Abstract
This brief synthesizes research on the extension of social security coverage to informal workers in agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It highlights the main barriers preventing workers from accessing social security and identified opportunities within the current political and economic context of the region. The brief is structured around three main points: first, it examines the sector-specific and cross-cutting challenges to enrolment, including legal exclusion, contribution affordability, and low trust in institutions; second, it reviews targeted policy and administrative measures to overcome these barriers; and third, it outlines recommendations for improving access, fostering formalization, and strengthening livelihoods in these key economic sectors.