Kurdistan Region of Iraq – October 2026
At the end of September 2026. 76 young people in Halabja, Ranya, and Chamchamal in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq celebrated the successful completion of their three-month internships through NOC II Career Connect, a targeted initiative under SPARK’s Networks of Change II (NOC II) programme, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Implemented over 5 months, Career Connect was designed to address a key challenge identified among the 1,000 people who had completed vocational training through NOC II. While vocational training provided foundational skills, many still lacked practical experience and employer connections needed to enter the workforce.
From vocational training to workplace experience.
Career Connect was developed based on the lessons learned from the small-scale Kar bo Kar (Work for Work) campaign, in which young people and local businesses helped organise paid internships. The initiative expanded opportunities for participants to gain practical experience, strengthen their professional skills, and connect with potential employers.
The project combined 3-month internships with 4 career coaching sessions, helping participants apply their knowledge in real workplace settings, build confidence, and explore potential career pathways. In parallel, 12 workshops, seminars, and career talks brought together private-sector actors and reached 250 young people.
Throughout the programme period, interns received regular feedback from employers and support from career coaches. Pre- and post-project job-readiness assessments also tracked changes across eight competencies: professional confidence, workplace communication, technical application, time management, teamwork, problem-solving, understanding of workplace culture, and career clarity.
The results showed improvements across all eight areas, including technical application, workplace communication, professional confidence, and understanding of workplace culture. Overall project satisfaction reached 4.3 out of 5.
Turning skills into opportunities
The graduation and closing events brought together interns, representatives of relevant government departments, and private-sector partners to celebrate participants’ achievements and recognise the role of employers in creating opportunities for young people through practical workplace learning.
Following their internships, more than 35% of participants reported securing employment or other professional opportunities, including jobs, continued internships, freelance work, and starting their own small businesses. This exceeded the project’s initial benchmark of a 12% transition rate into the job market.
For Avin, an intern from Ranya, the internship provided an opportunity to turn a long-standing interest in web development into practical experience.
“I have always had a passion for learning about web development. Despite participating in several courses, I never had the chance to apply my knowledge practically. Through my three-month internship at KITN Company, I was able to learn, practise, and utilise my passion and abilities in web development. This experience opened a door that had been closed to me for a long time.”
For Muna from Chamchamal, the programme helped turn uncertainty about local employment opportunities into a promising career step.
“As a digital media student at Kurdistan Technology Institute – Sulaymaniyah, I was hesitant about whether I could find a job in my hometown without having to move to a bigger city. Through NOCII Career Connect and my internship at Renma Institute, I gained valuable experience and, after completing the internship, I secured a position as a head office assistant.”
Their experiences illustrate how access to practical training and connections with local employers can help young people build confidence, pursue their professional interests, and access employment opportunities within their own communities.
Creating Local Opportunities for Young People
As part of NOC II’s wider work to prevent violent extremism, Career Connect addressed an important dimension of youth inclusion by supporting young people in developing professional skills, gaining workplace experience, and connecting with employers. The initiative helped strengthen pathways towards employment and greater economic participation.
Creating viable local career opportunities also matters in the context of irregular migration. When young people can see realistic prospects for building their livelihoods in their home communities, they have more options to consider when making decisions about their futures. While employment initiatives alone cannot address all the factors influencing migration, they can contribute to more sustainable local opportunities and a stronger sense of professional direction.
The project’s approach also reflected the importance of adapting programmes to the needs identified during implementation.
Strengthening Private-Sector Partnerships
NOCII Career Connect was supported by 22 private-sector companies and institutes across health, education, industry, agriculture, and IT solutions. These organisations hosted interns, assigned practical tasks, and provided mentorship throughout the programme. During the closing events, SPARK presented appreciation shields to participating organisations in recognition of their contributions to youth development and employability.
The involvement of local employers was central to the initiative, creating opportunities for young people to apply their skills in professional settings while enabling businesses to engage with emerging talent in their communities.
Through NOC II, SPARK continues to support young people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by connecting skills development with practical opportunities for economic participation. Career Connect demonstrates how targeted, responsive interventions can build on existing programmes, strengthen local partnerships, and help young people take meaningful steps towards their professional futures
