The Case of Iraqi Humanitarians and Development Practitioners

As Iraq’s NGO sector contracts under global donor fatigue and shifting priorities, thousands of aid workers are being forced to reinvent themselves.

Some last names have been omitted to protect the identities of the sources.

“When I first stepped into an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in 2015, representing a small NGO distributing food, hygiene products, and blankets, I knew I’d found something that mattered,” reflects Sarah, a former humanitarian aid worker who was herself displaced from her hometown of Al-Alam after ISIS’s attack and occupation in June 2014. “Every ration shared wasn’t just survival—it was hope.”

Over the next few years, Sarah climbed the career ladder, becoming a project manager in 2018 with a small French NGO in Erbil. There, her mission shifted from crisis relief to development, empowering rural Iraqi women across five provinces through an economic livelihood project. “Helping them build sustainable futures was transformative—for them and for me,” she recalls.

However, in 2023, dwindling funds forced her to pivot once more. Returning to a personal dream, Sarah opened a cozy barista café in Erbil. “It’s different, but the essence remains—creating connection, offering something meaningful. Only now, it’s through coffee instead of aid.”

A Bit of Context

The nonprofit sector is critical to global development in areas such as social services, health, education, economic growth, social cohesion, and culture. There are roughly 1.3 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, employing approximately 10% of the workforce and generating $2 trillion annually. In Canada, nonprofits contribute more than 8% of the national GDP, with over 170,000 organizations operating in a variety of fields. Similarly, Germany has over 600,000 organizations employing millions, largely focused on social welfare and cultural activities. The Netherlands and Australia also have thriving nonprofit sectors, with over 40,000 and 56,000 organizations, respectively, supporting education, healthcare, and community services.

Globally, the nonprofit sector comprises over 10 million organizations, employing millions of people worldwide. Estimates suggest the industry generates trillions of dollars annually, demonstrating its significant impact on economic and social development.

In Iraq, Haider Majeed, Spokesperson for the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, stated that as of 2023, the number of officially registered NGOs surpassed 5,000, in addition to more than 100 registered international NGOs and agencies.

Between 2014 and 2024, international aid and development funding in Iraq followed a fluctuating trajectory shaped by internal developments and global geopolitical shifts. Aid peaked in the aftermath of ISIS’s rise in 2014, when the international community mobilized significant resources to address humanitarian crises, displacement, and reconstruction. The highest levels of aid came between 2017 and 2018, as military operations to recapture ISIS-held territories intensified, especially around Mosul. During this period, support focused on emergency relief, infrastructure rehabilitation, and reintegration of displaced communities, with major contributions from the U.S., the European Union, and the United Nations.

Following ISIS’s territorial defeat, Iraq entered a stabilization phase. By 2019, the focus of aid shifted from emergency relief to long-term development projects. This aligned with the return of nearly five million internally displaced persons and efforts to restore essential services and rebuild local economies. As Iraq grew relatively more stable, international assistance gradually declined, with donors redirecting resources to emerging global crises.

The outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022 and the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza further redirected international attention and funding. As these crises demanded urgent humanitarian intervention, donor priorities shifted, reducing allocations for Iraq. European governments and international agencies increasingly diverted aid budgets toward Ukraine—a crisis with both political and humanitarian imperatives—leading to the suspension of programs in Iraq and funding cuts for local NGOs and civil society organizations that once employed thousands of Iraqis and supported millions.

“When I was job hunting, I would apply to at least 30 positions every day, knowing that I would eventually be contacted by HR. However, in 2024, some Iraqi NGOs couldn’t even afford to hire HR staff. Between 2016 and 2018, there were at least 100 new job opportunities with NGOs from all over Iraq every day,” comments Rama Al-Korani, a finance specialist and aspiring MBA candidate.

We cannot overlook that the decline in development aid to Iraq is also tied to donor fatigue and the country’s “relative” political stability despite ongoing challenges such as drought, displacement, shrinking civic space, rising rates of gender-based violence, school dropout, corruption, and governance issues. These modest improvements reduced Iraq’s profile as an emergency priority compared to conflict zones like Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. This reflects a broader trend in humanitarian funding, where donors often prioritize regions facing immediate security threats or high-profile conflicts.

Ali, a former humanitarian aid worker in Iraq, paints a sobering picture of the nonprofit landscape. “We all know that working for nonprofits isn’t a stable or permanent path,” she reflects. “But what’s happened to the local organization where I once worked is nothing short of heartbreaking. Back in 2017, we were a thriving team of over 90 dedicated professionals—social workers and lawyers united in the mission to protect women and girls from gender-based violence. Today, in 2024, that same organization has dwindled to just one part-time lawyer and two part-time social workers. It’s frightful.”

Now, Ali has charted a new course as a private Arabic language tutor for high school students, yet her heart remains set on returning to the work she loves.

Between 2015 and 2021, several Facebook groups titled “NGO Workers in Iraq” were highly active, featuring discussions, job postings, resources, Q&As, and networking. These platforms also helped announce events and expand outreach. By 2024, however, most had become virtual ghost towns, with only a few nostalgic posts from former aid workers sharing field photos and sentimental reflections on a profession that had become increasingly inaccessible due to funding cuts.

As I began writing this piece, I thought of Ali Jaber, a friend and former colleague with a remarkable résumé of experience working with national and international NGOs. I reached out to him about his recent transition into academia.

Jaber describes his NGO career as a “transformative journey” that profoundly shaped his worldview. “NGOs don’t just build skills in one area; they foster a holistic capacity that transcends specific fields,” he explains. This multifaceted approach, he adds, is rare in today’s job market, setting NGOs apart from traditional sectors.

His engagement with communities, from everyday citizens to local leaders, allowed him to see the world through a new lens. “There’s something incredibly fulfilling about working with people you genuinely care for and witnessing the tangible impact of your efforts,” he shares. “When you invest in training others and watch their capabilities flourish, it’s a reward like no other.”

However, not all aspects of the sector are ideal. Jaber highlights the skepticism some Iraqis hold toward foreign NGOs, often viewing them as purveyors of Western ideologies. “Security concerns remain a constant challenge, hindering many vital projects,” he notes.

He also observed a disheartening trend: “Some workers seemed to prioritize salaries over genuine engagement. Most of these employees, once they leave this sector, speak negatively about its work and intentions, minimizing NGOs’ impact. This damages the sector’s reputation and fuels misconceptions.”

While the NGO sector is known for its flexibility, Jaber acknowledges that both NGOs and academia come with their own advantages and challenges. “One striking difference is the nature of those we serve,” he says. “In the NGO world, you often work directly with vulnerable and marginalized populations, unlike academia.”

Now focused on stability and behavioral change, Jaber strives to incorporate the values he gained from NGO work into his teaching. “I empower my students with practical tools like S.M.A.R.T. Goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Based) and S.W.O.T. analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats),” he says, emphasizing human rights principles. “Whether it’s anti-human trafficking or data privacy, these lessons are essential in shaping a more just society.” Through this new chapter, Ali continues to channel the spirit of his NGO work—inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Iraq’s aid landscape from 2014 to 2024 illustrates how international funding responds not only to local needs but also to global geopolitical shifts. Still, one question remains: was it too soon to reduce or halt funding to Iraq?

“Shifting from dependency on humanitarian aid to fostering self-reliance can empower societies to thrive independently,” says Ammar, now a risk management consultant with a petroleum services firm in southern Iraq. After more than 13 years in local and international NGOs in operational and logistics roles, Ammar reflects, “We [former humanitarians and development practitioners] turned our skills toward business, government work, and the private sector. It’s a shift I’m happy with—but I know others who are still struggling to accept losing jobs they loved.”

As donor funding dwindles, organizations are forced to streamline operations, collapsing roles that once required entire teams into the hands of a single individual. Today, a project coordinator is expected to do it all—coordinate activities, monitor and evaluate progress, write reports, fundraise, draft proposals, manage communications, handle finances, oversee logistics, and ensure safety on the ground. The demand for versatility has never been greater: employees must be self-reliant, resilient, and adept at navigating complex, high-pressure roles.

In this environment, fluency in English and, in some areas, Kurdish is essential. Yet linguistic ability is only the beginning. Success requires mastering the art of engagement with local authorities and stakeholders—the key players who determine whether projects thrive or falter. In Iraq’s nonprofit arena, survival now belongs to those who can do it all—and then some.

“Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service.”

Robert Collier

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