On June 4 2024, the Nordic countries launched NORAQ (Nordic Support on Return and Reintegration in Iraq), a joint initiative aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges of migration management in Iraq. The inauguration ceremony took place in Baghdad marking a step towards enhanced cooperation and support for Iraq's migration and reintegration efforts.
Context and Background
The Government of Iraq is grappling with several challenges in migration management, particularly in reintegration and addressing irregular migration. These areas are also priorities for the Nordic countries. The sustainable reintegration of Iraqi returnees would benefit from support in the provision of adequate and timely reintegration services, a strengthened national reintegration referral system, a better connection between development efforts and reintegration interventions, and stronger private sector engagement. Additionally, wider dissemination of relevant information for intending, outgoing, and returning migrants would bear benefits for these categories of the Iraqi population – and for the national and international actors in the migration sphere in the country.
Establishment of NORAQ
As a means to acknowledge the commendable efforts of the Iraqi Government to respond to these challenges, and to offer additional support, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have established the NORAQ Cooperation Framework as a platform for joint Nordic programming in Iraq. This initiative aims to support the development of a robust migration management capacity in Iraq – including aligned, sustainable, and transparent reintegration services for all returnees. The Cooperation Framework addresses various thematic areas, including return and reintegration, irregular migration, awareness raising, migration and development, general migration management, and capacity support. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) serves as an implementing partner for this initiative.
"By launching NORAQ, we are taking a significant step towards addressing the migration management challenges in Iraq. Our joint efforts will support sustainable reintegration and contribute to a robust migration management system in Iraq," said Mrs Christina Floeystrup, Division Head, Return Division, Ministry of Immigration and Integration, Denmark.
The launching ceremony was attended by the Government of Iraq represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Ministry of Planning (MoP), and Ministry of Migration and Displaced (MoMD) as well as Representatives from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). NORAQ partners present included Denmark (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Immigration and Integration), Norway (Ministry of Justice, the Directorate of Immigration and the Norwegian Embassy to Iraq) and Sweden (Swedish Migration Agency). Ambassadors and representatives of the European Union Delegation and several Embassies partook in the launching ceremony. Additional participants from international organisations, NGOs, the private sector, and service providers included ICMPD as the main organiser of the event in its capacity as implementing partner, the Rwanga Foundation, ETTC, GIZ, Jiyan, IOM, and ILO.
Next Steps
The opening remarks of the representatives of the Government of Iraq and the NORAQ partners reiterated a strong commitment and willingness to take the objectives of the Nordic Programme Cooperation forward through concrete coordinated efforts and actions. The goal is to ensure aligned, sustainable, and transparent reintegration services for returnees and a professional migration management capacity in Iraq.
