About us
UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.
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Our Mission
In 1984, UNICEF established an office in Iraq. In 1990, following the first Gulf war, UNICEF implemented an emergency programme to meet the humanitarian needs of children and women. Throughout the sanctions era of the 1990s, UNICEF focused on rehabilitating social services, providing life-saving therapeutic feeding to severely malnourished children and assisting the most vulnerable children. In 1997, via the “Oil for Food” programme, UNICEF addressed the deteriorating health situation of children, the increasing number of school drop-outs and the protection of children deprived of care.
From 2003-2008, UNICEF ensured emergency access to water and sanitation, primary health care, nutrition, education and child protection services for millions of children and women affected by extreme violence. In 2009, UNICEF reoriented its country programme to support the Government of Iraq develop child-friendly social policies, modernize its institutions and improve the nationwide delivery of basic services critical to the future survival and development of children.
In 2012-2013 as the conflict in Syria brought 250,000 refugees to the Kurdistan region, UNICEF established water and sanitation, education, health, and child protection services in refugee camps and in host communities.
Since 2014, when internal conflict uprooted millions of Iraqis and placed millions more in need of humanitarian assistance, UNICEF has been working with its partners to meet critical, life-saving needs as well as providing emergency and longer-term programmes which support children and families.
UNICEF's Country Office is located in Baghdad. Field Offices are located in Erbil and Basra.
UNICEF's overall goal is to support the Government of Iraq in realizing the rights of all Iraq's children to survival, development, protection and participation, and the creation of an enabling environment to ensure strengthened accountabilities for children with an equity approach. UNICEF works to improve the situation of children in Iraq through key interventions.
Country Programme 2025-2029
The country programme document (CPD) for Iraq is presented to the Executive Board for discussion and approval at the present session, on a no-objection basis. The CPD includes a proposed aggregate indicative budget of $7,710,000 from regular resources, subject to the availability of funds, and $185,004,000 in other resources, subject to the availability of specific-purpose contributions, for the period March 2025 to December 2029.
Our Representative
Christian Skoog
UNICEF Representative in Iraq
Mr. Christian Skoog brings over 30 years of extensive experience in international development, humanitarian response, and human rights, with a distinguished career in leadership, advocacy, and the strategic management of UNICEF operations across diverse country contexts. Throughout his service, he has championed the rights and well-being of children and adolescents, engaging effectively with governments, civil society, and international partners.
Prior to the assumption of his duties as UNICEF’s Representative in Iraq on 31 July 2025, Mr. Skoog served as UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka (May 2021– June 2025), Mexico (2016–2021), Guatemala (2012–2016), and Mauritania (2007-2011). He also held the position of Deputy Representative in Haiti from 2005 to 2007.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Skoog served as the UNICEF focal point to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), collaborating closely with UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement, and international NGOs on global humanitarian coordination and response mechanisms.
Before joining UNICEF, Mr. Skoog worked with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), where he served as Regional Coordinator for Eastern Afghanistan and the Maluku region of Indonesia. He also held positions at UN Headquarters in both New York and Geneva.
Mr. Skoog holds a master’s degree in Economic Development and a bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Economics, both from Stanford University, California, United States. A national of Sweden, he is married and has two children.