DEVELOPMENT OF A POLICY BRIEF ON WOMEN AND YOUTH ENHANCED PARTICIPATION IN THE LABOUR MARKET IN IRAQ

Background

The Iraq Labour Code No. 37 of 2015 is a progressive and significant legislative milestone, designed to ensure fair protections for all workers, including women. It addresses key issues such as preventing discrimination in employment and occupation, combating gender-based violence and harassment, securing women’s rights to vocational training and employment, and ensuring protection from occupational risks. Additionally, the code guarantees equal pay for work of equal value and the right to enjoy maternity leave, alongside robust provisions for job security. In 2023, the introduction of the Retirement and Social Security Law further reinforced these protections, offering comprehensive benefits for both male and female workers in areas like retirement, health, maternity, and unemployment. However, despite these legislative advancements, the percentage of women participating in the Iraqi workforce remains low.

The limited participation of women is evident in that the labour force participation rate for Iraqi women aged 15 and above is only 10.6%. The rural-urban divide exacerbates this gap, with rural women’s participation at only 8.1% compared to 11.6% in urban areas. Women face significantly higher unemployment rates, especially young women aged 20-24, with rates reaching 65%. Education does not protect women from unemployment, as highly educated women face marginalization in the labour market. Displaced women face significant barriers to entering the labour market, with many experiencing long-term unemployment, leading to underutilization of female labour. The wage gap between men and women persists in Iraq, with women earning 18.4% less per hour than men. This gap is evident across sectors, with many women working in low-income jobs, especially in the private sector. Part-time work is more common among women, reflecting ongoing challenges in balancing work and domestic responsibilities.

The youth’s participation in the labour force is 26.5% against 45.8% for adults, as the employment- to population- ratio indicate 17% for youths in comparison to 40.6% for adults. This indicator is clearly linked with the high rate of unemployment rate for youths 35.8% which is more than three times that of the adult unemployment rate11.2% in consideration to the average rate of unemployment 16.5% in Republic of Iraq.

Youth unemployment is especially alarming estimated at 22 percent and 66 percent for male and female labour force participants, respectively. This age and gender dimension to the unemployment ratios in Iraq is coupled with the low participation rate of female citizens in the labour market, currently at only 11.76 percent in comparison of male labour for participation at 74 percent (ILOSTAT, 2021). The discriminatory labour market in Iraq has resulted into unequitable outcomes and differential coverage rates between male and female labour force participants.

Other alarming indicator is the NEET (youth not in education, employment or training), where around 36.7 % of the youth population was not in education, nor in employment or training. The NEET rate was significantly higher among the youth female population than among the youth male population with 52.3 % and 22.1 % respectively. The NEET rate was somewhat higher in rural areas with 41.1 percent compared to the urban areas with 34.8 percent.

Women’s and youth’s participation in the labour force faces several systemic and structural challenges, including:

1. Weak childcare infrastructure that may hinder women’s ability to work full-time.
2. Discriminatory employment practices that exacerbate gender gaps in the labour market.
3. Limited access to vocational training and skill development programs, impeding women’s employability.
4. A low proportion of women in decision-making positions.
5. Weak enforcement of labour legislation in Iraq.

Enhancing participation of women in the labour market, will require a holistic approach including policy, legislative, institutional, capacity building and other reforms. This consultancy aims to develop a comprehensive policy brief for enhancing women’s participation in the labour market, with a focus on the construction sector. It will involve the collaboration of International Labour Organization (ILO) through its BEIT Project together with some other United Nations agencies.

The Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by ILO in partnership with UN-HABITAT and ITC, aims to stimulate decent work opportunities and generate quality jobs for young women and men while addressing the urgent need for affordable housing, especially for lower income and vulnerable people in Iraq, by enhancing the housing and construction sector. As one of the interventions supporting decent employment creation, the ILO BEIT Project will be supporting the Government of Iraq in establishing a National Public Works Programme which promotes decent work employment opportunities and principles including gender-inclusiveness.

Assignment

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is commissioning this assignment in partnership with MOP, MOLSA and other UN agencies and on behalf of the BEIT project with the objective of developing a policy brief for enhancing youth and women’s participation in the labour market in Iraq, with a focus on the construction sector. This aims at bringing transformation towards moving away from the traditional reliance on public sector employment and exploring opportunities in the private sector, thus alleviating poverty, reducing gaps, and enhancing social cohesion. The results will be used to provide guidance to the BEIT project activities that seek enhanced participation of women in the construction and housing sector.

The work of the ILO country office is guided by the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2022-2026. In implementing its activities and programmes, the Country Office collaborates closely with the Government of Iraq, particularly with its technical line ministry, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), and employers and workers representatives. Other partners include the National Department for Iraqi Women, which is committed to exploring effective mechanisms and innovative, sustainable methodologies to enhance women’s empowerment and equality.

It is hoped that the policy brief will be launched and adopted by the Government of Iraq in its final form on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025, as the National Department for Women discusses it with the government side.

Areas of Focus

In realizing the objectives, the assignment will involve the External consultant in:

1. Analyzing complex quantitative and qualitative data from various sources, including conducting a thorough literature review on barriers and facilitators to youth and women’s workforce participation and on existing national policies.
2. Conducting an analysis of the legal frameworks related to youth and women’s employment and the existing challenges and opportunities for women’s employment in Iraq, given the economic and social aspects. Analyze wage structures, women’s role in collective bargaining, and union representation.
3. Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the social and economic cost of unemployment with focus on youth and women’s low participation in Iraq’s labor force and the economic impacts on women, their families, and Iraq’s economy accordingly.
4. Studying and analyzing the current active labor market policies and their impact on increasing youth and women’s participation in the Iraq workforce.
5. Formulating a policy brief on enhancing youth and women participation in Iraq workforce with a focus on the construction sector, aligned to objectives of National Development plan 2024-2028 and the Iraq National Strategy to prevent and reduce inequalities in the World of Work (2024-2028) and which incorporates feedback from stakeholders.
6. Developing and proposing policies and strategies to support the proposed National Public Works Programme, focusing on the promotion of gender-inclusive employment opportunities in the construction and housing sector.
7. Providing policy guidance and recommendations for the development and enforcement of existing labour legislations on youth employment and women workers rights, with a focus on the construction sector.
8. Engaging with key stakeholders, including government agencies, Workers organizations, Employers organizations, NGOs, and women’s organizations, , through study circles, workshops and focus groups.
9. Proposing some national programs related to employment to ensure youth and women’s participation through public works programs focused on employing women and building their professional skills in various sectors, including the care and construction sectors.

Deliverables, Methodology, Timeline and Payment Schedule

Expected Outputs

The consultant(s) shall produce an Inception report within 10 working days of starting the assignment, be involved in the facilitation of a Stakeholders Forum, and produce a Draft Policy Brief Report within a time frame of 8 weeks and the Final Report by the 12thweek. The Reports shall at least contain the following;

1. Inception Report

The Inception Report shall amongst other things contain the following:

(i) The Consultants’ understanding, methodology and approach for the assignment including comments on ToR and Data Collection Tools.

(ii) A detailed Programme for the assignment.

1. The Policy Brief Report will include, but not be limited to:

(i) Executive Summary

(ii) Introduction or Background

(iii) Methodology

(iv) Rationale and Justification

(v) Situational Analysis

(vi) National and International Good Practices: Lessons Learnt

(vii) Policy Brief

(viii) Framework for Implementation

(vix) Institutional Set-Up

(x) Conclusions

(xi) Recommendations

Separately submit all documents (electronic and hard copies).

1. In consultation with the ILO BEIT Team, the Consultant will facilitate a Stakeholders Forum to present and validate the Draft Policy Brief.

Reporting

1. The External Consultant(s) will submit the Inception report within 10 days of commencing the assignment.
2. The Consultant(s) will submit a Draft Report within 8 weeks of the assignment commencement. The Draft Report is to be submitted in electronic format to the ILO BEIT Chief Technical Advisor who will seek, compile and provide comments from stakeholders within 10 working days.
3. The Consultant(s) will also incorporate comments from the Stakeholders Workshop within 5 working days. Upon receipt of the comments, the Consultant will incorporate the same as appropriate and submit the Final Report in hard copy and electronic format MS Office Suite within the contract period of 12 weeks.

A Peer Review Panel will be formed constituting of representatives from ILO and UNDP which will provide input to the Policy Brief and Draft Reports developed. Presentations will be prepared by the Consultant(s) to be presented to the Review Panel prior to submittal of the Draft Report.

Methodology

This assignment is to be conducted through various methodologies including:

1. Desk review of labour laws, national policies, national development plan, and other related documents on women employment.
2. Conducting the study circles, focus group discussions, surveys, and individual interviews with women and related counterparts including MoLSA, Parliament, Trade Unions, Employers organizations, Women Associations, UN WOMEN and other agencies.
3. Consult and seek to align Policy Brief with the Road Map Process for Establishment of National Public Works Programme.
4. Within the construction and allied sectors, scrutinize potential segments including private sector and shelf/area of works that can absorb, stimulate and enhance women participation in the labour market.
5. Identify skills and qualifications that are required to boost women participation in Labour market to inform reforms within the TVET system.
6. Analysis and Developing of Draft Policy Brief, ensuring incorporation of evidence-based qualitative and quantitative data, and use of the multiple stream approach in line with the objectives.
7. In consultation with ILO BEIT Team prepare Consultative Stakeholder Forum, Facilitate the Consultative Stakeholder and Present the Draft Policy Brief to stakeholders.
8. Incorporate the comments and feedback from the stakeholder’s forum into the Draft Policy Brief.

Location

The assignment may be implemented as Home based, with possible travel in Iraq. In the event the Consultant is based outside Iraq, considering the nature of the Consultancy, the Consultant will need to involve a consultant based in Iraq to facilitate the Iraq component of the work including stakeholder consultations.

Inputs & Timeframe

The assignment will commence on 15 September 2024 and shall run until 31 December 2024. The inputs shall be a lump-sum amount for consultancy professional fees for 30 days broken up as below.

Deliverables

Number of working days

Inception Report

3 days

Desk review

5 days

Study circles, FGDs, workshops, surveys

10 days

Validation workshop

2 days

Policy Brief and Draft and Final report

10 days

Total number of days

30 days

Payment Modalities

Payment shall be made based on the following modalities:

1. Upon signature of Contract, and submittal of Inception Report, then 20 % of consultancy fees, together with DSA and transportation costs.
2. Upon submission and acceptance of Draft Report, and successful conducting of Stakeholder Workshop, then 30% of consultancy fees.
3. Upon submission and acceptance of Final Report, then outstanding 50% of consultancy fees.

Data and Facilities Provided to the Consultant

Logistical and administrative arrangements for the Consultative Forum will be made by the ILO BEIT Project in consultations with the External Consultant. ILO BEIT project will supply all data and information in its possession and give assistance as will reasonably be required for the conduct of the study by the Consultant including introductions to partners, stakeholders.

Experience / Qualifications

The External Consultant should have an advanced degree in Economics, Law, Social Sciences, Allied Sciences, Development Studies or related field and have at least 5 years of experience designing, developing, and supporting gender specific employment policy development and analysis, and social and economic development aspects in middle-income and developing countries in Iraq and/or the MENA region. Having a track record of publications or verifiable experience of contributing to designing, implementing and evaluating employment and other programmes would be an asset. Excellent spoken and written Arabic and English is required for the Consultant.

The following tasks are expected of the Consultant:

1. Plan and manage the assignment
2. Coordinate input from various sources including Stakeholder Facilitation
3. Identification of Challenges and Problem Solving
4. Development of recommendations and policy influence

Evaluation Process and Criteria

The External Collaborator shall describe in the Technical Proposal how it intends to meet the requirements described in the Terms of Reference.

In preparing the Proposal, the External Collaborator shall review all requirements and will reflect its understanding of and approach to meeting these requirements in the Proposal.

In preparing the Technical Proposal, the Bidder shall provide details of the proposed project methodology and implementation and management plan as well as CVs which will deliver the works specified in this TOR.

The External Collaborator may also add any other document and information to demonstrate its technical and professional capacities and competencies to fulfil the requirements as specified in the Terms of Reference

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by an Evaluation Panel, to determine compliance with the requirements specified in the RFP.

A two-stage procedure will be utilized in evaluating the Proposals, with evaluation of each Technical Proposal constituting 70% of the total grade being completed prior to any Financial Offer which constitute 30% of the total grade being opened and compared.

Each Technical Proposal is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

The Technical Proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria described below:

1. 20% for Depth and quality of response to the RFP;
2. 20% Technical compliance with the Terms of Reference;
3. 10% for the qualifications and experience of proposed key personnel;
4. 20% the proposed implementation and management plan;
5. The minimum score for proceeding to the next step during the technical evaluation shall be 45%.

During the second stage of the evaluation, the Financial Offers which shall constitute 30% grading for all Bidders who have attained at least the minimum score during the technical evaluation will be compared. 30% will be awarded to the most competitive bid, with pro rata allotment [<30%] given to other higher bidders compared to the lowest competitive bid.

The process of evaluating the proposals will be based on the percentage combination of Technical (70%) and Financial (30%) elements. The highest score shall be deemed the technically and financial compliant bid.

Document Links on ILO Website:

https://www.ilo.org/resource/vacancy-notice/development-policy-brief-women-and-youth-enhanced-participation-labour

https://www.ilo.org/ar/resource/vacancy-notice/alkhdmat-alastsharyt-lttwyr-mwjz-syasat-ltzyz-msharkt-almrat-walshbab-fy

How to apply

Submission and Deadline

Interested Individuals with the required qualifications and experience should submit their technical and financial proposals to the following email addresses: iraq-procurement@ilo.org. The deadline for submission will be midnight 30 August 2024 Baghdad time.