Reimagining social assistance in the Kurdistan region of Iraq: The vital role of local organisations

Since 2015, the social assistance system in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has been largely inactive due to fiscal constraints, political instability, and administrative challenges – leaving vulnerable communities reliant on local organisations and international actors to fill the void.

Civil society provides the bulk of the social assistance in the KRI and has for nearly a decade; in the absence of government support, even social workers have come to rely on these systems to refer vulnerable caseloads when they cannot assist them. While these local organisations have become vital lifelines for people in need, they often operate without coordination or integration into formal systems.

The case for local actors in shaping social assistance

A recent BASIC study on the role of frontline providers in the KRI highlights the challenges and opportunities for strengthening social assistance in the region. The research suggests that local organisations could play a key role in bridging the gap between informal, locally led aid efforts and formal social assistance programmes. Their involvement is crucial in ensuring that assistance is not only effective but also accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the community.

The research provides bottom-up evidence and listening to the missing voices on the provider side – those of frontline staff who are the face of aid accountability. We learn how they operate in the face of overwhelming needs, provide social assistance, and the challenges in scaling this learning to regional and national levels. The research also looks at different types of local actors, whether invididual donors, ad-hoc initiatives, or established organisations, and the risks of favouritism, political bias, and unequal resource distribution that can put recipients at risk, as explored in the BASIC lived experiences research.

Many local organisations have unique advantages when it comes to social assistance delivery. They have firsthand knowledge of the community and can provide more personalised, context-specific support. The study highlights several areas where local actors can play a crucial role:

1. Trust and Transparency: A significant issue facing social assistance in the KRI is the lack of trust between vulnerable communities and aid providers like the government and aid organisations. Clear, consistent communication about eligibility, entitlements, and how to provide feedback is essential for rebuilding trust and ensuring that people feel they receive the support they need.
2. Coherence and Coordination: Despite their efforts, local organisations and international aid actors often work in silos. A more coordinated approach that includes local organisations in the planning and implementation of social assistance programmes is necessary to ensure that resources are used efficiently and that services are delivered effectively.
3. Participation and Inclusion in Decision Making: One of the study’s key findings is the need for greater participation of local actors in the design of social assistance, which echoes the challenges raised by local actors in contexts, particularly for organisations led by women. Frontline providers have a unique understanding of community needs and should be integrated into decision-making processes to ensure that programmes are not just top-down but also responsive to the realities on the ground.
4. Accountability through Local Networks: Local networks—whether formal or informal—are already playing a critical role in connecting vulnerable people to the support they need. The study notes that “systematically leveraging personal and community-based networks to identify those in need of assistance” can improve the delivery of social assistance to both scale programmes and provide more effectively targeted assistance. These networks offer an efficient way to do case management, identify needs, and provide specialised services. Local networks also help foster a sense of community and belonging, which is crucial for ensuring that marginalised groups are not left behind.

Living up to localisation commitments: Policy recommendations

Building on the research findings, Pasewan— the key partner in this study—drafted a policy paper in September 2024 with several recommendations aimed at improving social assistance delivery in the KRI. These recommendations are not only relevant for the KRI but also offer valuable insights for other contexts where social protection systems cannot function or are under development.

1. Understand Contextual Power and Culture: Local actors and community-based initiatives are not homogenous and can reinforce power imbalances. It is crucial to understand how communities perceive the different organisations providing social assistance and to address concerns about favouritism or political bias in order to maintain the legitimacy and credibility of aid programmes.
2. Integrate Local Networks into Social Assistance: Local networks should be integrated into the design and delivery of social assistance programmes. This could be especially useful for case management and responding to sudden shocks like floods. The government can also play a key role in facilitating coordination between local and international actors to ensure a more effective and unified response.
3. Prioritise Community Engagement and Frontline Decision-Making: Social assistance programmes should move beyond reactive complaint mechanisms and engage communities proactively. This includes involving local actors in the design phase of programmes to ensure that they meet real, on-the-ground needs. Frontline workers, particularly those in local organisations, should be more involved in decision-making processes. Their insights and experiences are crucial in designing programmes that are both effective and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.
4. Make Social Protection Evidence More Accessible: The evidence and literature on social protection in Iraq are often too technical and inaccessible for key stakeholders. Policymakers should work to make this information more relevant, digestible, and accessible to all involved in social assistance, particularly local organisations and the communities they serve.
5. Use Storytelling as an Accountability Tool: Storytelling can be a powerful tool for accountability. The experiences of both aid recipients and frontline providers should be captured to help decision-makers better understand the challenges and realities of social assistance delivery. This can also serve as a tool for raising awareness and inspiring further engagement with aid efforts.

Looking ahead: A more inclusive and accountable future

It is time to move beyond the rhetoric calling for greater local involvement in the design and delivery of social assistance programmes. In the KRI, local organisations have demonstrated their ability to fill gaps in a fragmented system, and their integration into formal social protection frameworks is crucial for building a more accountable, inclusive, and effective social assistance system.

The challenge ahead is to bridge the gap between informal, locally led aid efforts and formal, government-run programmes while encouraging trust and transparency. By including and promoting local organisations, leveraging community networks, and fostering coordination between all actors involved, the KRI can move toward stronger social assistance systems.