Welcome to the IWEI Website

IWEI, created in July 2004, is operated by a consortium of Iraqi and US NGOs.  Through its Advisory Board, experts and top-notch staff, IWEI provides a range of training, technical expertise, resource and information to Iraqi women on issues that impact Iraqi women’s lives.

Our Mission

The Iraqi Women’s Educational Institute (IWEI) seeks to promote the full political, economic, and social participation of Iraqi women by providing them with: (1) education on democracy and women’s rights; (2) small grants for NGO capacity-building; (3) funding to build women’s resources; (4) networking opportunities between women leaders and NGOs in Iraq and abroad; and (5) training and technical assistance to NGOs so that they can become active members of Iraq’s civil society.

Program Updates

Advancing Women's Rights: Two Years in Iraq

Between 2004 and 2006, IWEI had the honor of working with numerous Iraqi women through our project, which was supported by the U.S. State Department. The report details the compiled projects conducted by IWEI in Iraq.

This includes our work related to international women’s human rights, democracy promotion, and nongovernmental organization capacity building. The report examines the positive role women have played in stabilizing Iraq and how the promotion of women’s rights advances the country’s total well-being. Together with our colleagues, our mission was to educate and empower the women of Iraq by providing education on democracy and women’s human rights, increasing funding for women’s initiatives, facilitating networking opportunities, and offering training and technical assistance. READ MORE>>

The Small-Grant and NGO Capacity Building Initiative for Women’s Non- Governmental Organizations in Iraq (May 2006)

In May 2006, IWEI launched a comprehensive initiative to promote the capacity and sustainability of Iraqi women’s NGOs in south central and southern Iraq so that they can be an active part of Iraq’s nascent civil society. The IWEI Small-Grant and NGO Capacity Building Initiative will assist, support and train Iraqi women through: (1) the development of sustainable and independent Iraqi women’s NGOs; (2) the advancement and support of Iraqi women’s economic empowerment, including skills training and job creation for women; (3) efforts to support and advance Iraqi women’s ability to advocate for women’s human rights; and (4) develop and support two women’s resource centers in Karbala and Basra. READ MORE>>

The Iraqi Women’s Leaders Program (2004-2005)
The Iraqi Women’s Educational Institute was created in July 2004. IWEI’s first initiative contained two influential programs designed to train and provide resources for the Iraqi people: (1) the Iraqi Women Leaders Program; and (2) the Democracy Information Center.  The flagship of this program was a historic event: the Iraqi Women Leaders Conference entitled “The Principles and Practice of Democracy” held in Jordan in April 2005. READ MORE>>