The provincial government views agriculture as a key means of generating employment and alleviating food insecurity in the governorate. However, lack of investment and modern farming methods have hindered production.

Although few of Erbil’s residents are among Iraq’s poorest, the governorate performs relatively poorly according to humanitarian and developmental indicators. 26% of children aged 0-5 years in Makhmur suffer from acute malnutrition, and a further 15% are suffering from chronic malnutrition. A quarter of Erbil’s population aged 10 years and over are illiterate, with women (36%) suffering more than men (15%). Juman, Khabat and Merkeh Soor districts experience the highest illiteracy rates.

Infrastructure is poor across the governorate. The vast majority of households in all districts except Koisnjaq suffer from prolonged power cuts. One in five of Erbil’s households has no sanitation or uses a hole in order to dispose human waste. This problem is particularly acute in Merkeh Soor, Shaqlawa, Soran, Choman and Khabat, where this figure rises to between 32% and 59% of households. Most households in Shaqlawa, Juman and Merkeh Soor are not connected to the water network.

Erbil hosts a considerable number of IDPs, almost all of whom come from Baghdad and Ninewa. 89% of Erbil’s IDPs live in Erbil district. Over half (58%) of IDPs in the governorate are unable to access the Public Distribution System. Almost all the governorate’s IDPs live in rented accommodation, but the quality of the housing is often very poor. Food and shelter are the two major priority needs for IDP families in the governorate. However, 68% of IDP families have a family member in employment, far higher than the national average of 33%.