Iraq

share

Youth Skills

Why financial inclusion for youth will raise all economic boats

Groups fighting for financial inclusion and youth employment united in Morocco. Will their findings promote progress?

Is Islamic finance a viable alternative to our present model? Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askpang/2423632175/sizes/m/in/photostream/">Alex Pang (Flickr)</a>

share

The Islamic financial system's ancient, interesting idea: Banning interest

As the Islamic finance sector booms, sharia-compliant systems present opportunities for growth as well as reflection on western economic models.

Protesters wave Egypt's flag. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/caitelle/5403613016/sizes/m/in/photostream/">C. Elle (flickr)</a>

share

Turning Arab Spring youth opinions into data - and change

This story was republished in The Christian Science Monitor.

57 million women give birth each year without the help of a trained professional. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7203470@N03/2366525625/">hugrakka(Flicker)</a>

share

Birth kits: An immediate solution to lowering maternal deaths

Bringing one life into the world shouldn't mean sacrificing another. While the developing world scrambles to secure funding for midwifery services, there's a cheap, short-term solution: birth kits.

Cafes in Tunisia have become a common hangout for unemployed college graduates, but now that educated youth may be able to get back to work. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clurross/4543646129/sizes/m/in/photostream/">Flickr (clurross)</a>

share

A new model for Middle East economic practices starts with Tunisia, Libya

Sitting in cafes all over Tunisia are unemployed youth with college degrees and nothing better to do.

Khamaeal Hussein in her beauty shop in Shatt Al Arab district, southern Iraq. Photo: Mercy Corps Iraq

share

Economic Development on a Personal Level

This has been reposted from the Mercy Corps blog.

Soldiers, the traditional actors in a war, patrol in remote Afghanistan. Not shown here are those that provide comforts on the U.S. bases nearby. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/1634664667/">The U.S. Army (flickr)</a>

share

The Private Scams Behind the Scenes of War

At the end of a movie, the credits run for cast and crew. At the end of a war, soldiers receive Purple Hearts and well-earned pensions. But when is the production crew of a war recognized?

share

Restoring Eden

In the early 1990s Saddam Hussein drained what biblical scholars believe to be the Garden of Eden. With the water went the people, known as the Ma’dan, and their way of life. Now, Iraqi-American hydraulic engineer Dr.

share

November Comment of the Month

November's Comment of the Month was sent in by Sarah Standish of Portland, Oregon. Sarah commented on Alok Amatya's post Dairy Cows Fight Terrorism in Fallujah.

Severe unemployment threatens security gains made in the last few years. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_batta/3068191136/">Dogon56 (flickr)</a>

share

Iraq: Can There Be Peace Without Jobs?

Security in Iraq is undoubtedly improving, but rising unemployment threatens to increase instability and worsen corruption, according to Iraq expert Frank Gunter.

share

Iraqis Flock to Cell Phones

What is the most significant change to life in Iraq since the invasion?

Iraqi women are caught in the crossfire between military troops and insurgents. Can dairy farming help bring peace to Fallujah? Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashclements/446232994/">.ash (flickr)</a>

share

Dairy Cows Fight Terrorism in Fallujah

Here's an innovative way to expand economic opportunity for Iraqi widows and reduce the threat of terrorism: give the women a dairy cow and teach them how to take care of it.

Iraq's Marsh Arabs have coexisted with the wetlands' unique ecosystem for 6,000 years. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/httpblogsinacomcnhomeofbeijingpeople/3610424640/">Dr. Michael Izady, Ph.D. (flickr)</a>

share

Drought, Dams Threaten Iraq's Marsh Arabs

Southern Iraq is home to one of the largest wetlands in the world, where the tributaries of the Tigris and Euphrates meet.

Iraq's most lucrative export after oil - dates - has seen declining production since the American-led invasion began in 2003. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ikhlasulamal/3542981557/">Ikhlasul Amal (flickr)</a>

share

Declining Dates in Iraq

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent violence has left the country struggling to survive. Now, Iraq’s economy is suffering even more due to declining production in one of its most thriving exports after oil: dates.

ATMs Abiding by Islam. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tripu/302268240/">トリプ tripu (flickr)</a>

share

Goodbye Piggy Banks, Hello Working ATMs

In Iraq and need cash? It's not easy. All banking has to be done in person at the branch where you hold an account, your salary is paid in cash — not check — and a Visa card won't buy you anything at the market. It's almost not worth graduating from your childhood piggy bank.