Alternatives and its Iraqi and European partners are working toward equality and rights for all Iraqis. Since 2003, Alternatives and its partners have supported the creation and consolidation of an important network of civil society organizations, the Iraqi Democratic Future Network (IDFN), which today is comprised of 16 members. The program consists mainly of reinforcing the capacities of Iraqi civil society organizations, improving the quality of their actions on the ground and supporting their advocacy efforts.
Michel Lambert
3720 Parc Ave., #300
Montréal (Québec) H2X 2J1 Canada
Telephone : 514 982-6606
Toll free : 1 800-982-6646
Fax : 514 982-6122
Our consortium of Canadian, European and Iraqi organizations has come together to work toward a more stable and democratic Iraq based on a dynamic civil society capable of engaging in constructive dialogue for a better Iraq with elected representatives, civil servants, and traditional and religious leaders to promote the economic, social, cultural and political rights of all Iraqis.
The Alternatives Action and Communication Network for International Development is a non-governmental, international solidarity organization. Alternatives creates, promotes and supports innovative initiatives in the struggle for economic, social, political, cultural and environmental justice. We strengthen citizen action and reinforce the contribution of social movements in the construction of sustainable societies and a better world.
Our vision
– In this world, women, men and children (...)
The Iraqi Democratic Future Network (IDFN) is a network of 16 Iraqi civil society organisations. It was created in 2004 to foster cooperation for building a more democratic Iraq. IDFN stands for human rights, democracy, social justice and a secular, independent and united Iraq.
Members of the IDFN
Assur Banipal is an Assyrian Chaldean cultural and social organization established in 1988 for the purpose of encouraging the culture and arts of the Assyrian Chaldean people (a Christian (...)
AMORCES encourages initiatives designed to promote the expression and formation of social movements favouring international solidarity, culture, development, and the environment.
The diversity of the movements and their projects expands the field of what is possible. But for lack of resources - technical, financial or human - some projects cannot happen, which is why AMORCES offers its methodology, experience, and network.
AMORCES facilitates the transition from idea to project. The needs (...)
The French NGO Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens is a branch of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA) international network. HCA was founded in 1990 in Prague by activists from Eastern and Western Europe, with the support of then-Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel. It is a non-profit civic movement based on the involvement of individual activists from NGOs and social movements. Its main focuses are democracy, peace and empowerment of civil society.
HCA branches or partner organisations (...)
Alternatives International is an international federation of social and political movements rooted in the World Social Forum movement. Our organizations came together as part of the struggle against social injustices, neo-liberalism, neo-imperialism and war to build solidarity between social movements at the local, national and international level.
For more information visit the Alternatives International website (...)
In Iraq, Alternatives is implementing programs to encourage the emergence of a vibrant civil society and a pluralistic and independent media capable of promoting the economic, social, political and cultural rights of all Iraqis in addition to supporting democratization of the country. Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (2005-2007 and 2009-2010) and the European Commission (2009-2010), these programs have two main components: strengthening Iraqi civil society and supporting Iraqi media.
Despite the challenges involved in working in Iraq given the lack of security, civil war, and the failure of infrastructure, both programs have demonstrated clear progress.
Visit the links below for more information on our two major projects:
This project, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) between 2005-2007 and 2009-2010, has two main components: strengthening Iraqi civil society and supporting independent Iraqi media.
Since 2004, Alternatives has been supporting the creation of a large network of civil society organizations in the country, the Iraqi Democratic Future Network (IDFN), which currently counts 16 member organizations. Through training courses, funding micro-projects, institutional (...)
This project, funded by the European Commission (2009-2010), aims to support and strengthen the capacities of Iraqi civil society organizations and networks to promote a holistic approach to human rights and a pluralistic and non-discriminatory society based on equality between the sexes and respect for minorities. Alternatives and its local and international partners (Iraqi Democratic Future Network, Amorces, and the European Citizens’ Assembly) are working to promote the emergence of a (...)
Un Ponte Per… is a volunteer association established in 1991 following the Gulf War. It began as Un Ponte Per Baghdad (A Bridge For Baghdad) with the aim of organising solidarity initiatives for the benefit of Iraqi civil society, which was left devastated by war and, later, the embargo.
Over almost 20 years, Un Ponte Per..., working in close collaboration with local organizations, has provided relief work and promoted cooperation projects in the fields of health, education, potable water, (...)
Nova - Social Innovation Centre is an independent non-profit non-government organization that aims to promote the knowledge and practice of social innovation to develop the capacities of individuals and social movements to strengthen, through their own activities, their contribution to a just, peaceful and sustainable world.
For more information go to Nova
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, formerly known as the Barcelona Process, was re-launched in 2008 as the Union for the Mediterranean. The Partnership now includes all 27 member states of the European Union, along with 16 partners across the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
This re-launching aimed to infuse a new vitality into the Partnership and to raise the political level of the strategic relationship between the EU and its southern neighbours.
For more information go to (...)
The Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative developed out of a 2009 conference in Italy that brought together 38 Iraqi representatives (from human rights and cultural associations, women’s groups, youth and student groups, NGO’s, labour unions, media outlets) and some 20 representatives from international NGO’s and social movements.
The ICSSI was formed in order to discuss the on-going challenges that face Iraqi civil society in building a free and democratic Iraq, to strengthen alliances, (...)
This website has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The contents
of this website are the sole responsibility of Alternatives and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or CIDA.
