IRAQ ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM WEEKLY REPORT #56

The program is implemented by ARD, Inc., through its operating unit Tetra Tech DPK, under contract 267-C-00-10-00006-00 with the United States Agency for International Development. Component 1 of the program focuses on improving knowledge of legal remedies. The component completed the second part of the training on 'New Social Media' in coordination with IREX. The training was attended by 11 participants from various organizations, including the NGO Directorate, Mercy Hands for Humanitarian Aid, and the Iraqi Alliance for Disabilities Organization. The training objective was to introduce participants to ways of implementing awareness-raising campaigns using social networks targeting larger audiences. The trainer, Ms. Dina Najim, a famous Iraqi blogger and social media activist, defined the types of modern social networks and explained the techniques of creating and managing accounts on these sites. Participants expressed great interest in the topics, especially since only five of them had Facebook accounts and had not been using their accounts in a way to achieve their objectives. Component 1 also reviewed print materials for the Women Empowerment Organization, which needed to be adjusted according to the USAID marking and branding policy. The team approved a list of suggested radio stations for Al-Amal Organization to be used for their ongoing awareness-raising campaign. Additionally, Component 1 Team participated in providing comments and assessments on summary grant applications for eight NGOs submitted by the grants team. Component 2 of the program aims to improve legal education and services. The component conducted site visits to NGO grantee partners, Mercy Hands and Al-Rahma, who are implementing legal aid clinics for IDPs and women. The team met with the NGO managers, project managers, and other staff in their offices to conduct a baseline assessment of services provided and to ascertain their capacity development needs. The Component 2 Team Leader and the Erbil Regional Office conducted site visits to Access to Justice grantees, including the Kurdish Human Rights Watch Legal Assistance Center in Khabat and the legal clinic in Women's Empowerment Organization NGO. The purpose of the visits was to assess the work done to date by these clinics and to assess their training needs. The clinics have developed clear policies and procedures, and have a good grasp of their scope of work, target beneficiaries, and how to conduct legal assistance. Component 2 also met with the Iraqi Bar Association (IBA) to provide technical assistance on how to structure their ongoing grant-funded research on Iraqi laws related to vulnerable populations. The team offered guidance on further resources to consult in order to make the study more robust. Additionally, Component 2 assisted the Kurdistan Bar Association in holding its first workshop for new lawyers on how to assist vulnerable groups in society, codes of conduct for lawyers, and how to be a human rights lawyer. Component 3 of the program focuses on advocacy and improved government services. The component is studying a draft law on the Union of Iraqi Jurists and examining ways to help vulnerable groups under it. Component 3 is also coordinating with the Iraqi Bar Association (IBA) to prepare the final version of the draft Law on Lawyers and to invite participants for the second conference to be held on December 22, 2011. The Grants Administration component received five new grant applications for the November Cycle, which were forwarded to the Grant Evaluation Committee (GEC) for technical review and approval. The Grants manager sent notifications to NGOs who submitted Grant Summary Forms for the November Cycle, and the Grants Team has been busy making final preparations for the Quarterly Partners Progress meeting to be held in Erbil on December 14-15, 2011.