The campaign, organized by UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund, is raising public awareness about the elections to promote transparency and encourage high participation by voters.

In late 2007 UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund hired UNOPS to implement the campaign, with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and in close coordination with the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC).

Thus far the campaign has awarded micro grants to 75 Iraqi non-governmental organisations to run public information activities on behalf of the UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund. Between July and December 2008 more than 2,000 outreach activities per month took place throughout Iraq and involved all groups, including minorities, women, youth, internally-displaced peoples and disabled people.

Electoral Education Campaign session with Iraqi opinion leaders

The Electoral Education Campaign is now in its last implementation phase, organizing more than 100 sessions with opinion leaders across Iraq. These sessions will bring together all political entities that have candidates engaged in this month's provincial elections, along with more than 50 tribal and religious leaders, 50 civil servants and professional associations, 50 academics, 50 leaders of youth associations and 50 leaders of women associations, ultimately providing information to more than 6,000 Iraqi opinion leaders before polling starts.