Mercy Hands Shares Its Experience in Women’s Empowerment at a Workshop in Sulaymaniyah

Sulaymaniyah, May 12–14, 2025 – Mercy Hands was invited to participate in a national workshop organized by SALAR International, through its partner IRFAD, to support the development of local women’s institutions in Iraq. The workshop focused on reviewing and discussing a guidance document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of these institutions at the governorate level.

Mercy Hands was invited not only because of its long-standing work on women’s empowerment projects across Iraq but also due to its strong partnerships and support for both governmental and non-governmental women’s institutions. In fact, several of these institutions recommended Mercy Hands for this workshop, in recognition of the organization's active role in building their capacities.

Ms. Sura Al Zahid, Mercy Hands representative, joins fellow participants at the national workshop to discuss ways to strengthen local women’s institutions and support the implementation of Iraq’s National Strategy for Women.

During the three-day workshop in Sulaymaniyah, Ms. Sura Al Zahid, Mercy Hands’ representative, shared the organization’s experience in empowering women and supporting local institutions. She also presented key lessons learned from fieldwork, highlighting successful models that could be replicated elsewhere in Iraq.

In addition, one of Mercy Hands’ key partners, the Women Empowerment Department in Baghdad Governorate, represented by its head Ms. Enas, shared insights about a project implemented in partnership with Mercy Hands, showcasing the positive impact of coordinated efforts.

Ms. Enas, Head of the Women Empowerment Department in Baghdad Governorate, highlights her department’s collaboration with Mercy Hands and the positive impact of joint efforts to empower women at the local level.

The workshop brought together participants from various sectors, including governorate councils, women’s committees, local government offices, and service institutions from Diwaniyah and Muthanna. Together, they discussed how to implement the Iraqi National Strategy for Women 2023–2030, improve coordination, and ensure local institutions are better equipped to address women’s needs.

Mercy Hands remains committed to working with partners across Iraq to create more opportunities for women and to help strengthen the institutions that serve them.