Project Description

Capacity Building and Political Engagement of Civil Society Organizations Engaging in Gender Equality Programming in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Funded by: UNDEF

Timeline: April 2017 – March 2019

This project seeks to strengthen the capacity of gender equality focused civil society organizations to engage with the government to meet the needs of vulnerable women and girls in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, particularly those displaced and host communities affected by the current conflict. In addition to a comprehensive coaching programme, the project further seeks to increase the participation of civil society organizations in governmental and non-governmental coordination and advocacy platforms to empower them to bring attention and generate a positive policy response on gender equality issues. The overall objective is to increase the representation and participation of women focused civil society organization, by doing so WRO expects that the participating CSOs will have greater understanding of operational structure, and gender mainstreaming through capacity building activities and be given a platform to coordinate and advocate. Following the end of this project, there will be an increased rate of participation of local women CSOs and their beneficiaries in governmental and non-governmental platforms. The projects will address the gaps in culturally competent and gender sensitive quality service provision though bolstering the capacity of civil society to meeting the needs of the community, while strengthening and facilitating the voice of these women and girls in civil society and governmental platforms.

In order to increase the CSOs capacity, WRO will host a 4 part comprehensive training on organizational and institutional capacity as well as gender programming and advocacy. Participation and engagement among civil society will be conducted through workshops engaging with parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, governmental bodies and UN agencies and the creation of an advocacy committee.

A total of 10 trainings were held with Modules will focus on the following 4 main areas:

CSOs participate in modules focusing on organizational and institutional capacity

  • Fundamental aspects for CSOs;
  • Detailed instruction of organizational governance;
  • Provide intensive practical training on organizational operational functions
    Management, Finance, HR, Administration;
  • Provide intensive practical training on support functions such as Data Management, Logistics and Procurement, security, etc.

CSOs participate in modules focusing on programming capacity Introduction to Gender Programming

  • Gender Analysis and Gender Mainstreaming
  • Project Cycle Management
  • Results framework
  • Assessments
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Interagency coordination mechanisms and UN Cluster system
  • Action Against Gender-based Violence through Programming
  • International Legal Human Rights Instruments Related to GBV
  • Multi-sectorial programming; Protection (GBV, CP, MHPSS etc.) Livelihoods, Education, WASH, Health, Shelter, NFI,
  • Social service provision for the marginalized groups.
  • Do No Harm/Sphere Principles,

CSOs participate in modules focusing on donor relations and coordination (1 training of 3 days)

  • Proposal writing and fundraising
  • Donor relations and reporting
  • Communications

CSOs participate in modules focusing on advocacy and democratic participation (1 training of 3 days)

  • Partnership, donor, governmental and non-governmental relations
  • Advocacy and lobbying and policy making on local level
  • Promotion of activism and volunteering
  • Women’s voice in government

RESULTS

8

Local Civil Society Organizations strengthened their operational and gender programming capacity due to intensive capacity building program and on-site coaching and mentoring.

1

Advocacy committee established among the CSO’s increased their advocacy skills and strengthened a unified voice.

12

Meetings and workshops held by Advocacy Committee