Introduction

Al-Mesalla is leading a nationwide project to prevent violent extremism through local action across 15 Iraqi governorates. By supporting 30 community-led initiatives, the project empowers local NGOs, women, and youth to foster peace and strengthen social cohesion.

About the Project

Community-Driven Solutions: Preventing Violent Extremism Through Local Action is implemented by Al-Mesalla Organization for Human Resources Development, in partnership with the National Committee for Preventing Violent Extremism and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Running from August to December 2025, the project covers the following governorates:
Baghdad, Babil, Salah al-Din, Diwaniyah, Muthanna, Maysan, Wasit, Ninewa, Anbar, Kirkuk, Basra, Karbala, Najaf, Thi Qar, and Diyala.

At its core, the project strengthens community resilience and promotes inclusive peacebuilding by supporting 30 grassroots initiatives—two per governorate—designed and implemented by local NGOs. At least 40% of participants are women and youth, reflecting Al-Mesalla’s strong commitment to gender equality and youth leadership.

Objectives and Key Activities

1. Strengthen Local Coordination
Convene stakeholder meetings in each governorate to activate and align local PVE (Preventing Violent Extremism) Plans of Action.

2. Support Grassroots NGOs
Launch open calls for proposals, enabling NGOs to design and implement two community-based initiatives per governorate.

3. Build Capacity and Partnerships
Deliver training sessions for PVE committees and partner NGOs on proposal evaluation, grant management, and conflict-sensitive programming.

4. Raise Public Awareness
Roll out local media campaigns—including videos, blogs, articles, and social media content—to amplify the impact of the initiatives.

5. Measure and Learn
Conduct impact assessments, document lessons learned, and share success stories to inform future community programming and policy.

Expected Impact

• 30 community-led initiatives implemented nationwide
• 600+ direct participants including NGOs, local committees, and government departments
• 15,000 individuals reached through awareness campaigns
• 40%+ participation by women and youth
• Strengthened collaboration between civil society, local government, and communities
• Documented best practices for future PVE scale-up efforts

Why This Project Matters

Violent extremism poses a serious threat to Iraq’s social fabric—especially in areas impacted by marginalization, conflict, and distrust. This project directly addresses these challenges by enabling local solutions rooted in community ownership.

By engaging local NGOs, women, and youth as key actors, Al-Mesalla contributes to building long-term peace, trust, and inclusive development.