By John Lee. A spokesman for the Ministry of Planning has told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that poverty has declined from 22 to 17 percent and unemployment from 16 to 13 percent in recent years, attributing the improvement to government measures and private-sector cooperation. Abd al-Zahra al-Hindawi added that the private sector is […]
By John Lee. The newly-published Iraq Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analytical report has made seven recommendations to reduce poverty in Iraq: Enhance coordination between ministries and authorities to reduce poverty, using targeted plans based on deprivation levels and holding regular committee meetings. Establish a schedule to collect and update multidimensional poverty data every four years, […]
By John Lee. The Government of Iraq, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), has officially launched the Iraq Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analytical report. The 2024 MPI reveals that poor populations experience 10.8% of total deprivations, particularly in education, housing, and access to […]
By John Lee. The Permanent Technical Committee for Poverty Reduction Policies, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Dr Mohammed Ali Tamim, has approved Iraq's third national poverty reduction strategy, covering the years 2025 to 2029. Dr Tamim described progress made during the previous phase as positive, with poverty rates falling from 30% […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministerial Council for Economy, held its 13th and 14th sessions in Baghdad on May 12, 2025. Discussions included enhancing coordination between federal and regional quality control authorities, with a focus on streamlining goods inspection at border crossings. The Council approved measures to recognize the Kurdistan Region's quality control tests for imported […]
By Salam Zidane for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. How can Iraq help 3.5 million citizens living in urban slums? The government and parliament in Iraq are working to address the slum housing crisis, facing obstacles and wide […]
COVID-19 and Low Oil Prices Push Millions of Iraqis into Poverty The twin shocks of COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of oil prices have caused significant economic challenges and pushed millions of Iraqis into poverty, according to the new issue of the World Bank's Iraq Economic Monitor. The new Fall 2020 edition of the Iraq […]
Addressing Iraq's fragility crucial to recovery from COVID-19 pandemic Failure to address Iraq's multi-faceted fragility could lead to an increase in extreme poverty across the country, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq. Impact of the Oil Crisis and Covid-19 on Iraq's Fragility explores the major […]
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert briefed ambassadors on latest developments, including the appointment last week of new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and the majority of his 22-member cabinet, following months of political infighting and stalemate. Although the pandemic has quieted months of corresponding protests, which saw Iraqis taking to the streets to call for an end to corruption, […]
From Middle East Monitor, under a Creative Commons licence. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Coronavirus to raise poverty rate in Iraq to over 20%, warns minister Iraq's poverty rate is expected to rise to more than 20 per cent as […]
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning announced the launch of the Social Fund for Development on Sept. 23, with initial capital of $300 million, in cooperation with the World Bank. The project […]
By John Lee. According to a report from BBC, Iraqi gangs are offering up to $10,000 for a kidney, and have been increasingly targeted the country's poor. Almost a quarter of the country’s population live in abject poverty, and some destitute families are actively seeking out organ traders. Firas al-Bayati, a human rights lawyer, said: […]
