International Development Grant
Promoting Social Cohesion in Iraq
Project Number: CA-3-D001622001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $4,329,494.00
Start Date: March 31, 2015
End Date: March 07, 2018
Duration: 2.9 years
Project Description
This project aims to help relieve social tensions between host-community members and internally displaced persons in several municipalities of the Diyala and Sulaymaniyah governorates of Iraq. It also complements Canada’s existing humanitarian relief efforts for internally displaced persons in Iraq thereby leveraging greater impact of Canada’s response to the crisis. Project activities include: (1) training of youth women and men community leaders in basic negotiation mediation participatory project planning and management; (2) implementing 30 small to large scale community projects; and (3) training internally displaced persons and host-community leaders in advanced negotiation and conflict management skills. Over 20 000 women girls boys and men internally displaced persons and host-community members benefit from this project supported by Canada and implemented in the Chamchamal Dokan Khanaqin districts of the Diyala and Sulaymaniyah governorates.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) key community leaders build social cohesion and address immediate needs in 10 host and internally displaced persons communities; (2) key community leaders resolve disputes and mitigate host and internally displaced persons community tensions.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project include (March 2018): (1) implemented social projects such as sporting events where communities took it upon themselves to continue activities after the projects had formally ended; (2) provided conflict management training which addressed long-standing tensions inside the communities; (3) Community Action Groups and women’s committees created positive linkages across community lines with people regularly engaging even outside of program activities; and (4) on women’s roles in community decision-making: women who previously had very limited interactions with people outside of their immediate family showed an increase in: their confidence and leadership capacities the awareness of their rights and their willingness and ability to actively participate in their communities.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Mercy Corps
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
EGM Europe Arctic Middle East and Magh
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated