Civil Society & Governance
IRD works predominantly in conflict zones, fragile states, and slowly maturing democracies where well-functioning democratic institutions have not been the norm. In such societies, citizens and communities may not be familiar with or open to organizing and engaging with local government and community leadership organizations—unless they perceive an immediate and tangible benefit. IRD’s approach to civil society and community development cuts across all sectors of IRD’s work: we mainstream citizen engagement in improving access to economic opportunities, health, education, infrastructure, social resources, and services. IRD’s approach is especially relevant as the international community responds to calls for more open and responsive governance in the Middle East and elsewhere in the developing world. IRD builds partnerships among actors and organizations at the community level, local governments, and the private sector. We encourage participatory decision-making processes and develop grassroots capacity to make long-term improvements to community living standards. IRD’s work:
- Promotes local economic and social development.
- Informs citizens about the responsibilities and benefits of democratic governance and human rights.
- Encourages participation of women and youth in civil society.
- Develops and promotes civil society networks.
- Fosters direct linkages and input from local communities to local government.
Featured Initiatives
Capacity Building
IRD supports communities to become self-sufficient – to guide their own learning, l... more
Education
By supporting the full range of children’s educational needs, IRD and its partners... more
Integration
IRD has accumulated valuable experience in approaching development from a multisect... more
Women & Gender
IRD has a proud history of commitment to women’s issues since our founding in 1998.... more
Programs
Afghanistan Civilian Assistance Program
The Afghan Civilian Assistance Program (ACAP) II is a civilian assistance program i... more
Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Productive Agriculture
AVIPA and AVIPA Plus were relief and stabilization programs funded by USAID and imp... more
Closing Emergency Gaps to Aid Victims of Displacement in Colombia
Colombia’s struggle against drug production and export, terrorism, and other armed... more
Community Based Support for Iraqis
The goal of the Community-Based Support Program (CBSP), funded by the Department of... more
Community Mobilization for Partnership in Schools
The Community Mobilization for Partnership in Schools (CMP) project is a five-year... more
Community Revitalization through Democratic Action
CRDA began as a community mobilization initiative and evolved to emphasize economic... more
Community Services and Assistance to Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Yemen
Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world and consistently ranks at... more
Community Stabilization Program in Iraq
The Community Stabilization Program (CSP) helped stabilize and economically revital... more
Community-Based Support Program
The Community-Based Support Program (CBSP) builds the capacity of Iraqi refugees li... more
Construction Trades Training Center
Efforts to rebuild Afghanistan have been seriously hampered by the lack of qualifie... more
Creating Jobs in the West Bank
The Gaza Employment Generation through NGOs Program (GEGNP) aided students in the G... more
Cultural Bridges to Reconciliation in Iraq
Iraq’s process of rebuilding internally and creating a strong democracy begins with... more
Distribution of Radios in South Sudan
Sudan is the largest country in Africa, one-third the size of the United States, an... more
Entrepreneurship for Refugees (EFR) Program
Iraqis have fled conflict in their own country to live in many other nations in the... more
Entrepreneurship for Refugees Program in Lebanon
Iraqis have fled conflict in their own country to live in many other nations in the... more
Grassroots Theater Initiative
The Grassroots Theater Initiative introduced theater founded on the “theater of the... more
Gulf Coast Community Services Center
The IRD Gulf Coast Community Service Center (GCCSC) has been rebuilding the lives o... more
Iraq Community Action Program
The Iraq Community Action Program (ICAP) aims to foster democratic principles of go... more
Iraq Cultural Heritage Program
In the immediate aftermath of the removal of Sadaam Hussein’s government in 2003, t... more
Iraq Mothers and Daughters Empowerment Program
Many rural women in Iraq live in extreme poverty. Only 37 percent of rural women ca... more
Kosovo Cultural Heritage Program
Though one of the world’s youngest countries and with the youngest population in Eu... more
Outreach Services for Syrian & Iraqi Refugees
The goal of IRD’s Outreach for Syrian and Iraqi Refugees (OSIR5) Program, funded by... more
Peace through Development
The Sahel region of West Africa is increasingly threatened by violent extremist gro... more
Restoring Peace through Social and Economic Reintegration
In July 2011 the largest country in Africa became two nations, the Republic of Suda... more
Serbia Youth Center
The Belgrade Youth Center, also known as Dom Omladine, served as a venue for major... more
Southern Regional Agricultural Development in Afghanistan
The Southern Regional Agricultural Development (S-RAD) program works to increase lo... more
The Serbia Agribusiness Project
The Serbian Agribusiness Project (SAP), funded by USAID, is assisting the Serbian a... more
Women First
IRD has been implementing the Women First program since 2005 in an effort to empowe... more
Working with the Displaced in Colombia
Colombia has served as an international leader in the challenge of bringing democra... more
