Prof. Dr. Haider Ali Al-Dulaimi College of Administrative Sciences Poverty in Iraq constitutes one of the most prominent structural challenges facing the path of development. It is no longer merely a transient economic phenomenon; rather, it has evolved into a multidimensional issue in which economic, social, and institutional factors intersect. In light of the transformations experienced by the Iraqi economy, there is a growing need to reassess the reality of poverty from an analytical perspective that links the cost of its far-reaching impacts with the effectiveness of response policies within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. Poverty in Iraq is not limited to low income levels; it is also manifested in limited access to basic services, the deterioration of the quality of education and healthcare, and rising unemployment rates, particularly among youth. Moreover, spatial disparities among provinces and inequalities in resource distribution further deepen the poverty gap and make addressing it more complex. From this standpoint, the importance of analyzing the cost of the impact of poverty becomes evident. This cost is not confined to direct economic losses but also includes long-term indirect effects, such as reduced productivity, the decline of human capital, and increased pressure on public finances. Poverty imposes a compounded cost on the national economy, affecting opportunities for growth and stability and limiting the state’s ability to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development. On the other hand, response policies in Iraq face multiple challenges, most notably weak institutional coordination, fragmentation of social programs, and their frequent reliance on short-term remedies rather than structural solutions. In addition, the limited availability of accurate data and the absence of effective targeting systems reduce the efficiency of these policies in reaching the most vulnerable groups. In this context, the Sustainable Development Goals represent an important reference framework through which policies can be redirected toward a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to addressing poverty—particularly Goal 1, which focuses on ending poverty, along with related goals such as quality education, decent work, and reduced inequalities. Achieving these goals requires the adoption of an integrated approach that links economic growth with social justice and enhances the efficiency of resource utilization. The Conference of the College of Administrative Sciences comes to shed light on this central issue by opening avenues for academic and research dialogue on ways to estimate the cost of poverty, analyze the effectiveness of response policies, and propose innovative perspectives based on international standards and best practices. The conference also seeks to strengthen the role of academic institutions in supporting decision-makers through the provision of rigorous scientific studies that contribute to evidence-based policymaking. In conclusion, addressing poverty in Iraq requires a qualitative shift from traditional policies to sustainable development strategies that take into account the long-term cost of impact and are based on integrated planning and partnership among various stakeholders. This makes the conference an important academic platform for rethinking the future of development in Iraq in a way that achieves social justice and enhances opportunities for prosperity for future generations. Al-Mustaqbal University… The leading private university in Iraq.