Sultanate of Oman Hosts Iraqi Government Delegation for Social Protection Study Tour

–  A technical-level delegation from the Republic of Iraq has concluded a three-day study tour and technical exchange in Muscat to view and gain insight from the Sultanate of Oman’s experience in advancing comprehensive social protection reform. The visit, held from 26–28 January 2026, was hosted by Oman’s Social Protection Fund (SPF) and facilitated by UNICEF, with support from the European Union and in collaboration with WFP and ILO in Iraq.

The study tour comes as Iraq accelerates work on its next National Social Protection Strategy, aimed at building a more inclusive, integrated, and fiscally sustainable social protection system that better supports children, families, and vulnerable populations across the life cycle.

The Iraqi delegation comprised 15 senior officials from key ministries who explored the legal, institutional, programmatic, and financial foundations underpinning Oman’s social protection reform.

“Learning from Oman’s experience will help strengthen Iraq’s reform pathway and improve coordination across social protection programmes,” said Dr. Maha Abdul Kareem Head of the Iraqi Delegation “This exchange supports our commitment to building a coherent system that delivers more effective and equitable outcomes for children and vulnerable families in Iraq.”

Oman’s social protection reform represents a significant shift towards a unified, lifecycle-based approach designed to strengthen social protection outcomes for all. Through the establishment of SPF, Oman has brought together social protection programmes under a comprehensive national framework that enhances coverage, improves benefit adequacy, promotes disability inclusion, and leverages digital systems to improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.

Discussions over the three days focused on the transition towards a lifecycle-based and rights-based social protection system, with particular emphasis on strengthening linkages between social assistance, social security, and labour market policies. Priority areas included benefit design, linking benefits to service with focus on children and other vulnerable groups, financial sustainability, disability inclusion, care services, and the role of data and digital systems in improving service delivery. The delegation also visited an SPF branch in Nizwa to gain first-hand insight into service delivery at the local level. 

“This exchange demonstrated the value of structured knowledge sharing between countries pursuing ambitious social protection reform,” said Sayyid Shabib bin Abdullah Al Busaidy, Vice CEO for Social Affairs at the Social Protection Fund ], Social Protection Fund. “Oman’s experience offers practical lessons that can support Iraq’s ongoing reform efforts”

Financed by the European Union, Iraq’s social protection programmes are embarking on ambitious reforms, with lessons learned from Oman contributing to a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient system.

“Oman has developed its 11th five-year development plan for social protection which puts emphasis on contributions through social security. This is a good lesson learned which ensures that the system is sustainable,” said Klemens Semtner, the EU Ambassador to Iraq.