Iraq: Roundtable discussions for government and civil society organisations

Last month we organised two significant roundtable discussions in Baghdad, Iraq with stakeholders from governmental bodies and civil society organisations. The events adressed two critical issues: a) complaint mechanisms between civil society and governmental stakeholders and b) climate change and water management. They were held within the framework of our Quality and Effectiveness in Dialogue and Participation in Iraq project, in line with our commitment to promoting dialogue, participation, and conflict resolution in the country. The primary objective of these roundtables was to foster constructive dialogue between governmental stakeholders and civil society in Iraq, emphasizing the significance of dialogue and participation in conflict resolution, governance, and democracy.

Round Table 1: Complaint Mechanisms Between Civil Society and Governmental Actors
The initial round table, held on 5 March 2024, focused on complaint mechanisms between civil society and governmental actors in Iraq. Stakeholders discussed effective ways to issue complaints. The dialogue aimed to identify platforms for civil society to voice complaints, focusing on enhancing communication channels between citizens and governmental actors. Notably, discussions also addressed the challenges facing marginalized groups.

The round table participants represented several governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Interior, community policing, and Baghdad Governorate, and civil society organisations, including Rewaq Baghdad and Green Spring.The discussions have paved the way for governmental actors and Rewaq Baghdad to collaborate through the Ana Al-Barlaman application, improving their role in forwarding complaints to relevant actors.

Round Table 2: Climate Change and Water Management
The next day a second roundtable discussion was held, examining climate change and water management policies, with a spotlight on the governorates of Diyala and Nineveh. Stakeholders deliberated on challenges and lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of knowledge-sharing mechanisms and sustainability in dialogue outcomes.
This round table’s participants represented several ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and local civil society organisations from Diyala.
At the end of the discussion, the participants agreed on a method for communicating local issues related to climate change and water management with the federal authorities and implementing inclusive dialogue processes that guarantee inclusive ways of addressing critical issues related to climate change mitigation.