By Omar Alserdare
For those not familiar, ACAI (Anti-Corruption and Arbitration Initiative) is an EU-funded programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme to strengthen integrity, governance, and commercial dispute resolution in Iraq.
The EU has now committed €4.5 million to ACAI Phase II (2025–2027), a meaningful signal of continued international support for (much needed) institutional reform in the country.
ACAI Phase I (2021–2025) laid the foundation by training judges, lawyers, and prosecutors, supporting civil society, monitoring corruption cases, and providing technical advice on modernizing Iraq’s commercial dispute resolution framework. Phase II (2025–2027) builds on that foundation with a broader focus, expanding into environmental justice, natural resource governance, and digital transparency, while strengthening institutional systems and developing practical tools like dispute databases, all designed to make these reforms stick and work effectively within Iraq’s legal and governance systems.
For businesses operating in Iraq, this matters. Predictability in dispute resolution remains a core consideration in investment decisions, and while Iraq is still in a reform phase, the broader trajectory points toward aligning more closely with international best practices.
If you are structuring contracts in Iraq, this is a good moment to stay informed, monitor legislative developments, and ensure your dispute resolution strategy reflects the evolving framework.
Reform takes time, but sustained international backing and continued institutional work suggest that arbitration and commercial dispute resolution remain firmly on the national agenda.
Iraq’s new Arbitration Law is currently under internal review and being prepared for approval.
Republished with permission from the authors. Original post available here.