LocationsUnity during a pandemic
September 21, 2021
Photo: Workshop participants. 2022.
UNDP’s efforts to address violent extremism include empowering a cross-section of society, including youth, women, government actors, and non-governmental organizations. UNDP Iraq, in partnership with the NGOs Directorate, has concluded the second phase of a capacity building programme for representatives of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the design and implementation of programmes and initiatives to prevent violent extremism (PVE). In total, 60 representatives of NGOs across Iraq have participated in the programme.
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In Fall of 2021, the first cohort of NGOs was targeted, and from 24 to 31 October, a second cohort of representatives participated in a series of workshops. Participants from Anbar, Basra, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Najaf attended sessions focused on planning, implementing, and monitoring projects related to PVE. Civil society plays a vital role in peaceful coexistence and stabilization, and these workshops build on UNDP Iraq’s support to the Government of Iraq in combating and preventing violent extremism.
Photo: Workshop participants. 2022.
Nadia Alawamleh, Team Lead of the Social Cohesion Programme at UNDP Iraq, explains, “This programme ensures that non-governmental organizations across Iraq are receiving the support they need to contribute to Prevention of Violent Extremism through their projects and everyday encounters with community members. Through this partnership, we are paving the way for stronger, safer, and more cohesive communities across Iraq.”
According to the Director General of the NGOs Directorate, Mr. Ashraf al-Dahan, “We must join efforts on preventing violent extremism through a comprehensive community approach, including engagement with youth and women. Learning from our international partners, such as UNDP, helps to clarify strategies for addressing the root causes of violence and lays the foundation for comprehensive cooperation against extremism.”
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, supported by the governments of Denmark, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.