Encouraging peace, social cohesion, and community trust-building with local authorities in Iraq

April 28, 2022

Photo: Workshop participants. 2022.

Following the liberation of ISIL held territories in Iraq, infrastructure has been re-built and relationships re-established, however distrust and uncertainty between many groups remain due to the lingering effects of prolonged conflict.

To address this social fragmentation, UNDP Iraq, in partnership with Public Aid Organization, and in cooperation with Alliance of Iraqi Minorities and Fight for Humanity, is empowering and engaging local authorities and community mechanisms to promote social cohesion in twelve locations in Ninewa and Kirkuk with support from the Netherlands.

The main objective of the project is to support local authorities, security personnel, police, and community police with resources for conflict resolution and increasing community trust and unity, enabling them to facilitate and encourage engagement with members of their communities. The year-long project includes development of a peacebuilding curriculum, capacity building programmes for relevant local authorities and community mechanisms, hosting of communal dialogue and mediation sessions, and facilitation of up to ten Local Peace Agreements.

Photo: Workshop participants. 2022.

From 21 to 23 April in Duhok, twenty-five local officials from Tal Afar District, Ninewa attended the first training session implemented to empower participants with information on causes and analysis of conflict, conflict management techniques, and dialogue and mediation skills.

Photo: Mayor Qassim Mohammed Sharif. 2022.

“When I started my position, I opened the door for any citizen that wants to discuss any issue and speak to me privately, at home or on the phone. We address sensitivities and sectarian speech through use of open dialogue. In Tal Afar we have agreed that all people are welcome to return to the area, with four exceptions; these are people who still believe in Daesh and encourage the dissemination of ISIL ideology, murderers; perpetrators of sexual violence, and those who have abused women and taken their freedom. We have encouraged displaced families to return from Turkey and assisted families of those affiliated with ISIL to retrieve their homes. During the occupation of ISIL, there was a line drawn between our communities. Now, this line has disappeared.”

-Mayor of Tal Afar, Qassim Mohammed Sharif.

Photo: Nazem Saber Hussein. 2022.

“Tal Afar needs to focus on education and the balance of powers to build community trust and social cohesion. We know there is tension and conflict between communities, but we do not know the real background of the issues. We can do a deep dive into the subjects through communal discussions. The most important thing is for people to get back their land and the money that they lost.”

- Director of Tal Afar Municipalities, Nazem Saber Hussein.

Photo: Saado Ibrahim Saado (centre). 2022.

“Our social fabric was fragmented during the era of ISIL. Agriculture is the spine in the economy of Tal Afar and good water supply will keep people employed. Because of the shortage of water now, many are without jobs. Promotion of small businesses in Tal Afar such as cattle raising is key to boost the local economy in the district. In the last 5-6 years, ISIL destroyed all small projects. Before ISIL occupied the area, I owned over 5,000 acres of land and fed almost 400 families. But it was all burned, and we had to start from scratch again. Recovery is happening but it is slow.”

- Director of Agriculture in Tal Afar and Tribal Leader, Saado Ibrahim Saado.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Adullah. 2022.

“As community police, we are different from other security forces. When people visit us in our office, they don’t see weapons. Initially, society was against women visiting police stations. Now, after three years of work, we have 45 women in the community police group. We work to address community problems; for example, during the early days of liberation, looting and theft was common due to lack of public lighting. On behalf of the community, I visited the electricity directorate and informed of the security issues. They improved their power supply, and this stopped the theft. One of the skills we are learning is how to work in synch with communities.”

- Mohammed Ali Abdullah, Captain, Community Police, Tal Afar

In 2020, UNDP Iraq launched a dedicated five-year Social Cohesion Programme to promote stronger, peaceful, and more cohesive communities in all areas of Iraq.