open standards.
This is where the pilot project ‘Iraq’s Digital Future’ comes in: It was launched by the BMZ-funded project ProDIGI (Promoting Employment in the Digital Economy in Iraq), the Data2Policy initiative, together with KAPITA, and the Open Data Institute. The key step is to identify digital economy data stakeholders in Iraq and promote a data-driven future that supports youth employment in the digital economy.
In addition to the NDC and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) the project engaged additional government institutions that play critical roles in Iraq’s data ecosystem – including the Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Communication and Media Commission, and the Parliament’s IT Department. Alongside the public sector, representatives from private sector companies, academia and UNDP also participated.
The goal was to bring together public and private sector participants to work collaboratively in different groups to map the data ecosystem: “We heard valuable insights from diverse voices, especially private sector representatives, on how data management could benefit their work.” (Mostafa Sabah, director of software solutions and data management, NDC)
I learned from my colleagues in other government entities and the private sector about the current gaps. It became clear that our biggest challenge is fragmented, decentralised data.
Aya Majeed, PMO
What is next for the data ecosystem map?
The finalised data ecosystem map will guide the development of a prototype dashboard by Prosperia. The public-facing dashboard will provide information such as required skills, types of jobs, and their locations, to help individuals access opportunities in Iraq’s digital economy. The government-facing side will better inform policymakers about job and skill availability, enabling solutions aligned with market needs. Ultimately, the dashboard aims to bridge the gap between job supply and demand in Iraq’s digital economy.
Driving Innovation
Launched by BMZ in 2021, the Data2Policy initiative promotes data-driven policymaking globally. In Iraq, it complements ProDIGI’s efforts to address youth unemployment through digital transformation, using the Data to Policy Navigator to drive data-driven decisions.
