Iraq Programs: Focus on Iraq: U.S. Institute of Peace

The U.S. Institute of Peace received $10 million from Congress in late 2003 to conduct programs in Iraq. Since early 2004, the Institute has been working with Iraqis to reduce interethnic and interreligious violence, speed up stabilization and democratization, and reduce the need for a U.S. presence.

As part of this initiative, the Institute established a field office in Baghdad to provide critical input and guidance to program development, as well as support for the implementation of these programs.

Drawing upon the Institute's collective resources and utilizing the integrated efforts of the Institute's research, education, rule of law, grant, and professional training programs, the Institute's programming in Iraq is led by Institute executive vice president Harriet Hentges. Coordination for the planning and implementation of Iraq programs is headed up by the Institute's Office of Peace and Stability Operations under the direction of Dan Serwer.

To provide a brief overview of the Institute's present and planned programming in Iraq, a brief sampling of Institute activities in Iraq is included below as they each relate to the Institute's mission objective. Each project is linked to an expanded description—including its goals and target audiences.

Throughout its programs, the Institute places particular emphasis on participation and empowerment of marginal and disadvantaged groups, including the disabled, women, and minorities.

Preventing Interethnic and Interreligious Violence

Iraqi Institute of Peace – Building on previous work in other regions, the Institute is supporting an Iraqi institution committed to religious tolerance and ethnic coexistence, moderate Islam, and Sunni/Shia and Christian/Muslim dialogue [Learn More]

"Iraq and Its Neighbors" Dialogues – Employing its policy research and analysis resources, the Institute is initiating a series of studies and will facilitate several semi-official dialogues involving Iraq's neighbors in order to improve mutual understanding and cooperation in the region. [Learn More]

Intergroup Dialogue – Bringing together government officials and civil society representatives from all of Iraq's ethnic and religious groups for training, these workshops will create a cadre of Iraqis prepared to facilitate interethnic dialogue with support from the Institute. [Learn More]

Interethnic, Intercommunal, and Interreligious Violence Prevention Grants – Empowering Iraqi civil organizations though targeted grants, the Institute plans to promote interreligious and interethnic dialogue, to improve interethnic cooperation at the community level, to strengthen moderate Islam, and to develop educational materials and training programs that advance ethnic and religious understanding and tolerance. [Learn More]

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Promoting the Rule of Law

Constitution Making – Drawing on a recent Institute study of 18 postconflict constitutions and utilizing the expertise of in-house staff, fellows, and others in its considerable network, the Institute will assist the Iraqi interim government and Iraqi civil society organizations in the design and implementation of a process for the development and adoption of a new constitution. [Learn More]

Iraqi Special Tribunal – Applying its substantial experience working with societies around the globe struggling to deal with the legacies of atrocities and human rights abuses from past regimes, the Institute is assisting in the design and start-up of an Iraqi Special Tribunal to prosecute the senior perpetrators of atrocities under the Hussein regime. [Learn More]

Rule of Law Promotion and Development Grants – Facilitating the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and educational organizations in Iraq through targeted grants, the Institute seeks to promote the rule of law and help Iraq to account for past human rights abuses. [Learn More]

Truth and Reconciliation – Using an Institute-financed film to transfer lessons learned from work with nations in Africa, the Balkans, and beyond, the Institute will provide an important tool for public education and debate in Iraq with respect to the establishment of a truth and reconciliation process. [Learn More]

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Training and Educating Leaders for a Democratic Iraq

Civil Society and Leadership Development Grants – Supporting research, training, and educational projects in such areas as conflict management, coalition building, and negotiation through selected grants to Iraqi civil society organizations, the Institute will promote understanding and the practice of democracy in Iraq at the community, regional, and national levels with particular emphasis on the disabled, women, and minorities. [Learn More]

College and University Faculty Workshops – Engaging Iraqi scholars on issues related to the teaching of subjects such as democracy, comparative governance, human rights, conflict analysis, and the practice of conflict resolution, the Institute, through a series of faculty workshops, seeks to assist Iraqi educators in developing the knowledge base needed for the creation of democratic institutions and a healthy civil society in Iraq. [Learn More]

Conflict Resolution Curriculum – Building upon the Institute's experience working with educators from around the globe over the past twenty years, this project will support the transformation of the teaching of conflict resolution in higher education throughout Iraq. [Learn More]

National Security Officials Training – Employing a combination of tools refined in previous professional training sessions held around the world, the Institute is conducting a series of workshops on conflict analysis and resolution in Washington for senior national security officials responsible for providing professional continuity in the ministries of the new Iraqi government. [Learn More]

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Training for U.S. Civilian and Military Personnel Based on Lessons Learned

The Iraq Experience Project – Utilizing cutting-edge technology, such as its specially developed "The Iraq Experience" DVD, the Iraq Experience Project is designed to collect, distill, and disseminate lessons learned from U.S. government officials, military officers, and contractors who served in Iraq. [Learn More]

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For further information on the Institute's Iraq programs please contact the Institute's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs by e-mail at usiprequests@usip.org or by phone at 202.429.3832. Written inquiries may also be sent by mail to the address listed below.