Iraq

Oxfam in Iraq

Oxfam has been working in Iraq since the 1990s, supporting communities with humanitarian assistance, recovery, and long-term development projects. However, in 2003 Oxfam discontinued its operations following the invasion of Iraq. Following the 2014 attacks by what became known as the Islamic State in Iraq, Oxfam re-established its presence in the country and conducted a comprehensive needs assessment. The findings highlighted an urgent humanitarian crisis, with millions of Iraqis displaced by conflict across multiple regions and facing severe gaps in basic services, livelihoods, and protection.

Today, Oxfam in Iraq works to advance justice through resilient and inclusive development, addressing the country’s deep-rooted social, economic, and environmental inequalities. With its main office in Erbil and a sub-office in Anbar, Oxfam maintains an active operational presence across Baghdad, Salahaddin, Diyala, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Ninewa. Following the Government of Iraq’s declaration of the end of the humanitarian phase in 2022, Oxfam strategically transitioned from large-scale emergency response to longer-term, locally led development programming, while retaining the capacity to respond rapidly to new shocks and emerging crises. Oxfam’s vision is of a just, inclusive, and resilient Iraq, where effective and accountable actors across government, civil society, and the private sector work together to ensure that all Iraqis can exercise their rights and live in peace, equality, and prosperity.

Oxfam Strategy

Oxfam’s 2025–2028 strategy in Iraq is built around three interconnected pillars. The first, Gender Justice, focuses on strengthening women’s rights organisations and networks to lead change, influence policies, and increase women’s meaningful participation in decision-making. Gender equality is mainstreamed across all programmes, with sustained support to locally led women’s movements through long-term partnerships, research, and advocacy. The second pillar, Economic Justice, aims to expand inclusive and equitable economic opportunities by strengthening market systems, improving value chains, increasing access to skills and financial resources, and addressing structural barriers that limit the economic participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups. The third pillar, Climate Justice, responds to Iraq’s acute climate vulnerability by generating climate knowledge and awareness, supporting community-led adaptation planning, piloting climate-resilient solutions, modernising the agriculture sector, and promoting equitable environmental governance.

Oxfam Approach Working with Local Partners:

Across all areas of work, Oxfam prioritises locally led development, guided by the principle of asking “Why not a local partner?” before every intervention. Oxfam increasingly delivers its programmes through Iraqi civil society organisations, women’s networks, local authorities, and private sector actors, supported by a unified “One Programme” approach that integrates humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding perspectives. Since 2014, Oxfam has partnered with over 100 of local organizations across the country (Federal Iraq and Kurdistan Region of Iraq), we currently have strategic partnerships with 32 local CSOs across FI and KRI. Through this approach, Oxfam remains committed to enabling transformative, community-driven change and building resilient systems that allow all Iraqis to thrive.

Impact Snapshot

Since Oxfam began working in the 1990s, it has reached over Two million people across the country. From 2021 - 2025, Oxfam has reached 748,540 people through its programs, including:

From 2021-2025, Oxfam implemented 60 projects across Iraq, spanning key focus areas such as:

• Gender Justice (11 projects)
• Economic Justice (10 projects)
• Enhanced Humanitarian Action (32 projects)
• Accountable Governance (4 projects), and
• Climate Justice (3 projects).

These efforts reflect Oxfam’s commitment to addressing critical needs and promoting sustainable development.