Heartland Alliance International

Published purpose

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