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Middle East North Africa

iRAQ

GCERF has been investing in Iraq since 2023, supporting civil society organisations working to address the root causes of violent extremism and strengthen community resilience in a context marked by prolonged conflict, instability, and the ongoing challenges associated with the return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Iraqi nationals from camps in North-East Syria, as well as persistent threats linked to regional insecurity and violent extremist groups.

  • locationCreated with Sketch Beta.
  • Ninewa
  • Al Anbar
  • Babylon
  • Diyala
Background and Context
Country Snapshot
Key Results
Investment Strategy
Story of Change
Background & Context

Understanding Violent
 Extremism in Iraq

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 sub-committees. Iraq also faces another major challenge posed by the camps in North-East Syria (NES) containing Iraqi nationals. 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.

GCERF'S UNIQUE INVESTMENT MODEL

Country
 Support Mechanism

GCERF pioneers a unique model of investment designed to promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure the sustainability of our programmes. Under this model, in each partner country, we support national governments in establishing a steering committee called the Country Support Mechanism (CSM).

In Iraq, CSM is chaired by the Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Violent Extremism (NCCVE) under the office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA). In addition to engaging NCCVE that brings together relevant government agencies and CSOs, GCERF also engages donor representatives. CSM provides strategic direction for the programmes, ensure results and progressively inherits ownership of funding community-level efforts to prevent violent extremism.

Download Country Snapshot
Key Drivers of Violent Extremism
Inter-ethnic and religious conflicts

VE groups exploit existing and emerging conflicts to increase their grip on communities.

Challenges in rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees

Returnees from the areas formerly held by VE groups and families associated with VE groups face a challenge in reintegrating with the original communities.

Socioeconomic marginalisation characterised by unemployment

Post-war economic instability, corruption, and oil dependency have weakened the economy and increased unemployment.

Results at a Glance

Key Results

Total amount invested (USD)
$ 0 M
Grants
0
Civil society organisations
0
Frontline workers (MHPSS service providers, social workers, teachers, local institution officials) supported to enhance preparedness and capacity to support returnees
0 +
Returnee women and young people at-risk of radicalisation equipped with vocational skills and entrepreneurship support to facilitate sustainable reintegration into communities
0 +
Returnee children supported with direct services (education, legal, psychological) to facilitate their effective reintegration into the communities
0 +
Returnee women and children supported with legal, administrative, educational, livelihood and psychological support for their effective rehabilitation and reintegration
0 +

Investment & grant figures updated May 2026 · Programme results updated December 2025

Our Approach

Investment Strategy
 in Iraq

Community trust icon
Support the rehabilitation and reintegration of people returning from Northeast Syria.
Support the implementation of the national strategy to prevent violent extremism within the defined governorate and district level plans of action. ​
Design sans titre
improve community-security relationships.
Our IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Active Grants
 in Iraq

Current Grants 2 Active
01 Organização para Paz e Resiliência Comunitária
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 1,200,000
Duration
Mar 2024 – Feb 2027
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Organização para Paz e Resiliência Comunitária (OPRC)
Sub-Recipients
Associação Jovens pela Paz
Fórum Mulheres do Norte
Rede Comunitária de Cabo Delgado
Programme Objectives
1
Strengthen community resilience by training local leaders in early warning and conflict resolution in Cabo Delgado.
2
Empower women and youth through livelihood support and civic engagement in displacement-affected areas.
3
Foster interfaith dialogue to counter extremist narratives among at-risk youth populations.
Areas of Implementation
Cabo Delgado Mocímboa da Praia Mueda Macomia
02 Centro de Formação e Desenvolvimento Comunitário
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 800,000
Duration
Jun 2024 – May 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Centro de Formação e Desenvolvimento Comunitário (CFDC)
Sub-Recipients
Associação Nampula Solidária
Grupo Jovens Niassa
Programme Objectives
1
Deliver vocational training and psychosocial support to youth affected by displacement in Nampula and Niassa.
2
Build capacity of local CSOs to integrate PVE principles into existing development programmes.
3
Strengthen community-government dialogue mechanisms to restore trust in affected provinces.
Areas of Implementation
Nampula Niassa Nacala
Impact in Action

Story of Change

Featured Story
Story of Change · iRAQ
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