Monitoring and evaluation are important components of the CD4D2 project. The team can continuously improve the project by seeing the impact and results of assignments in Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia with their own eyes. These visits give us a better insight into the results of the project and show us if organizations are satisfied with the contributions of diaspora experts, as well as the support provided by IOM. Within this context, our CD4D2 colleague Zia Gulam went to Iraq earlier this year to visit the host institutions and diaspora experts on duty.
IOM has supported the Iraqi diaspora since 2012 through various projects. Since then, many things have changed in Iraq. The rise of the IS affected the entire country and especially the north. Luckily, since then many positive developments have also taken place in Iraq. The reconstruction of the country has been impressive. Zia says “Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), is one of the fastest growing cities in Iraq and the Middle East. The infrastructure has improved over the years and many education, employment and business opportunities were created over the past years. The capital of Iraq, Baghdad, has gone through a process of modernization as well. New roads and shopping malls are being built. There are more employment opportunities and activities in the city.”
CD4D2 is implemented in three sectors in Iraq: migration governance, education, and agriculture. Various host institutions welcome diaspora experts to share their knowledge, such as the Ministry of Migration and Displacement, the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education of the KRI, and the Ministry of Agriculture of the KRI. Zia met with the focal points of these organizations and our IOM colleagues in Erbil and Baghdad who closely work together with the diaspora experts.
During his stay, Zia received a lot of positive feedback from the host institutions. The Ministry of Education of the KRI, for instance, benefits significantly from a curriculum for high schools which was developed by one of the diaspora experts. Another great example is the ‘Happy Child, Happy Society’ programme, which was launched by CD4D Ambassador Soza Gaffaf. The initiative offers a school programme for psychological support to teachers, parents, and children.
Of course, after a long day of meeting host institution representatives and experts, Zia had to try the local cuisine. While eating the flavourful rice with fresh yoghurt, our colleagues discussed the contributions of diaspora experts at the Ministry of Migration and Displacement and the impact of the pilot project on the innovation of the agricultural sector. The long-term impact is slowly becoming more visible because diaspora experts stay motivated and connected. The success stories of the project remained a primary topic during the rest of the evening.
The CD4D2 Closing Conference Was a Great Success!