International Development Grant
Rebuilding Communities and Improving the Well-Being of Women and Girls in Iraq
Project Number: CA-3-P005905001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $5,149,108.00
Start Date: March 22, 2019
End Date: June 30, 2023
Duration: 4.3 years
Project Description
The project works at improving the well-being for the most vulnerable women and girls in Iraq. It aims to do so by: creating safe spaces for women and girls to support them in their collective efforts for positive change; supporting meaningful community participation by women; working with men and boys to promote gender equality and positive role models; supporting local women’s rights defenders; contributing to an inclusive women-led accountable Women Peace and Security agenda. Project activities include: (1) building the capacity of parliamentarians (women and men) towards policy development that strives to improve gender equality (GE) and promote the participation of women in the rebuilding of their communities; (2) providing technical and financial assistance for women's rights organisations (WROs) and groups of women’s rights defenders including training and coaching in GE human rights (HR) policy development network development and livelihoods programming; (3) with the assistance of the WROs establishing child-friendly women’s spaces where women can meet to seek assistance education exchange ideas and discuss matters of importance to the rebuilding of their communities; (4) training for community leaders (who are mostly men) as well as men and boys in GE and issues pertaining to women and girls (and in some cases men and boys) in their communities such as HR sexual and gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to garner support for improved lives of their mothers sisters and daughters; (5) establishing networks between women WROs and community leaders to ensure women’s voices are heard and that they participate in the rebuilding of their communities develop and conduct a social media campaign with GE messaging based on the work with community leaders men boys women and girls to champion GE. .
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved social and political environment for the effective participation of women and girls in governance structures; and (2) increased active participation of women and girls in public and political life and decision-making processes as transformative leaders.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved at the end of the project (March 2023) include: (1) strengthened the capacity of 2 Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) the Youth Activity Organization in Diyala and the Iraq Al Amal Association (IAA) in Kirkuk to deliver awareness-raising activities. IAA convened a national conference for women in collaboration with the Iraq Women Network: “Together to eliminate violence against women and impunity ” attended by 395 participants (105 men 258 women 9 girls and 23 boys) local government and civil society organization representatives from various governorates of Iraq. 13 other WROs participated in a “16 Days of Activism” campaign. Other partners supported the “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” campaign to act against gender-based violence in Iraq; (2) conducted a study on barriers influencing women and girls’ access to public life and decision-making in Diyala and Kirkuk. Oxfam used findings from the study to design activities that addressed the most pressing issues raised by project beneficiaries. The evidence-based studies focused on gender analysis and policy review the feminist and women’s movement in Iraq and social norms structuring masculinities gender roles and stereotypes. Through 200 awareness-raising sessions the project reached 2 462 women and girls who in turn articulated and voiced their social economic political and sexual health and reproductive rights. A separate set of community dialogues held at the national and regional levels for citizens to meet their leaders and dialogue on key gender issues of concern reached 214 individuals (90 women 62 men 41 girls and 21 boys). 223 women received training to improve their knowledge and skills in business management and 100 of the attendees obtained grants to help sustain their businesses (50 in Diyala; 50 in Kirkuk); and (3) 300 women in 10 project locations received advocacy training and 46 change makers (26 women 20 men) and 36 women leaders on awareness r
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Oxfam QC
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:
Call for Proposals