Institution
The Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
Position Type
This is a commissioned Senior Contributor role, with compensation provided on a fee-per-report basis. It is not a full-time or consultancy position.
Location
Candidates may be based in Türkiye or Iraq, provided they have strong familiarity with Iraq–Türkiye economic relations, including cross-border trade, transport corridors, and regulatory frameworks.
Overview
The Iraq Economic Review (IER) is an independent platform that produces rigorous, policy-relevant economic analysis on Iraq. It engages policymakers, civil society actors, and researchers, and examines economic dynamics at the local, national, and regional levels. A core focus of the IER is on how Iraq’s economic future is shaped by its regional relationships, particularly through trade, energy linkages, and infrastructure development.
IRIS is seeking a Senior Contributor to examine how evolving geopolitical dynamics and economic strategies in Türkiye are shaping Iraq’s economic integration. The work will focus on the impact of regional instability, shifting political alignments, and major infrastructure initiatives, including the Development Road, on trade flows and economic connectivity between the two countries.
Scope of Work
The selected contributor will produce two analytical pieces: (1) The first will examine how regional instability is affecting trade flows, transport systems, and economic linkages between Iraq and Türkiye. (2) The second will assess Türkiye’s role in the Development Road, with particular attention to infrastructure integration, customs regimes, and regulatory coordination.
Across both pieces, the contributor is expected to analyze the political economy of cross-border trade, including bottlenecks, informal practices, and institutional constraints. The work should also examine logistics networks, transit routes, and infrastructure investments shaping bilateral exchange. Contributions should draw on interviews with traders, transport operators, policymakers, and regulatory actors, and should provide grounded insight into how trade systems function in practice rather than only in formal policy terms.
Profile
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated expertise in Iraq–Türkiye economic relations and a strong understanding of regional trade systems. They should be familiar with transport, logistics, and infrastructure policy, and capable of working across both formal and informal economic dynamics. Experience producing high-quality, policy-oriented analysis is essential.
Deliverables
The contributor will submit two written pieces, each between 1,500 and 3000 words, depending on format and editorial direction. The contributor will also be expected to engage in an iterative editorial process to refine the analysis for publication.
Compensation
Compensation will be provided as a fee per accepted contribution, with payment made upon final approval of each piece.
Application
Interested candidates should submit a short statement of interest of 300 to 400 words, outlining relevant expertise and proposed angles for the two contributions. Applicants should also include a CV and one writing sample. Applications should be sent to [email protected].
