When the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians, including many Kurdish families and other ethnoreligious minorities, sought refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The conflict deepened with growing insecurity and the rise of ISIS in 2014, triggering another wave of displacement and leaving countless young men and women without access to education, stable income, or opportunities to shape their futures. Today, an estimated 260,000 Syrian refugees remain in the KRI, with more than 90,000 still residing in Syrian refugee camps. Within these camps, limited employment opportunities, financial hardship, and restricted access to digital learning continue to hinder their ability to build independent and sustainable lives.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with support and funding from the Government of Austria, launched the “Digital Technology Skills to Enhance Employability in Iraq” initiative to strengthen the digital, technical, and entrepreneurial capacities of youth from internally displaced, refugee, and host communities. UNIDO also recognizes the critical importance of women’s economic participation and is committed to empowering women in the workforce across all its programmes.

As part of this initiative, UNIDO delivered a 12-day workforce training course in Domiz 1 Syrian refugee camp, home to over 6,000 families, or over 28,000 individuals. The training course took place from November 17 to December 2, 2025, targeting 23 young Syrians, including 16 females and 7 males. Throughout the course, trainees completed multiple exams and practical assessments, and an external evaluator will now review their overall performance. Based on these combined scores, UNIDO will select the top performers to receive material support, helping participants launch new businesses or strengthen existing ones.

The comprehensive training included three interconnected components, including Networking Fundamentals, Cybersecurity Basics, and an Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP). Together, these modules were designed not only to build solid technical capabilities but also to help young Syrians understand how to translate those skills into real, practical economic opportunities.

For many participants in Domiz 1 Syrian refugee camp, access to advanced digital learning has historically been limited.

Lead trainer Saman Ayub Abdullah, a software and information engineer with extensive experience in IT management, networking, broadcast engineering, and media-sector web development, played a central role in shaping the programme’s technical track. Saman designed and delivered a 9-day training module covering networking fundamentals and cybersecurity.

He observed that most participants entered the programme “without a clear understanding of how the internet actually works,” noting common gaps in security hygiene and troubleshooting skills. “By the end of the course, they moved from passive users of technology to individuals who can explain how a basic network functions and what safe digital behaviour looks like,” he explained.

Saman highlighted the entrepreneurial potential of these skills as well: “Many trainees showed real ability to diagnose connectivity issues, secure home networks, and communicate technical concepts simply, exactly the kind of abilities that can become paid community services.”

Assistant technical trainer, Muhammad Qasim, who holds a degree in Computer Science and has extensive IT and digital design experience, noted that “Many youth had limited knowledge in key areas such as network configuration, cybersecurity awareness, device protection, and systematic troubleshooting.” He added that several trainees had never been exposed to professional digital tools or structured IT instruction before the course.

The training addressed this gap through a blend of theory and hands-on practice. “Our hands-on approach helped them apply concepts directly in real scenarios, which strengthened their foundational digital competencies and their confidence,” Muhammad said.

EDP trainer Newar Ameen, one of two trainers leading the marketing and business development sessions, highlighted how quickly participants, particularly women, strengthened their understanding of marketing and economic concepts. “Most trainees improved in how they think about business and how to market their goods or services,” he said. Newar noted that Domiz 1 Syrian refugee camp “has a real need for new businesses,” and believes the programme gave youth a solid foundation to start their own ventures.

Over 12 days, trainees learned to configure networks, protect devices from cyber threats, identify common security risks, and conduct essential troubleshooting, skills highly relevant to employment and entrepreneurship. Muhammad emphasized the market relevance of these competencies, “The trainees are now able to provide services such as Wi-Fi and router setup, basic security assessments, system protection, and technical troubleshooting. These competencies are in high demand among households and small businesses.”

The impact of the training was clearly reflected in the ambitions and future plans of the participants, several of whom shared their experiences and insights from UNIDO’s training programme.

Among them was Mohammed Rashid Mohammed, a 24-year-old Kurdish refugee from Afrin who now lives in Duhok with his wife. He already operates a small mobile repair shop but lacked formal knowledge of networking and cybersecurity. “I didn’t have any information about IT networking fundamentals, so I learned a lot from this training,” he said. “I also learned about cybersecurity, which I can now implement in my business.”

Mohammed hopes to expand his shop into a larger technology service center offering cybersecurity support and eventually selling computers and related equipment. “This training will help me a lot by improving my business management and technical skills,” he explained, noting that increased income would allow him to better support his wife and send money to his elderly father in Syria. He added that the most important part of the EDP for him was “learning about market needs.”

Another participant, Muhammed Abdullah Mohammed, age 25 and living in Domiz 1 Syrian refugee camp, currently works as a graphic design trainer. He joined the programme to strengthen his digital skills and improve future job prospects. “I learned a lot about cybersecurity and can now protect my online information and data as well as help others,” he said. He hopes to open a cybersecurity-focused business one day or pursue employment abroad. He highlighted the importance of the entrepreneurship sessions, saying, “Marketing and accounting were the most important topics I learned about, especially for managing finances and attracting customers if I own my own business one day.”

Jiyan Mohammed-Fawzi Alhussein, a 22-year-old female who also lives in Domiz 1 Syrian refugee camp, had no prior knowledge of networking or cybersecurity. “I really liked this training and have already signed up for additional courses,” she said. Her learning quickly resulted in an opportunity as she received an internship offer from an IT company based in Duhok, KRI, with the future possibility of full-time employment. The EDP component gave Jiyan a new perspective on business planning. “I learned the difference between what people may need and what they may want,” she explained. Inspired by this understanding, she just recently began designing and creating product showcases for companies and artists. “I already created and sold a few showcases this week,” she said proudly. “It motivated me and helped me better understand market needs. I love this work, and thanks to this training, I hope to further develop my own business.”

The fourth highlighted trainee, Bahar Khalid Yousif, aged 25 and originally from Qamishli, Syria expressed a strong interest in cybersecurity. “Now I have more information about networking and cybersecurity,” she said. “I learned new things and would like to work in this area and one day open my own business.” Bahar emphasized the personal importance of the training: “After the training I had more information, especially about how to protect myself and my family from being hacked.” She found the budgeting lessons particularly valuable, adding that the EDP strengthened and improved her overall management skills.

By the end of the programme, trainees gained not only technical knowledge but also a clearer understanding of how to turn these skills into income-generating opportunities. Whether through freelance IT support, cybersecurity services, digital design, or community-based technology businesses, many participants now possess the tools needed to support themselves and their families, in addition to contributing to local digital development.

For the youth in Domiz 1 Syrian refugee camp, this training represented more than a learning opportunity, it offered hope. By improving employability, strengthening confidence, and enabling innovative thinking, UNIDO’s programme helps ensure that displaced youth are not defined by the challenges of the past but empowered by the possibilities of the future.

Through the support of the Government of Austria, UNIDO continues to demonstrate how targeted digital and entrepreneurial training can rebuild livelihoods, enhance resilience, and expand pathways toward economic independence for refugee communities across Iraq.