Iraq is a diverse country with a mix of ethnic and religious groups, each with unique cultural and historical backgrounds. While this dynamic diversity has enriched the country, it has simultaneously burdened it with tensions and conflicts that hinder promoting of stability and peace. Dialogue is seen as an important tool in achieving this goal, as well as promoting understanding and cooperation among divergent groups. Through dialogue, different perspectives can be heard and shared and common ground can be found. Dialogue can also aid in identifying and addressing the root causes of conflicts and thus create opportunities for building trust and resolving conflict. However, effective dialogue can be challenging to achieve in Iraq.
This report introduces key findings of the systemic review of dialogue experiences in Iraq. It presents an analysis of experiences and lessons learned on the implementation of dialogues by projects of GIZ Iraq, Iraqi state institutions and other international and local organisations. These interlocutors conducted 29 semi-structured interviews with 32 key informants. The report includes an examination of different projects’ relevance to the context of Iraq, with a focus on the challenges, success factors, best practices and key lessons learned. The report also offers a set of recommendations and insights to be considered by GIZ and other organisations working on dialogue for future projects. The findings presented in the report are based on desk research and qualitative data collection through key informant interviews.
