Supporting Iraq’s Emerging Policy Community

DateJanuary 19-21, 2006
LocationBeirut, Lebanon

Stimson Workshop to Help and Support Think Tanks in Iraq

The Stimson Center is committed to the growth of civil society in Iraq as a key element in the development of the new Iraq. Because of this commitment and with the support of the US Institute of Peace, the Center created this workshop, specifically designed around the needs of this growing, essential community which we believe has the capacity to be a major player in the stabilization, rebuilding and growth of Iraq, and in defining Iraq's new regional role.

Summary of Program

The workshop was designed to address both broad conceptual issues and practical management challenges for think tanks and other new NGOs. It was conducted by the Stimson Center's executive staff, Ellen Laipson and Cheryl Ramp, and used a reference workbook prepared by the Stimson Center and translated into Arabic. Issues covered within the workbook included:

1) An essay on the role of think tanks in democracies

2) Briefing on the substantive role of think tanks
      a) measuring the impact on policy
      b) developing products, publications and events

3)Introduction to fundraising
      a) Practicum on writing a grant proposal
      b) 6-page fact sheet on international sources of funding

4) Briefing on building a board and developing staff

5) Discussion of Mission Statements
      a) Practicum on drafting a mission statement

6) Briefing on Collaboration and Partnerships

The workshop also drew on the experience of three Lebanese guest speakers.

-Jihad Zein, the op-ed editor and columnist at An-Nahar, spoke about the relationship between research centers and the media;
-Oussama Safa, the director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, spoke about his experience running a think tank, his research priorities, and the funding challenges his institution faces;
-Ziyad Baroud, a former director of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections, spoke about how civil society, when united, can influence policy and act as a watchdog.

The Iraqi participants reflected the diversity of Iraq's society: of the 24 participants, a quarter were women; half were from Baghdad and the others from Hilla, Najaf, Erbil, Suleymaniah, and Basra.

The Stimson Center has already undertaken follow up initiatives to support specific project ideas generated by the Iraqi participants, and to promote continued interaction within the Iraqi public policy analysis community.

When:   

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Where:

Beirut, Lebanon