Despite continuous efforts by a wide range of stakeholders supporting the government of Iraq, violent extremism remains a major threat to Iraq’s national security and stability. Iraq adopted a national strategy for preventing and countering violent extremism and has put in place action plans at the level of the governorates through the countering violent extremism (CVE) sub-committees. Iraq also faces another major challenge posed by the camps in North-East Syria (NES). Beyond their threat to national, regional, and global stability, Iraq is committed to the return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of large numbers of Iraqi families coming from these camps.

In Iraq, the drivers behind violent extremism are complex, there are two main drivers of violent extremism: inter-ethnic and religious conflicts and challenges in reintegration of returnees.  GCERF began investing in the country in 2024 and till date USD 7.1 million has been invested to address these drivers of violent extremism.