The USAID-funded Tatweer program is an integral part of the U.S. Government’s commitment to build the capacity of key Iraqi ministries through training and mentoring of tens of thousands of Iraqi civil servants. Training and assistance is offered to transform government systems and improve public administration skills to enhance departments’ planning strategies.
Within this framework, the program is helping Iraqi women unlock their potential and in many cases apply their new skills to a range of issues specifically affecting women. Through July 2009, USAID/ Tatweer has trained over 80,000 Iraqis, 29,000 of whom have been women. Follow-up meetings and interviews indicate these women are now applying strategic planning skills to innovative uses, including a breast cancer awareness campaign.
Mrs. Jawan al Barazanchi, a Project Manager at the Ministry of State for Women Affairs, who participated in a strategic planning course in December 2007, is an outstanding example of someone who has benefitted from the USAID/ Tatweer program.
After learning that seventy-nine percent of Iraqi women do not give themselves regular breast examinations, Mrs. al Barazanchi developed the idea of launching an awareness campaign to focus on prevention through self-examination. She used the planning strategies she learned in the course.
Through the help of USAID/ Tatweer advisors, Mrs. al Barazanchi developed a strategic plan for her campaign. She then submitted her proposal to the Council of Ministers and received a $50,000 grant. She began implementing the program in October 2008, and has since received an additional $850,000 grant for 2009.
“After taking the Tatweer strategic planning course, I had the ability and confidence to effectively outline and write a strategic plan for my vision,” Mrs. Jawan al Barazanchi said.
Mrs. al Barazanchi’s campaign has managed to hold 165 awareness symposiums on “Early Breast Cancer Self-Examination” in 15 provinces around the country. With the help of local NGOs, approximately fifty women participants are instructed by a female physician in each symposium, creating a comfortable environment for the exchange of information.
The campaign has distributed almost 90,000 brochures throughout Iraq. Her next project is to improve the campaign’s website and to reach an even wider audience with this important message.
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Mrs. Jwan al Barazanchi launched a breast cancer awareness campaign using her new skills
“After taking the Tatweer strategic planning course, I had the ability and confidence to plan my vision”
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