Implementing Solutions from Dialogue and Participation Processes
On 27 June we hosted the final conference of the project Quality and effectiveness in dialogue and participation in Iraq. “The way forward – Implementing solutions from dialogue and participation processes” took place in Baghdad and convened stakeholders from government and civil society to discuss the implementation of dialogue outcomes. It brought together 50 participants from different Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, Muthana, Basra, Ninavah, Diyala, SalahAldeen, Diwanya, and Najaf.
Participants represented several ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Planning and different civil society organisations. The conference emphasized the vital importance of dialogue between the government and civil society in promoting conflict resolution, good governance, and democracy within Iraq’s diverse context.
In the first session, the focus was laid on formats of dialogue and participation and the involvement of different groups in dialogue and participation processes. In a keynote on participation processes, Jacob Birkenhäger of the company ifok highlighted the potential and role of citizens’ assemblies for civic participation. This was followed by a panel conversation, in which Eng. Teeba Al-Qaissi from the Al-Teeba Organisation for Relief and Development highlighted the role of women in the sustainable implementation of dialogue outcomes while Baneen Mohammad of the think tank Rewaq Baghdad spoke about digital solutions for participation processes. In addition, Dr. Ali Bakht of Ufuq Organisation for Human Development talked about the perspective of minorities and their representation in dialogue processes.
Following this, the focus was on concrete outcomes of the project itself, developed during the round table discussions organised throughout the duration of the project.
Key topics addressed included climate change, youth participation, youth unemployment, vocational training and education, complaint mechanisms, and water management. Esteemed local experts conducted scientific analyses and participated in round table dialogues, contributing valuable insights to the discussions.
In two interactive sessions, the participants identified the suggested way forward in the outcome documents and discussed the next steps towards implementation both in break out groups on the different themes and in the plenary.
In a final panel conversation, best practices on the implementation of dialogue outcomes were shared by Alaa Mohammad from Oxfam Iraq, Dr. Ali Al-Jabouri from the Social Cohesion Committee in the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office and Nayef Al-Fahad of Irfad Organisation.
Eventually, elbarlament presented a dialogue and participation toolkit for all stakeholders that will be distributed and shared as part of the project.
The conference was part of a dialogue and participation project that supports stakeholders from both civil society and the government in implementing effective dialogue and participation processes at the local level. Activities such as a youth camp and dialogue events on climate change, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ufuq Organization, fostered the active involvement of Iraqi youth participation on various issues.
Partners like Rewaq Baghdad and Oxfam Iraq played integral roles in the project’s success, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities within Iraq. The conference marked a pivotal step towards fostering constructive dialogue and enhancing participation across the country, paving the way for a more inclusive and resilient future.
This project is funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the programme “Promoting Dialogue and Participation in Iraq (PDP)”.