Iraq
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Photo: Nigel Downes for Mercy Corps
Our strategy
Strengthen civil society and local government capacity, and provide the building blocks for a safe and thriving democracy, including education, basic services and human rights.
The context
The road to a new Iraq is fraught with challenges and citizens struggle to survive against a backdrop of political dysfunction, infighting and potential civil war. Little of Iraq’s vast oil wealth is spent on basic services. Electricity is an ongoing problem, water is in short supply, and large communities of displaced families lack water, shelter and proper hygiene facilities.
Our work
- Economic opportunity: Partnering with local groups to finance 1,577 community projects spearheaded by citizens
- Conflict & Governance: Encouraging reconciliation and good governance by empowering local leaders to resolve disputes and reform policies
- Emergency response: Providing food and water to internally displaced Iraqis
- Women & Gender: Equiping more than 26,000 women and girls with basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as information about democracy and women’s rights
All stories about Iraq
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Iraq: Voting in Iraq: an act of faith March 16, 2010
The biggest issue that regularly confounds me each time I vote here in Seattle is finding a postage stamp. Despite this, I have become a strong believer in the mail-in ballot, mostly because I don't have to haul myself to the polls at seven o'clock in the morning before I head off to work.
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Iraq: A palpable sense of accomplishment in Baghdad March 9, 2010
On Sunday morning, election day in Iraq, I was awakened by a text message from a colleague telling me to get to a safe spot. Turns out I had slept through the first of dozens of bombs that would occur on election day in Iraq.
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Iraq: Happy International Women's Day March 8, 2010
I’m blogging again today to wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day.
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Iraq: Iraqi staff with purple fingers March 8, 2010
Here are some our Baghdad staff who participated in yesterday's elections. They are proudly displaying their purple index fingers, which signifies that they voted.
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Iraq: Iraqi women learn about democracy as elections approach March 5, 2010
Living and working in Baghdad these days seems to be about waiting.
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Iraq: Giving their blood for peace January 7, 2010
I have been thinking a lot about hope and fear the past few weeks. It is hard to avoid at this time of year. Christmas and New Year’s are holidays of hope.
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Iraq: Celebrating peace in Khanaqin October 20, 2009
In Khanaqin, Iraq, Mercy Corps and the local branch of the National Olympic Committee organized a wonderful festival for the International Day of Peace. The day involved children reading a poem and releasing white doves before a football match in Azadi Stadium.
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Iraq: Before it was like I was blind August 31, 2009
Since 2003, Mercy Corps has worked to improve the lives of millions of people in Iraq. Our largest program is in the south of the country, and focuses on community building and good governance.
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Iraq: U.S. ambassador visits women's peace-building program in Iraq August 24, 2009
Last Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill met with six women participants of Mercy Corps' Empowering Women Peace Builders in Kirkuk program, and discussed with women their views on the future of Kirkuk and U.S. policy in the contested city and Iraq at large.
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Iraq: Empowering Iraqis with disabilities August 20, 2009
Here, Moaffak Alkhafaji speaks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki at the second national conference of the Iraqi Alliance for Disability Organizations, or IADO. Alkhafaji is the head of the alliance, which Mercy Corps helped create.