The NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) is the primary coordination body for NGOs operating in Iraq. NCCI however is only one element of the overall humanitarian coordination structure, which includes OCHA, other UN agencies the cluster system and the central government and the Kurdish regional government. As the coordination structure is going through a number of changes, NCCI has been supporting this evolution to a more efficient system adapted to the situation in the field. On the 27th of August NCCI hosted a meeting between NGOs and Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) Lise Grande. During the meeting the HC addressed a number of concerns raised by NGOs on the reformed coordination structure and the relocation of it to Baghdad. Other subjects…

As the humanitarian situation in Iraq rapidly changes, the NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) regularly organizes meetings to share information between its members and the other humanitarian actors in the country. On the 25th of August NCCI held a meeting at its Erbil office with nine, mostly local NGOs attending. At the meeting the local NGOs described the challenges emerging in liberated areas in Ninewa and Kirkuk like revenge attacks, sectarian and ethnic polarization, unsafety and damaged infrastructure and property. The attendants also put forward a number of recommendations to enable a safe return of IDPs to these areas. These recommendations included documenting events of genocide and persecution and increasing the awareness of both the population and government officials…

Coordinating NGO operations is the core mission of the NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI). This mission includes coordination between NGOs and other humanitarian actors such as UN agencies and donors, but also encompasses liaising between NGOs and government. To ensure an effective humanitarian response, coordination and cooperation between NGOs and the government is crucial, but in crisis situations such as now this cooperation is often hindered by rapidly changing circumstances and communication gaps. During the past two weeks NCCI supported the Directorate of NGOs (DNGO), the Department of Foreign Relations (DFR) and the Ministry of Interior of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in their attempts to increase communication between NGOs and the regional government in the Kurdistan Region of…

The NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) organizes monthly general coordination meetings in its offices in Baghdad and Erbil. These meetings aim to reinforce cooperation and information sharing between NGOs and other humanitarian actors in the country. On the 3rd of August 13 local and international NGOs convened in NCC’s Baghdad office, discussing the latest developments in visa legislation and visa related problems. Then a local NGO briefed the attendants on the problems faced by returnees in Diyala, which include limited public services like water and electricity, destroyed houses, a lack of cash and food and ongoing clashes. Another local NGO gave an update on the situation in southern Iraq, a region which receives less international attention but is nonetheless…

NCCI conducted the second capacity building workshop this year for its Field Coordination Network (FCN). 21 NNGO Focal Points from 16 governorates attended the workshop which was held between 25 and 27 July in Erbil. In the first day, the FPs were introduced to the several types of coordination bodies which work on global, strategic and operational coordination. The attendants were also trained on how to organize coordination events and meetings. The second day focused on information management and reporting skills. During the last day, the network developed its new six months work plan. The participants also voted on the new organizational internal document, including the election of a new administrative body for the network. NCCI will continue to look…

In light of the dwindling need for coordination activities in Amman and the demand to step up coordination efforts in Iraq, the NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) recently closed its office in Amman. NCCI’s staff in Amman – including the communication manager, general administrator and IT manager – will from now on be based in Erbil. In addition to the move of NCCI’s activities from Amman to Erbil, NCCI also recruited a new coordinator for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The KRI coordinator is based in Erbil and will focus on engaging local NGOs in the broader humanitarian framework in Iraq. The participation of local NGOs is a crucial part of the humanitarian relief effort in Iraq, but…