The document summarizes a project by ICF Consulting to support Iraq's transition to democracy after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Key aspects of the project included: 1) Bringing together Iraqi exiles to generate ideas for rebuilding Iraq and empowering Iraqis. 2) Coordinating working groups and meetings between US government agencies and Iraqi experts. 3) Providing on-the-ground support in Baghdad, including advising the Coalition Provisional Authority. 4) Supporting Iraqi women's rights campaigns and public outreach on human rights and elections.

1. November 2005
The Future of “ ...[T]he Future of
Iraq study was...
a very good piece
Iraq Project of work.”
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
September 10, 2004
Project Description Prepared for the White House and State Department
I
Client CF Consulting, in its 36th dent, National Security Council, ministry, ambassadorial, and
Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs,
year of providing support Department of Defense, Agency other government positions.
U.S. Department of State to important U.S. Govern- for International Development, We know, from their perspec-
ment programs, is honored and Department of Justice. ICF tive, the issues, proposals, and
Dates
July 2002 to December 2005 to serve as the State Depart- Consulting supported the 15 lessons learned in building a
ment’s grantee on the Future of different working groups formed civil society in Iraq, organizing
Contract Number
S-LMAQM-02-H-0066
Iraq Project. Prior to Iraq’s lib- and the more than 35 meetings local government, address-
eration, ICF Consulting assisted held in Washington, D.C. and ing women’s rights, and other
Contract Type
Cooperative Agreement
in bringing together hundreds in Europe, as well as helped to reconstruction needs.
of distinguished Iraqi exiles in coordinate additional high-level,
Contract Value
$8.5 million
many different professions to ad hoc meetings. Public Diplomacy
generate ideas and plans for Campaigns
Contracting Officer a free and democratic Iraq. For each meeting, ICF Con-
Anna Mary Portz The exiles, representing many sulting developed briefing Women’s Rights
202-647-5281 ethnic, religious, and political books and assisted the State
PortzAM@state.gov
groups, had diverse expertise ICF Consulting is supporting
Department and members of a coalition of a dozen women
Technical Officer ranging from public health to the working groups in their
Thomas Warrick
agriculture to local govern- in Iraq as they undertake an
202-647-8125 development and organization important campaign to secure
WarrickTS@state.gov ment, and they came from the of recommendations. As part
United States, Britain, Canada, the freedoms of women in their
of our program management new country. The goal is for
Europe, and the Middle East.
support, we also provided feed- the women to unite around a
back to strengthen the working jointly agreed-upon message,
Working Groups groups’ strategic coordination
of Iraqis strategy, and pledge “Iraq’s
and planning efforts, and con- Promise” and then work with
The goal was to use the exiles’ ducted a follow-up survey.
expertise to identify ways to grassroots organizations, politi-
transform Iraq and to empower After the war, ICF Consulting cal parties, media outlets, and
their compatriots. Also contrib- provided on-site support in others to mobilize support to
uting were officials from many Baghdad, by coordinating and defend their rights. The project
U.S. Government agencies, such accompanying Iraqi experts to is on a fast track, to encourage
as the Office of the Vice Presi- advise the Coalition Provisional the Iraqi women to take the ini-
Authority (CPA), and conven- tiative and position themselves
ing follow-up meetings to dis- to be able to influence the next
cuss the foundations of a new national assembly in connec-
Future of Iraq Working Groups Iraqi government and society. tion with the pending Decem-
Democratic Principles and Procedures ICF Consulting worked with ber 15, 2005 elections.
Public Health and Humanitarian Needs CPA’s Office of Human Rights ICF Consulting, together with
Economy and Infrastructure and Transitional Justice, and The Foundation for the Defense
Education Iraq’s Ministry of Education of Democracies and Assured
Civil Society Capacity Building and Ministry of Municipality
Transitional Justice Risks, is providing a broad
and Public Works. range of support to help make
Free media
Defense Policy and Institutions Through direct, close working the Iraqi women as effective as
Water, Agriculture and Environment relationships, ICF Consulting is possible in their pledge cam-
Public Finance pleased to have earned the trust paign within a limited amount
Oil and Energy and confidence of the Iraqi of time. Two project offices
Transparency and Anti-Corruption expatriates, many of whom have been established (one in
Local Government (the “alumni”) have returned the Green Zone and one in the
Cultural Preservation to Iraq and are in high-level Red Zone) to provide an effi-
Public Outreach

2. cient administrative infrastruc- In particular, ICF Consulting ICF Consulting Project Office
ture for the women to leverage, is working with Mr. Bakhtiar – Red Zone
including on-site program Amin, the recent Minister Mansur District, Baghdad
managers. Communication, of Human Rights and cur-
Two (Land) Telephone Lines
transportation, security, and rent Executive Director of
other logistical/meeting services the International Alliance for Conference Room with Speaker Phone
have been made available to Justice, in performing this Ten PC Workstations with
the women to facilitate their project. Mr. Amin and the High-speed Internet Access
efforts, both individually and as other coalition partners have
Copiers, Printers, Scanners, and Office Supplies
a group. found face-to-face meetings
particularly effective in gaining Videoconferencing Equipment
The Iraqi women also are traction on human rights issues
receiving assistance in develop- Office Staff (Manager and Events Planner)
across a broad spectrum of
ing their campaign strategy, stakeholders. At the conclusion 24/7 Security, Transportation, Logistics
platform, and messages, in of the project, we will prepare Overnight Accommodations
an attempt to accelerate their a lessons learned document to
progress. Similarly, support is Backup Generator
indicate what worked well in
being made available to help public outreach, promoting
write and place articles in Iraqi human rights, and, ultimately,
print media, produce coalition work of Iraqi university profes-
influencing behavior.
recruiting and campaign ma- sors, who are media experts, will
terials, develop talking points, help evaluate the effectiveness
and prepare a pledge letter that Constitution/Elections of the public diplomacy cam-
political parties can endorse. As With an understanding of the paign; namely, have the weekly
part of the effort, media train- emergence and prominence of programs and TV spots suc-
ing also is being offered to the the new media outlets in the ceeded in raising the awareness
Iraqi women. At the conclusion Middle East in shaping Iraqi of Iraqis on issues related to the
of the project, the ICF Con- and Arab views, ICF Consult- constitution and elections and, in
sulting team will evaluate the ing has worked with an Iraqi turn, influenced their behavior to
success of the campaign against satellite television station on a become involved and vote.
several pre-defined goals and public outreach effort in Janu-
As expected, this campaign
indicators. ary 2005 to encourage Iraqis to
has had a wider audience than
participate in the interim elec-
in Iraq. The Arab audience For more
Human Rights tions. Similarly, ICF Consulting information,
in Europe, such as in Britain,
supported a public diplomacy please
ICF Consulting also is sup- Germany, and Holland, as well contact:
campaign to educate Iraqis
porting a coalition of NGOs as the Arab audience in the
on the constitution-making Varuny Douangmany
and civil society groups in Iraq Middle East, such as in Saudi Project Manager
process, in connection with the
to raise awareness on human Arabia, Jordan, and the United ICF Consulting
October 2005 constitutional
rights issues. The NGOs have Arab Emirates, have followed 1725 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1000
referendum. Currently, our
organized dozens of meetings the constitutional and election 202-862-2697
support is focused on encourag- VDouangmany@icfconsulting.com
throughout the country in progress in Iraq, as demonstrat-
ing Iraqis to participate in the
a campaign to educate both ed by the live call-ins and feed-
permanent elections in Decem-
citizens and political leaders back on the television station’s
ber 2005.
on the importance of human website. Arab audiences are
rights in Iraqi civil society go- Through the Iraqi satellite televi- looking for alternatives to Al
ing forward. Several thousand sion station, a series of weekly Jazeera and other sensational-
Iraqis, spanning geographic, programs on the constitution/ ized stations. ICF Consulting’s
ethnic, and religious lines, have elections was developed and tele- media vendor is providing an
attended these sessions, which vised, as well as public-service independant, moderate voice
have been covered by a number type announcements and regular and presenting Iraqis, women,
of media outlets as well. news coverage. Also, through and Arab reformers directly to
the local television station, a net- the Arab audience.