Empowering CSOs in Iraq (Project number IRQ P1-01)

The programme seeks to empower civil society organisations (CSOs) to effectively monitor the Government's compliance with due process and transparency by building the capacity of chosen CSOs to hold the Government accountable in the areas of service delivery, corruption, human rights and civil rights. The programme will also contribute to the establishment of sustainable channels of dialogue and partnership between CSOs and the Government to interface and ensure that civil society is gathered during policymaking processes. The programme will work with a consortium of CSOs that presented their demands to the Government. The programme aims at establishing a basis to enable an expanded CSO network, thereby ensuring sustainability through Trainings of Trainers targeting additional CSOs.

The programme will also support Iraqi civil society in the Kurdistan Region to build and formalize its relationship with public authorities based on principles of mutual recognition, participation, and accountability. To this end, the programme will support the adoption of a national compact establishing the basis for a constructive relationship between government authorities and civil society. This will help to strengthen the rule of law in Iraq, and enhance the responsiveness of the Iraqi government to the actual needs of its constituents.