IQOC opened in Amman, Jordan, in 2004 and has sub-offices in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil, Iraq.
IQOC activities currently focus on rehabilitating key physical infrastructure, improving public services, strengthening democratic governance and addressing Iraq’s humanitarian needs. IQOC-managed projects create local employment opportunities that improve livelihoods.
The following are examples of IQOC support to clients in some key sectors:
Physical infrastructure
In Iraq nearly six million people lack proper shelter, an estimated 17.5 million are without clean drinking water supply and 21.2 million lack access to adequate sewage.
IQOC’s Construction and Rehabilitation Unit (CRU) helps clients address these and other infrastructure needs, rehabilitating hospitals, creating water supply and constructing shelters and housing.
For the Ministry of Health and with funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), IQOC is improving health infrastructure, rehabilitating maternity wards in 21 hospitals to bring adequate emergency care to four million women.
With funding from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), IQOC rehabilitated three water distribution networks serving 100,000 people. Learn more about this project.
Governance
A three day roundtable was held in Baghdad in May 2009 to review the draft of the new Iraqi law regulating NGO activities. Concerns were raised about the draft’s requirements for all donors to notify the state NGO assistance office before making any awards to local NGOs and for Iraqi NGOs to seek approval before accepting foreign funding.
UNOPS organized the meeting, which was funded by the European Union, the Government of Finland and other donors through the United Nations Development Group Iraq Trust Fund and provided with technical support by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. In attendance were representatives of Iraqi and international NGOs, the Ministry of State for Civil Society Affairs as well as other governmental institutions, the NGO Directorate and MPs from the Iraqi Council of Representatives (including members of the Civil Society Committee).
The roundtable participants agreed on recommendations for the draft law and identified areas where more thorough review from the Iraqi Council of Representatives would be required. All the recommendations were developed in the spirit of aligning the draft Iraqi NGO law to international best practices.
In addition, the Government of Iraq and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq Office for Constitutional Support (UNAMI OCS) requested IQOC to manage a project assisting the Iraqi Council for Representatives to amend the October 2005 constitution.
IQOC is also managing a National Reconciliation Grant Fund for NGOs, increasing the transparency of the constitutional review and implementation process through civic education.
Elections
With funding from the United Nations Development Group Iraq Trust Fund (UNDG ITF), the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) hired IQOC to manage the finances of independent, electoral observer groups in Iraq, thereby ensuring the transparency, accountability and credibility of referendums and general elections.
UNDG ITF also funded an IQOC-managed public outreach campaign comprising radio and television broadcasts, workshops, training and printed materials. Some 33,500 Iraqis learned about their constitution, human rights, women’s rights, federalism and legislation, and the importance of participating in local and national elections.
Human rights
Human rights have long been a concern in Iraq. With European Union funding IQOC and the UNAMI Human Rights Office collaborate with more than 50 Iraqi civil society organizations, exchanging knowledge and experience to raise public awareness of basic human rights principles.
Employment
IQOC is helping the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) create 3,450 short-term and 200 permanent employment opportunities in Basra, helping reduce poverty in the city.
Also for MoLSA, IQOC assesses market demand for vocational skills and organizes relevant training in 22 centres around the country. This develops local capacity to reconstruct physical infrastructure and stimulates economic development.
Training through the National Committee for Employment (NCE) aimed at small- and medium-sized enterprises, together with national pro-business policies, have helped entrepreneurs establish 80 new enterprises and cooperatives.