Project profile — Future Forward: The Iraqi Women’s Leadership Initiative

The project aims to strengthen women's leadership and secure their economic rights, thus contributing to good governance, peace and stability in Iraq. The project focuses on empowering women and girls in their homes and communities while working in a larger context of peace-building, transitional justice, and addressing the pervasive barriers women face to accessing their rights. Project activities include: (1) launching a comprehensive leadership training program for 305 Iraqi women already in leadership positions in order to strengthen their effectiveness as politicians and increase their chances of being re-elected; (2) launching a mentorship program (500 mentees matched with 100 mentors) designed to inspire and equip younger women to become civic and political leaders; (3) supporting four women-led local partners to establish women’s support centers to begin providing direct legal services to 15,335 women, and to enable women to access the economic resources to which they are entitled. The centres also provide psychosocial support to 14,400 women, including survivors of gender-based violence; (4) providing a toolkit of women’s empowerment “micro-projects” that local partners can launch at their women’s support centers to build solidarity and peer networks through women’s empowerment programming, and supporting women to advocate within their homes and communities to change norms and behaviors; and (5) reaching 40,000 individuals through “know your rights” campaigns, 10,000 persons through community-based organisations-led targeted campaigns designed to change norms and influence the behavior of male relatives and other influencers in the community, and 480 civil society leaders through facilitated discussions on policy and legislative reform. It is expected that the project will reach 65,815 individuals

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) Iraqi women become increasingly visible and effective in political and civic leadership programs; (2) Iraqi women have better tools and resources to realize their economic and political rights; and (3) public support for Iraqi women’s economic and political rights increases in areas of project activity.

Results achieved at the end of the project (September 2022) include: (1) 13 women won seats in Iraqi elections, increasing their representation in government; (2) trained and developed the skills of women politicians, leaders, and activists skills needed to influence laws and policies. This led to the adoption of policies advancing women’s rights at various levels of government. These policies include mobilizing budget resources to implement the 1325 Iraqi National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security; (3) established “Women’s Empowerment Units” at the governorate level and improved the Government of Iraq’s support for survivors of domestic violence. This includes providing free legal consultations, establishing a toll-free hotline to report gender-based violence, and providing referrals for support; (4) increased the ability for women to claim their rights in court effectively. The project provided 5,627 women affected by gender-based violence with legal services, helping 99% of them win their cases. Also, 1,022 women benefited from provided mediation sessions that dissuaded them from dropping their rights related to divorce and land tenure. This ensured that they received the financial compensation (e.g., child support) they were entitled to under the law; (5) 9,970 women received psychosocial support, which helped improve their emotional well-being; (6) provided 62 women with microloans to start their businesses, and 483 received vocational training that helped them earn a better living; (7) reached 6,260 men and boys with targeted messages tackling harmful social attitudes and helping to increase community support for women’s rights; and (8) led 55 tribal leaders to sign a commitment to end the practice of forced marriages of young women and girls to settle tribal disputes through advocacy efforts.