The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

By strengthening relationships among Iraqi citizens, political parties, and government institutions, NDI aims to encourage the development and implementation of policies that meet the needs of the population. The Institute's programs enhance the will and capacity of political parties and government institutions to engage citizens in policymaking and legislative processes, equip civic activists and non-governmental organizations to advocate directly for change at local and national levels, increase the leadership and effectiveness of women in institutions and democratic processes, and promote the conduct of credible and transparent elections.

NDI began working with reform-minded Iraqi politicians in 1999 and established an in-country presence throughout Iraq in June 2003. The Institute has a training center in Erbil, as well as an office in Baghdad focused on its work with the Council of Representatives and political party partners. NDI also supports a network of provincial coordinators, Iraqi political organizers and civil society activists who conduct training, outreach and other activities with the Institute's political and civil society partners throughout the country's 18 provinces.

Electoral Assistance

NDI aims to increase confidence in Iraq's electoral processes by strengthening the capacity of political parties to develop and implement policy-oriented campaigns, preparing candidates and party members to achieve successful results on election day, building the skills of female candidates and activists to participate in the political process, improving the quality of public debate by bringing citizens and candidates together to discuss issues important to voters, and assisting civic partners who conduct voter education and election monitoring to ensure accountability throughout electoral processes.

National Parliamentary Elections – March 2010

In advance of national elections on March 7, 2010, NDI held trainings and consultations for candidates and campaign teams contesting parliamentary seats, commissioned national public opinion polls to assess voter attitudes and inform party messaging, prepared party agents and civil society organizations to contribute to election monitoring efforts, provided Iraqi organizations with grants to conduct voter education activities, and facilitated candidate forums throughout Iraq to promote political dialogue and help voters make informed choices.

To enhance the credibility of the electoral process and the acceptance of election results, NDI provided technical assistance and financial support to the Sun Network for Monitoring Elections, an umbrella of Iraqi civil society organizations that issued reports on the political environment, party and candidate campaigns, and the conduct of electoral authorities in the pre-election period, and conducted a sample-based observation to monitor activities on election day. The Institute also provided support to al-Mirat Media Monitoring Network, which analyzed the performance of Iraqi print media, radio, and television outlets throughout the campaign and electoral periods.

• Iraqis discouraged by post-election government negotiations»
• Despite the complaints from some quarters, Iraq's young democracy is headed in the right direction»
• Citizens and candidates connect at Iraqi election forums»

Kurdish Regional Elections – July 2009

On July 25, 2009, political parties and alliances contested 111 seats in the Kurdistan Parliament of Iraq (KPI), and voters elected five candidates for the office of the Kurdistan Regional Government presidency. In preparation, NDI conducted get-out-the-vote training for 320 party agents; distributed grants to civil society organizations to implement projects that supported oversight of the electoral process; provided assistance to the Sun Network for Monitoring Elections, which trained 3,000 domestic election monitors to conduct the first sample-based observation in Iraq; and trained almost 100 candidates in campaign research, voter identification, communication strategies, and message delivery. Forty-eight percent of candidates who attended NDI trainings were elected to the KPI.

Provincial Council Elections – January 2009

More than 14,000 candidates competed for council seats in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces on January 31, 2009. In preparation for the country’s first implementation of an open-list electoral system, NDI designed an eight-module Campaign Development Series for more than 500 candidates, as well as targeted training for additional female candidates. Candidates who attended NDI trainings won 20 percent of the contested provincial council seats. As well, approximately 50,000 domestic monitors were deployed to 31,400 polling centers across Iraq on election day; almost 20,000 of those monitors had been trained by 500 Iraqis who completed NDI's election monitoring training series.

• NDI works with candidates seeking Iraqi Provincial Council seats»
• Iraq's novice political candidates embrace campaigning»

Civil Society Strengthening

In order to foster political awareness and enhance citizen participation in Iraq, NDI assists civil society groups in developing organizational structures and strategic plans for playing an intermediary role between citizens and public officials, influencing the political process, and promoting government accountability. The Institute has developed long-term, working partnerships with more than 150 Iraqi civil society organizations and has distributed approximately 190 grants since 2003 to civic groups that conduct voter education projects and advocacy on community issues, election reform, and other topics.

Since June 2007, NDI has been convening a core group of 100 civic activists from throughout Iraq to develop their skills in sustainable community mobilization, civic activism, and policy advocacy around issues of regional and national significance. NDI is also preparing Iraqi youth to develop and launch national advocacy campaigns on priority issues. Ultimately, the Institute plans to assist in convening Iraqi decision-makers with youth activists who are prepared to influence the political process and advocate government representatives to implement reforms.

• Iraqi National Youth Caucus works to turn youth priority issues into policy changes»
• Iraqi youth share ideas, build skills at leadership camp»

Political Party Development

NDI works to ensure that political parties in Iraq have the capacity to serve their constituents and the skills to communicate with opposing parties in a constructive and democratic manner. The Institute’s programs provide Iraqi politicians with strategies to: recruit and retain party members, plan and conduct electoral campaigns, define and articulate policy responses to priorities identified in public opinion polls, develop internal decision-making processes, improve communication with citizens and the media, use non-violent methods to negotiate contentious issues, and build coalitions based on non-sectarian policy positions.

The Institute partners with all levels of established political parties that embody: a commitment to the development of multi-party democracy in Iraq; a broad base of support in numerous geographic areas of the country; capacity for organizational, operational, and financial development; a commitment to include women in most, if not all, aspects of party operations; and a demonstrated ability to be competitive at the national level.

• Iraqis look to parties to boost economy, forgo sectarian divisions»
• Iraqis want parties to create jobs, improve services»
• Forum in Kirkuk leads to political breakthrough»

Governance

NDI worked with the transitional legislative body in Iraq until the Council of Representatives (CoR) was formed in 2005. Since that time, NDI has been holding consultations with the CoR to improve the quality of legislation, develop disciplined and responsive legislative processes, and finalize rules of procedure governing parliamentary practice. Additionally, NDI developed a comprehensive and practical guide about parliamentary roles and responsibilities for use during ongoing consultations with members of the Kurdistan Parliament of Iraq (KPI) regarding their work as legislators, constituent representatives, and party advocates.

The Institute also works with the Council of Ministers Secretariat (COMSEC), the Office of the President, and the Office of the Prime Minister to improve legislative processes, expand dialogue between the CoR and government ministries, and develop strategic plans and agendas to address legislative priorities. Through capacity-building trainings, consultations with parliamentary and legislative experts, and study missions to other parliaments, NDI assists Iraqi members of parliament and staff in understanding new approaches, structures, and strategies for conducting legislative work.

• Lessons for Iraq gleaned from NDI mission to Northern Ireland»

Women's Political Participation

Iraqi women are gradually increasing their participation in government, political parties, and civil society organizations. NDI's programs aim to facilitate their involvement in decision-making processes within those bodies. Through trainings and consultations with female party members and civic activists, the Institute increases women's skills in strategic planning, conflict resolution, electoral campaigning, negotiation, and advocacy.

Since March 2005, NDI has recruited more than 140 women, representing approximately 40 political parties, to be members of six regional Multi-Party Women's Caucuses that elevate women's concerns and advocate for legislative action at local and national levels. In January 2010, NDI launched the National Platform for Women, a set of policy proposals produced during a three-month collaboration and consensus-building effort by political party members, civil society activists, and government officials from across Iraq. The platform is intended to serve as a tool for integrating women in policy debates and as a means for parliamentarians and local government officials to respond to constituent needs and priorities.

• Young women gain confidence, mentors from leadership school»
• Empowerment program inspires women to engage in Iraqi political process»
• National Platform for Women launched in lead up to Iraqi elections»
• National Platform for Women focuses debate on priorities for Iraqi women»
• Women in Iraqi Kurdistan campaign for freedom to travel»
• Multi-party women's conference held in Iraq»

Publications

• The Voice of Civil Society in Iraq: An Assessment
• Iraq's Democracy at a Crossroad
• National Platform for Women: A Unified Vision for a New Path (available in English, Arabic and Kurdish)
• Iraqi Voices: Perspectives on Sectarianism and Governance
• Iraqi Voices: Public Attitudes and Political Opportunity in Transition, Findings from Focus Groups with Iraqi Men and Women
• Women's Rights in the New Constitution of Iraq: Perspectives from the Afghan Constitutional Experience
• Iraqis Discuss Their Country's Future: Post-War Perspectives From the Iraqi Street, Findings from Focus Groups

Funding

NDI's programs in Iraq are funded through grants from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), the DoS Office of Global Women's Issues (GWI), and the National Endowment for Democracy.

Contact Information

For more information about these programs or to receive our monthly updates via email, use our contact form or contact:

Washington, DC
Erin Mathews, director
emathews@ndi.org

 

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