15 March، 2026
In a Ramadan dialogue session, Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) hosted Dr. Ahmed al-Fatlawi, the Secretary-General of the Coordinating Commission for Governorates Not Organized into a Region and a Government Representative in the Council of Representatives. The session, held at the Center's Sérgio Vieira de Mello Hall, was titled "Coordinative Work Between the Governorates and the Central Government: Current Challenges and Future Prospects." Moderated by media personality Safaa al-Sultani, the event drew a significant official, academic, and public audience.

Dr. al-Fatlawi reviewed several key topics, most notably the function of local governments and the shift from the strong centralism of the pre-2003 era to the decentralization that followed. He outlined the nature of the Coordinating Commission's work, which is governed by a number of legal constraints, chief among them the 2005 Iraqi Constitution and the Law of Governorates Not Organized into a Region, with its various amendments. Dr. al-Fatlawi pointed out that the most significant challenge facing the Commission's work is the discrepancy in legal interpretations.

He also highlighted specific problems the Commission confronts, namely administrative oversight and the distribution of financial resources. Dr. al-Fatlawi mentioned the Commission's endeavors to organize what are known as sovereign funds, particularly for Iraq's poorest governorates, such as Samawah and Diwaniyah, and for the holy governorates of Najaf, Karbala, and the city of Samarra.

This seminar is part of the annual Ramadan evenings hosted by Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD). It aligns with the Center's scientific and research activities and its commitment to discussing the most prominent political, economic, social, and cultural issues concerning the country.