United Nations Development Programme Republic of Support for Integrated Reconciliation Project Quarterly Report (April-June 2018)

Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme Country/Region or Area: Iraq Project Title and ID: Support for Integrated Reconciliation in Iraq; Project Number- 00100485; Output number - 00103425 Project Duration: 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2021 Reporting Period: 1 April 2018 – 30 June 2018 Contact Person/s: Dragan Popovic, Project Coordinator, [email protected] Funded by: The Government of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom and the Emergency Development Response to Crisis and Recovery (EDRCR) I Summary

The military fight against Da’esh has reached a successful conclusion. Turning to the future, Iraq now faces a period of political uncertainty during the electoral period until a new government is formed. Understanding between Central Government and the Kurdistan region should continue evolving and numerous inter-linked and deeply complex community conflicts across ethnic, sectarian, political and tribal lines need to be managed and hopefully solved.

But with these uncertainties come opportunities. If, during the coming period, political inclusivity and democracy deepens, and if local tensions are successfully mitigated, Iraq has the opportunity to draw a decisive line between its violent past and a new future of democracy and prosperity. It is at a critical juncture. In addition, Expediting the voluntary, fair and sustainable return of several million internally displaced people (IDPs) would be a major contributing factor to stability. But to reintegrate returnees, Iraqi communities need to address many complex and conflicting demands—for basic security, for accountability, for redress and for the rebuilding of trust across social divides. These demands all require effective local reconciliation processes.

To give Iraq a fighting chance to realize its long-awaited ambitions, a new approach to reconciliation was developed specifically attuned to Post-Isis challenges, and to overcome deficiencies in previous efforts: the project underlines the importance of an inclusive approach to reconciliation, that is, a bottom-up and at once coherent, civic-led and locally-owned, Gender-sensitive, Iraq-specific, culturally-sensitive and rights and victim-focused.

1. Achievements

During Q1 of 2018 the project achieved several important milestones, that provided a firm foundation for the expansion and deepening of its impact during the Q2 and remaining project implementation period. The following constitutes an abbreviated list of results achieved. More detailed information is offered in the main part of the report:

Targets for 2018 (based Results: Q2-2018 Cumulative results: Q1 and Q2-2018 on the project document) • Up to 6 new LPCs are • During Q2 LPCs in Falluja and • 15 LPCs were established (12 in Anbar and 3 in established, two of became fully operational by conducting Nineveh) in coordination between the project, which are women- regular sessions and field missions and Governor of Anbar and IFCNR/SCCP.1 only committees organizing conciliatory sessions. Falluja and • In addition, two Women Peace Groups were • Up to 6 LPCs are Ramadi LPCs were directly assisting to established, one in Diyala and one in Nineveh. capacitated Qa’em, Qarma, Amryat Alsumoud, • Representatives of 12 Anbar LPCs, 3 LPCs from • Up to 6 LPCs produce Hadeetha and other LPCs through Nineveh (Nineveh Plains, Sinjar and ) agreements and organizing meetings and conciliatory and 3 LPCs from Salah Al-Din (Dujail, and implement workplan sessions in those areas. This assistance was Balad), in total 18 LPCs, upgraded their skills

1 Those 15 LPCs in Anbar and Nineveh were established within the period covered by the cost sharing agreement with Denmark. However, during 2017 the project supported establishment of the three LPCs in Salah Al-Din, namely in Tikrit, Balad and Dujail, in coordination with the local NGO SANAD, IFCNR/SCCP and local administration. • First round social facilitated by the Anbar local facilitator. during an intensive conflict prevention and cohesion studies • In Anbar, local facilitator facilitated two conflict resolution training programme: a total conducted in 6 target meetings of Ramadi LPC, four meetings of of 256 actors were trained (48 representatives communities Falluja LPC, one meeting of Qarma LPC and of 12 Anbar LPCs, 143 potential LPCs members one meeting of Amryat Alsumoud LPC, in Nineveh Plains, Sinjar and Tal Afar and 65 defining priorities for the community LPCs members from Salah Al-Din) reconciliation. • 10 members of IFCNR/SCCP and 5 UNDP local • In Salah Al-Din, local facilitator facilitated 2 facilitators participated in the same training sessions of the LPCs in Dujail and Balad, programme. defining priorities for community • In Anbar, local facilitator facilitated two reconciliation. meetings of Ramadi LPC, four meetings of • Representatives of 12 Anbar LPCs and 3 LPCs Falluja LPC, one meeting of Qarma LPC and from Nineveh (Nineveh Plains, Sinjar and Tal one meeting of Amryat Alsumoud LPC, Afar), in total 15 LPCs, upgraded their skills defining priorities for the community during an intensive conflict prevention and reconciliation. conflict resolution training programme: a • In Salah Al-Din, local facilitator facilitated 2 total of 191 actors were trained (48 sessions of the LPCs in Dujail and Balad, representatives of 12 Anbar LPCs and 143 defining priorities for community potential LPCs members in Nineveh Plains, reconciliation. Sinjar and Tal Afar) • Nine LPCs (six from Anbar – Central Anbar LPC, • 10 members of IFCNR/SCCP and 5 UNDP Falluja, Ramadi, Qa’em, Amyryat Al-Sumoud local facilitators participated in the same and Khalidya; three from Salah Al-Din – Tikrit, training programme Dujail and Balad) produced agreements and • 19 members of the Central, Ramadi and were implementing workplans. LPCs, coordinated by the Anbar’s • In coordination with the project mentioned 6 chief “Arfaa” (Wise Man) successfully Anbar LPCs facilitated return of 153 IDP mediated a dialogue process between families to their homes (approximately 900 Sheiks from the Ubaid tribe, counterparts family members) from the Jumaila tribe, local government • Central Anbar LPCs and Qa’em LPCs facilitated officials, and other eminent persons from return of 76 families from Habanya camp in the Ksirat village in Anbar. The LPCs Qa'em District. successfully facilitated agreements allowing • LPCs in Amyryat Al-Sumoud and Khalidya and all properly vetted families to return safely, central LPC in Ramadi facilitated return of 20 whilst 9 individuals from a Jumaila clan have families from the Albu-Khalifa tribe, while the been refused to return, due to their direct alleged perpetrators should be prosecuted by affiliation with ISIS. 57 of these families (a the Iraq court system, in line with Iraq’s total of around 350 individuals) returned criminal legislation. with the protection and support of all local • Central, Ramadi and Fallujah LPCs, sheiks. coordinated by the Anbar’s chief “Arfaa” • the list of priority districts in Nineveh was (Wise Man) facilitated return of 57 families reviewed adding three more LPCs: Nineveh from Jumaila tribe to Ksirat village. 9 West, by splitting Sinjar LPC and East, individuals from a Jumaila clan have been Mosul West and Mosul South LPCs, by refused to return, due to their direct affiliation splitting one integrated Mosul LPC. with ISIS. • Local facilitators submitted names of • In Salah Al-Din, LPCs in Tikrit, Dujail and Balad potential members of the LPCs in the organized consultations with communities, following districts: Samara (Salah Al-Din); defining their most vital issues pertaining to Sinjar, Nineveh Plains, Tal Afar and Mosul reconciliation: 1) in Tikrit, it discussions (Nineveh); Moqdadiah and focused on the release of detainees; 2) in (Diyala). Balad, on the safe return of around 1,500 citizens; and 3) in Dujail, on the formation of a Institutional support (IFCNR and SCCP) high-level operations room to coordinate activities of all security forces. • The project further developed a • 26 priority districts in Nineveh, Tikrit, Salah Al- methodology for the SCCP Unit for Din, Anbar, Diyala and Belt were coordination with local and international recognized where LPCs should be formed. Out organizations how to support establishment of 26 priority districts, the project directly and functioning of a civil society network for facilitates community reconciliation activities reconciliation. in 12, through five deployed local facilitators: • the project hired an LPC Senior Expert and four in Nineveh; four in Salah Al-Din; two in Liaison Officer who will be leading the Anbar and two in Diyala. IFCNR/SCCP team, coordinate work of local • LPC support package was created. facilitators and be responsible for the • Local facilitators submitted names of potential overseeing of the LPCs operations. members of the LPCs in the following districts: • The project developed a strategy and an Samara (Salah Al-Din); Sinjar, Nineveh Plains, action plan for the IFCNR Gender Unit and Tal Afar and Mosul (Nineveh); Moqdadiah and hired an IFCNR Gender Focal point and Baqubah (Diyala). Liaison Officer who will be responsible for the implementation of the gender strategy Minority issues and supporting local reconciliation processes from the gender perspective. • A follow up national minorities’ conference to • The UNDP assisted the IFCNR and SCCP to launch the Social Cohesion Road Map for the organize 19 consultative workshops on Nineveh Plains was organized in Bartela in community reconciliation across Iraq, March 2018, involving more than 300 gathering around more than 1500 participants representing different representatives of academia, women and minorities and with presence of the Prime youth groups and community leaders to Minister. The participants signed the first discuss how to be more involved in the Social Cohesion Compact in the Nineveh reconciliation process and how to support Plains. IFCNR/SCCP to achieve their mandates. • After the conference GOI adopted 16 action points that frame immediate needs of conflict-affected minority groups, including establishment of LPCs in Nineveh Plans and Sinjar. • In May 2018, during an official mission to Mosul, in the ceremony attended by representatives of Yezidi and Christian communities and UNDP, the GOI formally launched the Nineveh Plains and Sinjar LPCs. • 103 potential members of the Nineveh Plains (58) and Sinjar (45) LPCs were trained during June and July 2018.

SCORE Index (social cohesion)2

• The SCORE questionnaire (in Arabic, English and Kurdish) was developed and piloted in January 2018. The questionnaire was based on the extensive consultative process that was organized between October and December 2017. • According to the contingency plan, in March 2018, the final questionnaire was piloted in a second series of 12 focus groups, involving additional 110 respondents. The top challenges expressed by the focus groups participants across 18 governorates, were: 1) Declining economy and high youth unemployment; 2) Failing health and education sectors (voiced more strongly by women participants); 3) Corruption; 4) The failing public sector and particularly failing law enforcement/security sector;

Institutional support (IFCNR and SCCP)

• The project supported the IFCNR and SCCP LPC office by developing a methodology for establishment and operationalization of the local peace committees. In addition, the project hired an LPC Senior Expert and Liaison Officer who will be leading the IFCNR/SCCP team, coordinate work of local facilitators and be responsible for the overseeing of the LPCs operations. • The project developed a methodology for the SCCP Unit for coordination with local and international organizations how to support establishment and functioning of a civil society network for reconciliation. • The project developed a strategy and an action plan for the IFCNR Gender Unit and hired an IFCNR Gender Focal point and Liaison Officer who will be responsible for the implementation of the gender strategy and supporting local reconciliation processes from the gender perspective.

2 Challenges with regards to the implementation of the SCORE index and related contingency plan were explained in detail in the narrative part of the report. • The UNDP assisted the IFCNR and SCCP to organize 19 consultative workshops on community reconciliation across Iraq, gathering around more than 1500 representatives of academia, women and youth groups and community leaders to discuss how to be more involved in the reconciliation process and how to support IFCNR/SCCP to achieve their mandates. • 10 campaign videos • 4 Public Service Announcement (PSA) • 6 videos were produced so far: are produced and featuring four Iraqi celebrities advocating • 4 Public Service Announcement (PSA) disseminated for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence featuring four Iraqi celebrities advocating for through all major were produced. The videos can be found reconciliation and peaceful coexistence were news outlets here produced. The videos can be found here • Impact of these o Ghada Rasol o Ghada Rasol videos is measured by o Zainab El Aqabi o Zainab El Aqabi professional media o Noor Sabri o Noor Sabri tracking service o Fareed Lafta o Fareed Lafta • 10 volunteers per • in order to disseminate the discussions • in order to disseminate the discussions during community for 6 during the “Women in Community the “Women in Community Reconciliation communities (60 in Reconciliation Conference” a short video Conference” (December 2017) a short video total) are recruited to was prepared. The link of the video can be was prepared. The link of the video can be assist in public found here - Video; found here - Video; awareness raising • the UNDP started producing videos in a • the UNDP started producing videos in a series • At least 3 public series of “Voices of…”, featuring Iraqi of “Voices of…”, featuring Iraqi citizens who events are organized citizens who will share their visions on will share their visions on community for each community community reconciliation. The first video reconciliation. The first video features by volunteers features Women’s Stories of community Women’s Stories of community reconciliation. • 30 key journalists are reconciliation. The link of the video can be The link of the video can be found here: Video identified, found here: Video • To date, information on project’s activities capacitated and • UNDP Facebook and twitter post on the that were posted on various Facebook pages deployed to raise Nineveh Plains LPC’s training reached out and websites (UNDP Facebook page, digital awareness of more than 4300 persons and was liked by campaign Facebook page, the Sawtuha reconciliation during 50. website and Facebook and the NEC Facebook elections o https://www.facebook.com/undpin page) reached out, cumulatively, more than • Each journalist iraq/posts/868383190028632 15000 followers. publishes at least 3 o https://twitter.com/undpiniraq/sta • Three additional journalists’ roundtables for pieces on tus/1006861365468909568 21 journalists were organized in , reconciliation • Series of youth roundtables were promoted and Baghdad (roundtable in Baghdad was • Social media on the official feminist magazine Sawtuha attended by journalists from Mosul). As a presence of project is (“Her voice”) reaching out over 600 likes, on result, 9 articles were published in established across the Iraqi women Journalists forum and on newspapers (in Koul el Akhbaar, Tareek el most relevant their Facebook page. Shaab and Ad Dustur), an audiovisual applications and • Digital campaign was launched, the social documentary was produced by the Iraqi programmes media platform is active and Media Network and a live coverage of the • Facebook page gain implementation of the social media strategy Basra event was posted on social media, 1000 followers started. The platform for the digital reaching out more than 400 views. The links • Twitter account gain campaign started to operate via a Facebook of the Facebook coverage of the Basra

:or event can be found here قطعة م ن followers page 5000 https://www.facebook.com/IraqPieceOfMe o Facebook page of the partner local /. Although the page is still under start-up NGO in Basra (NEC training) phase, in the first three weeks the page had o Facebook live coverage 1; Facebook around 104,000 visits and generated more live coverage 2 than 10000 likes. • UNDP Facebook and twitter post on the • Three round tables took place in Baghdad, Nineveh Plains LPC’s training reached out Mosul and Sulaymaniyah in April and July more than 4300 persons and was liked by 50. 2018, for more than 60 attendees from o https://www.facebook.com/undpinir Nineveh Plains, Mosul, Baghdad and aq/posts/868383190028632 Kurdistan, to support the campaign and o https://twitter.com/undpiniraq/statu build a roadmap of activities to be s/1006861365468909568 implemented at the grassroots level. • Series of youth roundtables were promoted • To date a group of more than 30 youth on the official feminist magazine Sawtuha volunteers and social media influencers (“Her voice”) reaching out over than 600 likes, from Nineveh Plains, Mosul, Baghdad and on the Iraqi women Journalists forum and on Kurdistan was created, to support the their Facebook page. campaign. • Digital campaign was launched, the social • The third Innovation for Development media platform is active and implementation Forum (#innov4dev) promoted 23 start-ups of the social media strategy started. The with the biggest social cohesion potential. platform for the digital campaign started to

or قطعة م ن The innovators got connected with operate via a Facebook page entrepreneurs to support their ideas. https://www.facebook.com/IraqPieceOfMe/. • “Youth Contest” for social cohesion was Although the page is still under start-up phase, launched, engaging Iraqi youth between 16 in the first three weeks the page had around and 30 years old. To date more than 200 104,000 visits3 and generated more than project initiatives were received. 10000 likes. • Three round tables took place in Baghdad, Mosul and Sulaymaniyah in April and July, for more than 60 attendees from Nineveh Plains, Mosul, Baghdad and Kurdistan, to support the campaign and build a roadmap of activities to be implemented at the grassroots level. • To date a group of more than 30 youth volunteers and social media influencers from Nineveh Plains, Mosul, Baghdad and Kurdistan was created, to support the campaign. • The third Innovation for Development Forum (#innov4dev) promoted 23 start-ups with the biggest social cohesion potential. The innovators got connected with entrepreneurs to support their ideas. • “Youth Contest” for social cohesion was launched, engaging Iraqi youth between 16

3 The resource: the Facebook statistics (generated on bi-weekly basis). and 30 years old. To date more than 200 project initiatives were received. • 4 dissemination • Out of 116 trained social workers, 32 • Two Women Peace Groups were established workshops are held were screened in consultation with and trained focusing on women’s role in with GoI and MOLSA for the follow up advanced community reconciliation: one in Diyala and international experts training how to collect data and support one in Nineveh. on UNDP reports on the victims of sexual violence. • Nineveh Women Peace Group organized a TJ Bazar in Mosul University, involving more than • 5 partnerships for 250 participants. The objective of the Bazar victim support are was to advocate for peace, reconciliation and established social cohesion through the women-crafted • 250 women local art works. participate in oral • Additional 81 female social workers were history training trained, to increase their capacity to play • Coordination their role to support victims. To date the mechanism for project trained 116 MOLSA social workers documentation of in total. GHVs is designed and • The project assisted the Women Center in support gained from Tikrit to hold the final festival presenting GoI the Center’s project. 158 women and man • Referral system for attended the ceremony.4 psychosocial support and legal assistance is designed and support gained from GoI • 50 MOLSA workers are capacitated in transitional justice and psycho-social screening • Community needs assessment is conducted in three sample areas on need and priorities for reparations

2. Progress on the reported challenges

In the previous reporting period the project extensively reported to the staffing issues and challenges with the implementing partners. However, the project’s contingency staffing plan and the implementation

4 The center was formed during 2017 in coordination between the project and Association of Right Owners. During the festival, the Center presented impact of the activities on women beneficiaries (positive stories about new job opportunities, psychosocial assistance etc.). strategy that were being implemented since December 2017, led to concrete results during Q1 and Q2 of 2018 (see above).

Starting from January 2018 the project significantly intensified coordination with the national counterpart the Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation (IFCNR) and Supreme Committee for Coexistence and Community Peace (SCCP). As stated, Iraq now faces a period of political uncertainty during the electoral period until a new government is formed. This situation also impacted work of the IFCNR/SCCP. At the same time, central government, particularly COMSEC, took a more active role particularly in Nineveh Governorate by initiating and coordinating community reconciliation activities in priority areas, which impacted IFCNR operations and consequently requires additional coordination and clarification about the role of IFCNR and COMSEC.

With regards to the component 3 (citizens’ archive), through Q4 of 2017 to date (Q1 and Q2 of 2018) the project could not implement originally planned activities and reach original set of targets 1) due to the request by GOI based on political and security concerns, particularly referring to documentation of human rights violations and transitional justice actions and 2) due to financial shortages. In particular, the targets that could not be reached to date are:

• 4 dissemination workshops are held with GoI and international experts on UNDP reports on TJ • 5 partnerships for victim support are established • 250 women participate in oral history training • Coordination mechanism for documentation of GHVs is designed and support gained from GoI • Referral system for psychosocial support and legal assistance is designed and support gained from GoI • Community needs assessment is conducted in three sample areas on need and priorities for reparations

Therefore, as reported, the project reviewed the activities and shifted to broad area of provision of victims’ protection actions, focusing mostly on women and their role in the community reconciliation. At the same time, the project strengthened cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) who offered its nation-wide network of social workers as a key implementing tool for the project’s victim support work.

Finally, it is important to underline that the project still faces significant financial challenges. In December 2017 the project received $ 561,617 from Denmark (3500000 DKK) and during 2018 the project received two instalments from UNDP EDRCR ranging $ 1,070,0005. The tentative intended budget for 2018 ranged around $ 5 million, but starting from 1 January 2018, taking into account all available sources, the project had available only around $ 2 million. The UNDP is continuing with fund raising activities and will have further discussions with SIDA, Germany, EU etc.

II Project Implementation

1. Community reconciliation

5 First instalment, $ 570,000 was received in January 2018, while the second instalment, $ 500,000 was received in June 2018. 1.1. Local Peace Committees

As stated in the previous report, changed implementation strategy6 brought the first concrete results in the Q1 of 2018. During Q2 of 2018, the project continued achieving results, particularly in Anbar and Nineveh by conducting new conciliatory sessions, facilitating meetings of the local peace committetes and organizing trainings for the LPCs. Local facilitators intensively coordinated between various interlocutors, such as local and regional authorities and community leaders to support functioning of the LPCs and also IFCNR and SCCP.

The following results were achieved during the reporting period:

• Due to complexity of issues that local peace committees need to deal with, the list of priority districts in Nineveh7 was reviewed adding three more LPCs:

Governorates Districts (local Peace Local Facilitators committees) Nineveh Tal Afar Adnan Mohammed Sinjar Adnan Mohammed West Nineveh (previously part Adnan Mohammed of the Sinjar LPC) Nineveh Plains Aysser Saleem Mosul-East (Previously part of Aysser Saleem the integrated Mosul LPC) Mosul-West (Previously part of Aysser Saleem the integrated Mosul LPC) Mosul-South (Previously part of Aysser Saleem the integrated Mosul LPC)

• The project managed to designate good candidates for the local facilitators’ positions in Baghdad Belt and Anbar, to cover remaining priority districts. However, due to financial shortages the local facilitators have not been contracted yet. • Local facilitators supported functioning of the local peace communities and helped achieve: o Local facilitator in Anbar facilitated two meetings of the Ramadi LPC, four meetings of the Falluja LPC, one meeting of the Qarma LPC and one meeting of the Amryat Alsumoud LPC. The LPCs members agreed on the meeting dynamics (each LPC will conduct up to two sessions per a month); the LPCs were also discussing how IFCNR/SCCP and UNDP to promote and support their work, how to resolve conflicts and assist IDPs to return, how to establish cooperation with local and central government and communities etc. LPCs were also preparing plans for conciliatory sessions. Finally, all LPCs underlined that destroyed houses, mines and lack of security and jobs are potentially the biggest obstacles for returning.

6 In November 2017 the project changed its implementation strategy by recruiting and deploying 5 local facilitators in Nineveh, Salah Al-Din, Diyala and Anbar, to directly facilitate work of local peace committees. At the moment the local facilitators are directly managed by the project manager. 7 LPCs structure related to Salah Al-Din, Diyala, Anbar, and Baghdad Belt stays as mentioned in the previous report. o In Anbar 19 members of the Central, Ramadi and Fallujah LPCs, coordinated by the Anbar’s chief “Arfaa” (Wise Man) successfully mediated a dialogue process between Sheiks from the Ubaid tribe, counterparts from the Jumaila tribe, local government officials, and other eminent persons from the Ksirat village in Anbar. In this village, the Jumaila tribe had been clashing with the Ubaid, Aljawana and Al-Muwali tribes over the return of displaced Jumaila families to the area. The conflict erupted after ISIS was defeated in the area and 57 families from Jumaila tribe were displaced, due to alleged affiliation with ISIS. The LPCs successfully facilitated agreements allowing all properly vetted families to return safely, whilst nine individuals from a Jumaila clan have been refused to return, due to their direct affiliation with ISIS. The 57 families (a total of around 350 individuals) returned with the protection and support of all local sheiks. o In Anbar, local facilitator agreed with the Head of the Anbar Tribal Affairs Office, who is also the coordinator of the local peace committees in Anbar, about the restructuring of the LPCs: namely, 1) LPCs should be structured in line with the LPC support package, which was agreed between the IFCNR/SCCP and UNDP, 2) some of the existing local peace committees should be merged, 3) inactive LPC members should be replaced, 4) representatives of the Anbar’s office for displaced persons should be added as LPC members and 5) more women and youth should be included as members of the LPCs, to secure representativeness and openness of the LPCs. o Local facilitator in Salah Al-din facilitated two meetings of Dujail and Balad LPCs. LPC members agreed that IFCNR issues an official order to officially establish LPCs in Salah Al Din and issues IDs for LPCs. LPC members were also discussing how IFCNR/SCCP and UNDP to promote and support their work, how to resolve conflicts and assist IDPs to return, how to establish cooperation with local and central governments and communities etc. • Based on the IFCNR request, UNDP conducted consultations with local interlocutors and provided names of people who may be potential members of the LPCs in Samara (Salah Al-Din); Sinjar, Nineveh Plains, Tal Afar and Mosul (Nineveh); Moqdadiah and Baqubah (Diyala). The IFCNR is currently considering the names • During Q2 representatives of 12 Anbar LPCs and three LPCs from Nineveh (Nineveh Plains, Sinjar and Tal Afar)8, in total 15 LPCs upgraded their skills during an intensive training programme, covering topics such as analyzing types of conflict, conflict components, conflict drivers, active listening, facilitation skills and problem-solving techniques, general concepts of mediation, mediator preparation and roles and active mediator conceptions. They also gained insights as how to design a dialogue process and establish local peace structures and how to communicate with the public. In addition, to insight on workflow and the creation of strategic and action plans, they also learned how to follow up on recommendations to support their work activities. These trainings further included discussions, brainstorming, interactive presentations, working groups, experience sharing and case studies. • 10 members of IFCNR/SCCP and 5 UNDP local facilitators participated in the same training programme

1.2. SCORE assessment

8 A total of 191 actors were trained: 48 representatives of 12 Anbar LPCs and 143 potential LPCs members in Nineveh Plains, Sinjar and Tal Afar. In August 2017 the project contracted SeeD to identify social cohesion and reconciliation needs in Iraq (SCORE Index). The vendor timely delivered all preparatory deliverables, including organization of the focus groups discussions, creation of questionnaires in English, Arabic and Kurdish and recruitment of the survey staff by mid-January 2018. However, the challenge in delivery appeared when the Government, who agreed to implement the social cohesion activity in its adoption of the project document, changed its decision in late January 2018 requesting additional consultations within the government. In February 2018 the government requested UNDP to postpone the activity implementation for the period after elections, due to political and security risks that social cohesion survey may affect. At the beginning of February, in order to overcome delays caused by political reasons, the project, together with SeeD, created alternative two approaches how the activity can be performed, including the further clarification for the government, how the risks can be mitigated, either by strengthening existing SCORE processes and efforts in preparation for the full-fledged SCORE post-elections, or secondly by strengthening the pilot and piloting feedback, or thirdly by concentrating on the revision of QNR, Model & Preliminary Findings. According to this plan, in March 2018, the final questionnaire was piloted in a second series of consultations. The project may start another round of discussions after formation of the new GOI in order to implement originally planned activity, if resources are available for such an activity.

Concretely the following has been achieved:

• During October to December 2017, focus groups to inform the fieldwork methodology and questionnaire content were conducted and reports produced in selected governorates (Baghdad (men only), Baghdad (women only), Sulimaneyah (men only), Sulimaneyah (women only), Dohuk, Basra, Anbar, and Salaheddin). This initial consultation process was followed by two expert workshops where the formal calibration process was completed, with the first focusing on the conceptual modeling and validation, and the second on producing an integrated conceptual model and extensive actor maps. This was followed by the completion of a penultimate questionnaire tool which was piloted during January 2018 with 50 respondents mainly in Baghdad. Based on this process, a final questionnaire was drawn up in three languages (Arabic, Kurdish and English). • According to the contingency plan, in March 2018, the final questionnaire was piloted in a second series of 12 focus groups in 10 governorates (thereby bringing the total number of governorates covered in the conceptual phase to 18). Additionally, 110 respondents answered the final questionnaire. The top four challenges expressed by the focus groups participants across 18 governorates, were: - Declining economy and high youth unemployment leading to crime, loss of livelihood, disintegration of families/communities and economic insecurity. - Failing health and education sectors, voiced more strongly by women participants. - Corruption, linked to sectarianism, nepotism, intergroup tension, armament and lack of trust/confidence in governance institutions - The failing public sector, and particularly failing law enforcement/security sector linked both to ineffectiveness, lack of capacity and corruption. - Other key findings included youth issues which were predominantly related to substance abuse, poor provision of education, lack of socialization opportunities and high unemployment. Forced underage marriages were noted in Babil and harmful religious rituals/practices were noted in Thi’Qar. Severe marginalization and harassment of Sabian and Romani youth and women were noted in Qadissiya. In general, women’s priorities are more focused on youth, health and education. For the most part coexistence was appreciated and accepted across the country and diversity is celebrated, except in Babil and Wassit, but also to an extent in Diyala. Yet sectarianism and provocative/exclusionary narratives in addition to prevalence of firearms and economic insecurity were highlighted as stressors. Government and leaders were blamed for exacerbating the situation and creating tensions in communities, as well as corruption and nepotism.

1.3. Institutional support

During the Q2 the project continued technically to support the IFCNR and SCCP to achieve their mandates. The project particularly assisted to the SCCP LPC office, the SCCP Unit for coordination with local and international organizations and the IFCNR Gender Unit.

• UNDP supported the SCCP LPC office by organizing trainings for the SCCP staff in conflict resolution, conflict management and mediation. Also, the project was holding community consultations and delivered potential names for the membership in the local peace committees in Samara (Salah Al- Din); Sinjar, Nineveh Plains, Tal Afar and Mosul (Nineveh); Moqdadiah and Baqubah (Diyala). Finally, the project also organized trainings for the representatives of 12 Anbar LPCs and the potential members of 3 LPCs in Nineveh (Sinjar, Tal Afar and Nineveh Plains). In addition, the project hired an LPC Senior Expert and Liaison Officer who will be leading the IFCNR/SCCP team, coordinate work of local facilitators and be responsible for the overseeing of the LPCs operations. • SCCP Unit for coordination with local and international organizations required support with regards to the establishment of a civil society network. The role of the network, among others, is to promote community reconciliation and support functioning of local peace committees. The project re- developed and submitted a matrix covering 1) necessary steps for the establishment of the network, 2) necessary steps to build capacity of the civil society organizations and individuals participating in the network and 3) necessary capacity interventions that would enable Unit to coordinate such a network. The follow up meetings and consultations process with civil society will be organized in the following periods, depending on available resources. • During the previous reporting period the project started supporting the IFCNR Gender Unit to develop the Unit’s strategy and an action plan. After conducted consultations and an assessment, the UNDP Gender Expert and the project’s Gender Officer developed the Strategy and an action plan, including the steps how to integrate gender perspective in IFCNR programming and advocate for the women’s role in community reconciliation. The strategy and a work plan were formally adopted by the IFCNR. In addition, the project hired an IFCNR Gender Focal point and Liaison Officer who will be leading the IFCNR team, be responsible for the implementation of the gender strategy and supporting local reconciliation processes from the gender perspective. • The UNDP assisted the IFCNR and SCCP to organize 19 consultative workshops on community reconciliation across Iraq in April 2018, gathering around more than 1500 representatives of academia, women and youth groups and community leaders to discuss how to be more involved in the reconciliation process and how to support IFCNR/SCCP to achieve their mandates. Those workshops provided sets of recommendations for the attention of the IFCNR/SCCP and the UNDP for the future programming and cooperation.

2. Raising awareness

As stressed in the previous report, since the beginning of the implementation the project was facing challenges to achieve results under this output. The reasons were three-fold: 1) slow procurement process, 2) late contracting of the Communication Specialist, who joined the team only in late October 2017 and 3) constant fluctuation of the implementing partner’s staff (LAPIS), which significantly reduced its technical capacity to implement agreed activities. Consequently, the project reviewed the vendor’s capacity to deliver, decreased the contractual amount and developed set of mitigating measures, which were elaborated in detail in the previous report. The mitigation measures are primarily focused on youth as one of the main drivers and mobilizers for change, community reconciliation and digital campaign. Also, the mitigation measures contributed to achieving concrete results particularly during Q2 of 2018 and opened space for designing follow up activities that will be implemented during Q3 and Q4 of 2018.

As a result, social media posts related to various project’s activities have reached out thousands of end- users.9 For example, during Q2 UNDP Facebook and twitter post on the Nineveh Plains LPC’s training reached out more than 4300 persons and have been liked by 50.10 Another example is the collaboration between the IFNRC and the Director of the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum who have promoted the series of the youth roundtables on the official feminist magazine Sawtuha (“Her voice”) reaching out over 600 likes on the Iraqi women Journalists forum and on their Facebook page. Finally, the platform for the digital

or قطعة م ن campaign started to operate via a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IraqPieceOfMe/. Although the page is still under start-up phase, in the first three weeks the page had around 104,000 visits and generated more than 10000 likes.

During Q2 the project started with the youth related activities (#innov4dev and youth contest) and achieved initial results, which will be deepen in the Q3. In the next quarters the project will be dominantly focused 1) on grass roots youth activities and their implementation in communities and IDP camps and 2) on civil society related activities.

2.1. Production of videos

2.1.1. Public Service Announcement (PSA)

As mentioned in the previous report, production of the PSAs was kept under the implementing partner’s contract (LAPIS). With huge project’s support11, the implementing partner managed to produce agreed videos, involving four Iraqi celebrities advocating for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. The celebrities are: Zainab Al-Eqabi, a public figure who survived a bomb explosion that resulted in losing her left leg; Fareed Lafta, a civil pilot and athlete, the first cosmonaut from Iraq and the first skydive who climbed and reached the top of Mount Everest (recorded in Guinness World Records); Ghadad Rasul, an Iraqi novelist from Mosul and a professor at the Mosul University; Noor Sabri, one of the most famous goalkeeper in Iraqi football history. The links of the videos can be found here: • Ghada Rasol • Zainab El Aqabi • Noor Sabri • Fareed Lafta

9 To date, information on the project’s activities that were posted on various Facebook pages and twitter accounts reached more than 15000 followers. 10 https://www.facebook.com/undpiniraq/posts/868383190028632 and https://twitter.com/undpiniraq/status/1006861365468909568 11 Namely, the project has been in consultation with the celebrities, has been verifying their credibility and has been arranging their shooting schedule. Finally, the Project was heavily involved in designing of scripts and storyboards for each of the four PSAs, to achieve results on an expeditious way. The project got support from IFCNR and Head of COMSEC (Dr Mehdi Al Alaq) to disseminate and broadcast the videos on the national Iraqi channels, to have broader coverage. The videos will be broadcasted in the next period.

2.1.2. Videos related to women’s role in reconciliation

On 7 December 2017, the UNDP in collaboration with IFCNR jointly organized a first ever national conference for “Women in Community Reconciliation”, under auspices of the PM office. The main goal of the conference was to discuss challenges and opportunities to bolster women interests and roles as peacemakers in community reconciliation and to underline the pain and suffering that women experienced during ISIS’s occupation. In order to disseminate the discussions during the conference, a short video was prepared to highlight ideas and hopes of ordinary Iraqi women about community reconciliation. The link of the video can be found here: • Video

As follow up on the conference the UNDP started producing videos in series of “Voices of…”, featuring Iraqi citizens from different components of the society (women, academics, youth etc.) who will share their visions on community reconciliation. The first video features Women’s Stories of community reconciliation. The link of the video can be found here: • Video

2.2. Mitigation Plan (Raising Awareness strategy)

2.2.1. Implementation of social media strategy

2.2.1.1. Creation and launch of the Social media platform

The social media strategy was developed in Q1. During Q2 digital campaign was launched, the social media platform became active and implementation of the social media strategy started. The social media activities took place in a tensed post-electoral environment, hence the activities will be expedited in the following months and the platform will be opened to and fed by the end-users. According to several sources12, it is estimated that more than 80% of Iraqi youth are connected to social media platforms, particularly Facebook. Therefore, the platform for the digital campaign started to operate via the

or https://www.facebook.com/IraqPieceOfMe/. Bi-weekly plan of outreach قطعة م ن Facebook page and creation of social media posts and social media cards are being elaborated, reviewed and cleared before being posted and promoted. Although the page is still under start-up phase, in the first three weeks the page had around 104,000 visits and generated more than 10000 likes.

2.2.2. Constitution of group of activists

In order to secure sustainability of the page, the entire social media campaign will be inclusive. Therefore, one of the main goals of the project is to create a group of youth activists who will be interested in supporting the campaign and taking care of the page. That group of activists is created. To date over 30 youth joined the group (they are from Nineveh Plains, Mosul, Baghdad and Kurdistan). The project has

12 According to The internet world stats, in December 2017 out of 19 000 000 internet users in Iraq, 17 000 000 are connected to Facebook. regular discussions with the youth, to develop ideas and create an appropriate content for the page (visual elements and graphic tools), to boost the campaign.

2.2.3. Roundtables with youth

After a first roundtable taking place in Baghdad, which was reported during Q1, three more discussions with youth and social media influencers took place in Baghdad, Mosul and Sulaymaniyah in April and July, with more than 60 attendees coming from Nineveh Plains, Mosul, Baghdad and Kurdistan. The aim of the discussions was to support the digital campaign and build a roadmap of activities to implement at the grassroots level. In the coming months, the 2-3 roundtables will be organized every month, in other priority areas.

With the Facebook page (now launched), the rhythm of roundtables will increase in Q3 and Q4, covering the liberated areas, but also the rest of the country. Those discussions have a triple objective:

• To facilitate open discussion among youth on reconciliation topics and gather potential supporters among them for the on-the-ground and online campaign; • Based on the outcomes of those discussions, to build a roadmap of activities to be implemented directly with/by the youth at the grassroots level, targeting IDPs, host communities and other communities and, finally • to identify and constitute a small group of volunteers, peace activists, who will be trained in conflict management, conflict resolution and mediation and who will organize the next round of activities during Q3 and Q4, such as the Salam talks and collect inspirational stories on reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, close to the model of the TedX talks, targeting community leaders, religious leaders and others.

All those activities will be supported by and promoted on the established platform.

2.3. #innov4dev

In April 2018 the third Innovation for Development Forum (#innov4dev) took place in Baghdad, gathering over 350 representatives of Government of Iraq, private investors and companies, banks, universities and youth. More than 40 volunteers coming from all the regions of Iraq were involved in preparation of the Forum, using Youth-to-Youth knowledge transfer. This year #Innov4dev Forum included social cohesion as one of the key themes. A national call for applications was launched on social media, inviting youth to apply by submitting their innovative ideas. Out of 300 submitted, 44 ideas and projects were selected to go through a process of online voting, while 23 start-ups with the biggest social cohesion potential were presented during the Forum. Those entrepreneurs received one-week online mentorship and three days hands-on training with the help of young volunteers who themselves were the participants in the previous #Innov4Dev. The forum also provided an informal space for individuals and institutions to interact. The ideas and projects presented during the Forum paved the way for the development of the youth contest, which is directly focused on inclusion of youth in reconciliation process (see below).

2.4. Youth 4 Social Cohesion

Following the success of the #Innov4Dev forum the “Youth Contest” was launched, which is focused on engaging of Iraqi youth (16 to 30 years old) in implementing innovative ideas to build social cohesion in their communities. A call for ideas, covering 5 topics, was launched on social media platforms. To date more than 200 project initiatives were received, covering the entire country. The 5 topics are:

• Games (online or board game) for Social Cohesion. • Art for Social Cohesion (photography, drawing, drama, movie making…etc.). • Sport for Social Cohesion. • Mobile Applications for Social Cohesion. • Social Cohesion for Children.

Currently, a committee of young social cohesion activists is reviewing applications and will be selecting the best 5 to 10 ideas for each theme. Upon selection, a social event will be organized gathering representatives from UNDP, IFCNR, companies, banks, Universities and (I)NGOs. During the event the participants

1) will be able to develop a business model for their ideas 2) Will evaluate their business models and 3-5 projects will be funded by UNDP.

3. Citizen’s Archive/Victims’ protection

3.1. Trainings for social workers

As reported, between December 2017 and March 2018, UNDP in cooperation with MOLSA trained 116 young female social workers from Baghdad and new liberated areas, to develop greater understanding and raise awareness on the impact of sexual violence as a lingering obstacle to community reconciliation. At the same time, young female social works have been trained in techniques and methodologies to conduct interviews and record needs of the victims, enabling women to tell their stories, make their demands in safe and culturally appropriate settings, at the same time handling potential challenges such as re-traumatization of victims. Female social workers play a key-role as since they are often the first responders in cases where women become victims of sexual violence. Out of 116 trained social workers, 32 were selected in consultation with MOLSA for the follow up advanced training how to collect data and support the victims of sexual violence. Those social workers are from Nineveh, Salah Al-Din, Diyala, Anbar, Baghdad, Karbalaa, Babil, Misan, Kirkuk and Basra. The trainings will be delivered by the project’s Gender Officer and UNDP Gender Expert. As an additional result of the training, based on the MOLSA request, UNDP will develop a comprehensive analytical report on the SGBV cases and how to improve work of MOLSA to handle SGBV cases.