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Our Global Reach
10 September 2026
Staff Accountant (Remote, US Based)

ICAN is hiring a Staff Accountant to provide financial and administrative support to ICAN’s Finance Director and broader team.

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Resource Library
12 May 2025
The Odd Couple: Women Peacebuilders and Security Actors Bridging Positions, Building Trust

The WPS agenda has proven a vital entry point for women peacebuilders to engage with the security sector and build trust within affected communities. These efforts—often invisible—are contributing to the reform of the sector, reshaping local security environments and mitigating violence.

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21 April 2025
The War Against Ourselves: Afghan Women Peacebuilders’ Response to the Mental Health Crisis in Afghanistan

This case study describes the drivers of the mental health crisis in Afghanistan, its gendered and cultural dimensions, and the strategies used by Afghan women-led peacebuilding organizations to provide solutions. The authors conducted interviews with representatives of Afghan women-led peacebuilding organizations and thematic experts, which were complemented by a desk review of project documentation and […]

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News & Media
10 September 2026
Staff Accountant (Remote, US Based)

ICAN is hiring a Staff Accountant to provide financial and administrative support to ICAN’s Finance Director and broader team.

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Country - Iraq

Al-Firdaws Society is a leading Iraqi non-governmental organization founded in Basra in 2003. The organization promotes the social, cultural, economic, and political rights of women and youth and supports their active participation in democratic processes and community development across Iraq.

Al-Firdaws Society is recognized for its comprehensive peacebuilding approach and its promotion of strategic cooperation among diverse social sectors. The organization has established a peace network that brings together civil society organizations, local communities, and authorities in Basra to strengthen conflict mediation, prevent cyber extortion, combat violence against women, and improve the delivery of essential public services.

The organization also works to rehabilitate and reintegrate former members of violent extremist groups through community-based peace initiatives and dialogue led by tribal and religious leaders.

Recognizing the link between environmental stability and security, Al-Firdaws Society addresses climate change impacts on social cohesion. Through community dialogues and empowerment programs—particularly in northern Basra—the organization supports vulnerable communities in adapting to environmental changes and mitigating climate-related conflicts.

ICAN’s Innovative Peace Fund has supported Al-Firdaws since 2017.

Core Areas of Work:

  • Community resilience
  • Peacemaking
  • Preventing and countering violent extremism
  • Preventing gender based violence (GBV)
  • Reintegration and rehabilitation
  • Youth engagement

I believe in peace; we shouldn’t face violence with violence or fighting with fighting. When we speak of peace we need to believe in it and carry it, that is how peace will succeed.

– Fatima Al-Bahadly Director, Al-Firdaws Society

Stories & Features

Countering Extremism in Iraq: A New Horizon for Peace

Iraqi Al-Firdaws Society (Al-Firdaws) is taking a new approach to peacebuilding. Their project, Horizon: Promoting Community Peace, supported by ICAN’s Innovative Peace Fund (IPF), brings together youth, local security forces, and civil society actors to address violent extremism through dialogue, education, and community-based action. 

ICAN Featured Our Stories Stories Women's Alliance for Security Leadership
February 12, 2026
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Who is Protecting the Peacemakers?

““The situation is dire; we all expect the worst.” Fatima Al-Bahadly, Basra’s Long Time Peace Activist in Danger after Protesting Against Corruption

ICAN Featured ICAN Updates
October 1, 2018
Read Post Who is Protecting the Peacemakers?

More Countries & Partners

OUR PARTNERS MAP
Empatiku Foundation Indonesia

Empatiku is a civil society organization based in Indonesia that fosters empathy in the security and education sectors and addresses the rise of violent extremism. Since its establishment in 2015, Empatiku has innovated its programs to ensure the involvement of civil society, especially women, in bringing about social change.

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Women for Development NGO Armenia

Women for Development (WFD) is a women-led, grassroots, non-governmental organization based in Gyumri, Armenia. WFD was established in 1997 and was formed upon the vision of women shaping their future and bringing positive societal change to the communities of Armenia, particularly in the country’s most impoverished region of Shirak.

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Ganoubia Hora Egypt

Ganoubia Hora for Development is a young Egyptian feminist organization based in Southern Egypt.

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Think Twice Brazil Brazil

Think Twice Brasil (TTB) is a social impact organization that supports individuals and institutions to interrupt cycles of violence and inequality through education, research, and the development of innovative strategies that advance peace, democratic participation, and human rights.

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Women’s Center for Guidance and Legal Aid (WCGLA) Egypt

The Women’s Center for Guidance and Legal Awareness (WCGLA) is a feminist, independent civil society organization based in Egypt, dedicated to advancing women’s rights, gender justice, and inclusive peacebuilding.

Read Post Women’s Center for Guidance and Legal Aid (WCGLA)
Hope Advocates Africa Cameroon

Founded in 2015, Hope Advocates Africa (HADA) is a youth-led, grassroots-driven organization based in Cameroon, advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), gender justice, environmental peacebuilding, mediation, and conflict management in marginalized communities.

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Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development (PaWED) Cameroon

Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development & Integrated Agricultural Training Center (PaWED-AITC) is a Cameroon-based non-governmental organization advancing gender equality, inclusive peacebuilding, and social cohesion.

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Corporación Conciudadanía Colombia

Corporación Conciudadanía is a nonprofit, non-partisan, civil society organization that promotes citizen participation in order to strengthen local democracy and active citizenship.

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Center for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance (CEWLA) Egypt

The Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA) is a non-governmental organization that was founded in 1995. Its strives to offer Egyptian women legal support and assistance regarding their rights under the Egyptian Constitution and laws, and international conventions.

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