الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 37، 28 تموز 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE July 28, 2005 In early July, a group of 25 physicians from the Iraqi Ministry of Health received training to increase their skills in a range of training methodologies including on the job training, coaching and the use of training demonstrations. Contents: Electricity ...........................................................2 Water and Sanitation.........................................3 Economic Governance ......................................4 Agriculture.........................................................5 National Governance......................................... 6 Local Governance ............................................. 7 Community Action Program .............................. 8 Education .......................................................... 9 Health................................................................ 10 Completed Activities.......................................... 11 Financial Summary ........................................... 12 USAID assists Iraqis in reconstructing their country by working with Iraq’s Interim Government. Programs are implemented in coordination with the United Nations, country partners, nongovernmental organizations and private sector partners. This report highlights USAID’s overall accomplishments and recent reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information, please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WWW.USAID.GOV ELECTRICITY July 28, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • By October 2003, rehabilitated electric power capacity to pro- duce peak capacity greater than the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Production reached 5,365 MW on August 18, 2004. • Since achieving record power production in summer ‘04, the Ministry of Electricity—with as- sistance from USAID—initiated the standard fall maintenance process which necessarily re- duced the amount of power available for consump- tion. USAID worked with the MOE to conduct last fall’s main- tenance program. • Repairing thermal units, replac- ing turbines, rehabilitating the power distribution network, and installing and restoring genera- tors. • USAID has added 978 MW of capacity through maintenance and rehabilitation work, and also repaired a 400 KV transmission line. • USAID and the Ministry of Elec- tricity are working with partners to place an additional 598 MW in the national grid by Decem- ber 2005 through maintenance, rehabilitation, and new genera- tion projects. • USAID completed a project to convert two units that produce 80 MW each to operate on crude/heavy fuel oil instead of diesel which is in short supply. • USAID initiated a project to re- habilitate 13 existing substa- tions and construct 24 new sub- stations in Baghdad. These 37 substations will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad resi- dents. USAID recently handed over work on 12 of these sub- stations to the Ministry of Elec- tricity. USAID’s goals include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power genera- tion facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working since May 2003 to restore the capacity of Iraq’s power system. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK At the Kirkuk substation, work on the V94 generator is being final- ized. The Iraqi contractor is cur- rently finishing the installation of the fuel gas supply, air compressor and electrical switches. Work also con- tinues on erecting the generator’s permanent gantry crane is used for access and maintenance. The Kirkuk facility is located north of Baghdad at a major hub for the 132-kV and 400-kV grids. This area is near an existing natural gas pipeline, which was tapped to pro- vide fuel to the new gas turbines which are being installed at the Kirkuk site. Gas turbines can be installed with a minimal amount of external infrastructure and are capable of burning a variety of fuels, including heavy oils. USAID’s work at the site will ultimately bring two new generators online, add- ing 325 MW of electrical generation capacity to the electrical grid. The re- cently completed V64 unit has added 65 MW to the national grid. Initial start- up and synchronization of the V64 was achieved on January 3. The V94 gen- erator, which will add 260 MW, is expected to be complete in the third quarter of 2005. The overall project is now 83 percent finished. Two new power generators at the Kirkuk substation will add 325 MW of power . UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE USAID’s refurbished water treatment plants will treat approximately 90 million gallons of water per day. WATER AND SANITATION USAID’s goal is to improve the efficiency and reliability of existing water and wastewater treatment facilities, especially those in the south where water quantity and quality are particularly low. An anticipated 11.8 million Iraqis will benefit from USAID’s $600 million in water and sanitation projects. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Seven new raw water pumps have arrived at the Sharq-Dijlah water treatment plant for installation and the refurbishment of the Ad- ministration Building has been completed. USAID accepted re- sponsibility to complete the expan- sion of the plant, which was begun under the Oil for Food Program. To further reduce anticipated water shortages in Baghdad, USAID is restoring the existing water treat- ment plant to its original capacity and providing the design for a sec- ond expansion at this site. Com- bined, the initial expansion and the plant restoration are expected to in- crease the supply of treated water by approximately 90 MGD. Iraqi subcontractors are also completing work on the plant’s clarifiers and filter sluice gates. Sheet pilings for the new raw water intake cofferdam have been installed and excavation for replacement of the service water line from the treated water distribution tank to the chlorination header is in progress. Work on the existing plant refurbishment is expected to be completed in June 2006. The Iraqi subcontractor implementing the Baghdad Water Mains Reha- bilitation project has laid 16.1 km of asphalt paving and 87.7 km of main line pipe to date which surpasses the original contract amount of 74 km. The current goal is to install 98km of mainline pipe. A total of 7,498 additional homes have been connected to the water mains. USAID is also developing a disconnection procedure to safely eliminate old asbestos concrete distribution pipes and is conducting site visits to witness hydrostatic testing and disinfec- tion processes. After years of neglect and inconsistent repair under the previous regime, the municipal water system in Sadr City was badly deteriorated. The system lost about 60 percent of its water due to leaks, illegal connections, and un-metered water uses. Failing water mains in densely-populated districts, such as Sadr City, caused low water pressure and allowed contaminated water to leak into water mains, resulting in frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. The Water Distributions Mains project involves modeling the distribution sys- tem and repairing, replacing and installing new water pipes in Sadr City. This work has been expanded, by request of the Baghdad Mayoralty, to include assistance in connecting houses to the water mains. The modeling task will July 28, 2005 • Nationwide: Repaired various sewage lift stations and water treatment units. • Baghdad: Completed expan- sion and rehabilitation of one water treatment plant and con- tinues constructing another to increase capacity by approxi- mately 110 million gallons per day; rehabilitating sewage treat- ment plants. − A major wastewater treatment plant in Baghdad began operat- ing in June 2004; this is the first major sewage plant in the coun- try to operate in over 12 years. − The sewage treatment system in Baghdad, barely functioning for years before the conflict, will be restored to almost 100 per- cent capacity, serving 80 per- cent of Baghdad’s population. − Standby generators are being installed at 41 Baghdad water facilities. • South: Rehabilitated parts of the Sweet Water Canal system, including repairing breaches, cleaning the main reservoirs, and refurbished 14 water treat- ment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: Completed two water plants and four sewage plants. − Completed the rehabilitation of a sewage plant in Babil Gover- norate. − Sewage plants in An Najaf, Al Qadisiyah, and Babil Gover- norates will serve 440,000 upon completion. − Water treatment in Najaf and Babil will serve residents and visitors at Iraq’s holiest shrines. • North: Completed rehabilitation of Kirkuk water plant and con- tinuing refurbishment of sewage plant near Mosul. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE July 28, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Developed WTO Accession Roadmap in cooperation with Iraqi officials. • Provided technical assistance as well as information on con- tracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses and entrepreneurs through business centers. • Worked with the Ministry of Fi- nance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar. • Created more than 77,000 pub- lic works jobs through the Na- tional Employment Program. • Provided technical assistance on accounting, budgeting and lending activities at Iraq’s com- mercial banks. Trained 116 bankers from the Rafidain and Rasheed banks in six training courses. • Assisted in management of $21 million micro-credit program. • Improved statistical analysis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision procedures at Iraq’s Central Bank; offered a two-week banking course to Central Bank staff with the Fed- eral Reserve Bank of New York. • Evaluated and updated com- mercial laws on private sector and foreign investment. • Assisted in developing the 5 percent reconstruction levy on imports; built capacity of cus- toms officials to implement levy. • Developed a government-wide IT strategy to support the auto- mation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Provided technical support for the re-opening of the Iraq Stock Exchange after it was closed down for more than 15 months; 3.6 billion Iraqi dinars ($2.4 mil- lion USD) in shares were traded in the first day. USAID supports economic reforms in Iraq which will strengthen the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Commerce and Industry. Experts examine laws, regulations, and institutions for reform within Iraq. The projects USAID implements provide a framework for private sector trade, commerce, and investment throughout Iraq. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK In a critical milestone for Iraqi debt renegotiation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) accepted Iraq’s Monetary Survey. This survey is the culmination of two months of work with Central Bank of Iraq Research and Statistics staff and will be used to support negotiations relating to the IMF Standby Facility for Iraq. The survey now includes data from all 26 banks un- der the direct supervision of the Central Bank of Iraq. The completion of the Monetary Survey is a Structural Indicative Benchmark of the EPCA. In Sep- tember 2004, the IMF approved a $436 million Emergency Post Conflict As- sistance (EPCA) program for Iraq. The EPCA is the precursor to the Stand By Agreement (SBA). USAID representatives completed a two-part course for tax officials from northern Iraq on providing training on the new Corporate Income Tax Return. The course was given in the Headquarters of the General Commis- sion for Taxes in Baghdad. Attendees expressed their interest in additional training. USAID also conducted a two day presentation on tax policy and the legal aspects of the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the staff of the General Com- mission for Taxes. Attendees included deputy director generals, branch man- agers and department managers. The presentation was intended to educate the decision makers on the intricacies of introducing the VAT in Iraq. Sixteen Ministry of Planning and Development staff completed an Ad- vanced Capital Budgeting Workshop. The workshop exposed attendees to modern decision-making techniques, project identification principles, capital definitions and stakeholder involvement. The attendees found the workshop to be very useful, particularly given their lack of previous experience with this type of capital budgeting. To harmonize banking standards throughout Iraq, USAID is working with bank officials to develop guidelines for credit policies and procedures for commercial banks on lending activities and credit files. The policies list the financial statements that should be collected from the borrower. The procedures detail statistics to be analyzed by the loan officer while reviewing a prospective borrower. These bank officials are also developing credit classifi- cation instructions for the banks and minimum loan loss provision require- ments, based on these classifications. The primary source material for these documents is the training and materials the bank officials received during the Credit Risk Workshop, held in Amman in April 2005. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 July 28, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Summer and Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: These demonstrations are intro- ducing farmers to new technolo- gies and techniques through extension field days. • Animal Health: Several veteri- nary clinics in Kirkuk, Fallujah, and other cities are being reno- vated and a grant has been made for dipping tanks to im- prove sheep health and wool. • Technology Support: The Min- istry of Agriculture and a major university’s schools of Agricul- ture and Veterinary Science have been awarded grants to furnish and equip computer centers, improving research capabilities and consulting ca- pacity. • Date Palm Propagation: In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, 40,000 elite date palm offshoots are being used to establish mother orchards in 13 governorates as part of a multiplication program and the establishment of a national reg- ister of elite varieties. • Agriculture Sector Transition Plan: This plan, completed in April 2004, addresses the short- term recovery of agricultural infrastructure as well as me- dium- and long-term implemen- tation of policies to develop a market-based agricultural econ- omy. AGRICULTURE USAID’s goals are to work in conjunction with Iraqi ministries, the private sec- tor, and higher education institutions to revitalize agricultural production, stimulate income and employment generation, nurture rural initiatives, and rehabilitate the natural resource base. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK A survey conducted by USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of 160 poultry farms in Arbil, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniyah found that the poultry industry in these three governorates is internationally competitive. The farms are pri- vately-owned, receive no subsidies and subject to few government interventions. However, they are performing at only 46percent of their production capacity because they lack the equipment and electricity to maintain climate controlled facilities during the summer and winter months. A separate survey is currently underway in Baghdad. The MOA and USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program recently began a crop survey in Erbil governorate that will measure pasture, fallow and planting areas and the production of the main win- ter crops, wheat, barley and winter vegetables. In addition to informing policy deci- sions, this survey will improve the MOA’s procedures for deriving area and production estimates. In the past, the MOA conducted crop surveys based on full coverage of every village in the governorate, an expensive and inefficient method. The new, more efficient method uses a representative sample of villages and farmers that are se- lected using existing data on expected production. The winter crop and poultry surveys are part of a series of agricultural surveys that the ARDI program is supporting to improve the quality of statistics available to the MOA. Through practical experiences in the field, and a large scale training program, the MOA will have the capacity to conduct a national agriculture survey by 2007. Results will inform policy and business decisions. USAID’s ARDI program funded the construction of water storage basins in five Iraqi villages to improve irrigation. Each of the five 96 m3 basins will collect runoff from mountain springs for use during the summer season. This will sustain fruit or- chards and vegetable crops, a main source of food and income for villagers, and will allow farmers to increase the amount of vegetable crops and orchards planted. Vil- lage committees will determine distribution of the stored water and will be responsible for maintenance of the basins. Eighty-one families will directly benefit from the work. Six USAID-supported agriculture outreach teams, that will include a veterinarian and an agronomist/animal production specialist, will visit 240 villages to con- duct workshops on diseases that are transmitted from animals to people. The workshops will target women who have the most contact with animals. Field team members were provided with equipment and training for three common diseases, their modes of transmission, signs of infection, symptoms and control measures. Fourteen Iraqi government officials participated in a training in Amman, Jordan on the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the MOA/ARDI na- tional Agro-Ecological Zoning (AEZ) program. AEZ technology combines raw data and satellite imagery to create land-use and crop suitability maps. The AEZ program will apply technology and training to increase agricultural production, improve food security, and preserve natural resources. The program is an inter-ministerial effort; officials from the MOA, Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Transportation will participate in the GIS training. The AEZ program is geared towards improving agri- cultural policy, and is therefore housed in the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Water Resources will be involved because agriculture in Iraq depends heavily on irri- gation, which will be included in the AEZ mapping. The Ministry of Transportation manages meteorological data, which will be incorporated into the AEZ maps.UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 July 28, 2005 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • Strengthen the capacity of the legislative branch of the Iraqi interim and transitional govern- ments and its staff during the interim and transition period to include lawmaking, representa- tion, executive oversight, and other responsibilities as pro- vided by the Transitional Admin- istrative Law. • Assist the Executive Authority, the Presidency Council, and the Council of Ministers and its pre- siding Prime Minister develop governing processes, rules of procedure, regulations and di- rectives necessary to enforce the laws, and to implement gov- ernment programs and policies • Support the process for adop- tion of an Iraqi constitution that promotes democratic principles and values through the provi- sion of technical assistance that includes, but is not limited to, providing comparative constitu- tional expertise; organizing con- stitutional conferences and con- ventions; facilitating public awareness, education, and par- ticipation; and assisting in the conduct of a national referen- dum or other ratifying mecha- nism. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE In the post-election period, USAID will continue to plan and implement a vari- ety of programs, undertaken in full partnership with Iraqi counterparts, match- ing the needs of the evolving Iraqi democracy. In particular, USAID is acceler- ating support to the Iraq National Assembly and the Constitutional Drafting Commission. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID trained an additional 38 facilitators to conduct constitutional dia- logues in Kirkuk, As Sulaymaniyah, Baghdad, Hilla, Karbala, Anbar, Qadisiyah and Basra. The 329 facilitators trained to date are members of the 150 NGOs par- ticipating in USAID’s Constitutional Dialogue Program designed to facilitate con- stituent involvement in the constitutional process through civic education and pub- lic input. USAID also organized a meeting with three Tikrit-based NGOs expected to become new implementers. Meanwhile, USAID was approached by five Basra- based NGOs wishing to participate in the constitutional dialogue program. The Iraqi National Assembly’s (INA) Women’s Caucus came to an agree- ment on a list of basic statements they wish to incorporate in the new Iraqi constitution. In the last couple of weeks, the caucus group’s draft statement was discussed with the leaders of each party represented in the group. The months of extensive discussions and trainings on advocacy work were designed to help women at this critical stage to lobby and convincingly argue for their parties to incorporate the caucus’ statement in their own platform. In early July, USAID held consultation sessions for the INA’s Constitutional Committee with a variety of international experts. Between July 4 and 7, Iraqi members of the Constitutional Committee met with two constitutional law profes- sors who have worked for the governments of China, Nepal, South Africa, Indone- sia and other countries; the special advisor on constitutional reform to Ontario, Canada; a Spanish university professor of tax and finance law who is a specialist on fiscal federalism and the distribution of taxation powers among different tiers of government; a lawyer in the Supreme Court and other courts in India. During a July 3 workshop on “Message Development” that was led by USAID representatives, 36 INA members were introduced to ways of devel- oping an effective message to either pass a piece of legislation or promote a public policy. The training identified methods to create an effective message by considering goals, audiences, strategies and potential impact. Members of Parliament also joined in practical exercises on designing a message. On July 4, USAID representatives organized a conference on federalism for 34 INA members so members of parliament could benefit from the expertise of two visiting experts members of the Forum of Federation; a world-known network specializing in issues related to federalism. The lecture offered an overview of basic principals and characteristics, models and arguments for and against fed- eral systems. Questions were principally targeted at the Spanish and Canadian models, strategies in dealing with terrorism in Spain, movements for separation through referendum in Canada, allocation of resources, the status of minorities and the jurisdiction of federal armies and police. In early July, the Secretary General of the INA made a request to USAID rep- resentatives to procure equipment to produce a web-casting of National As- sembly and Constitutional Committee sessions. The Constitutional Commit- tee’s Outreach Unit also requested advice on a nation-wide public outreach poster-campaign on the constitutional process. USAID representatives made rec- ommendations and provided four experienced Iraqi graphic designers. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE LOCAL GOVERNANCE USAID’s Local Governance Program (LGP) goals include promoting represen- tative citizen participation in governance; strengthening the management skills of city and provincial administrations and civic institutions; promoting advo- cacy and participation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serving as a recruiting tool for future leaders. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK In late June, USAID’s Local Governance Program (LGP) coordinated a joint meeting between 68 Provincial Council (PC) members from As Su- laymaniyah and Ninawa to strengthen the relationship and exchange views and experiences between the two institutions. The As Sulaymani- yah and Ninawa PCs have been very active in performing their functions to the best of their abilities under the existing circumstances. Council commit- tees have been active in monitoring the market prices of basic food items and in recommending actions to address traffic issues. Reconstruction commit- tees are discussing road paving, park building and city beautifications. The LGP recently delivered a comprehensive workshop on “Developing and Monitoring Budgets” for members of the Najaf P.C. All PC members were in attendance as well as managers representing the Health, Treasury, Municipality and Road departments. The major topics of discussion included: • The PC’s role in the preparation and monitoring of budgets; • Requirements to following policies and regulations set by the legislative body; • Prioritizing community needs; • The use of statistical information in resource allocation decisions; and • A step by step presentation of the budgeting process. July 28, 2005 • More than $2.5 million was committed to the nationwide Civic Education Campaign, which educated Iraqis on de- mocracy and political transition in Iraq. Over 550 democratic dialogue facilitators were re- cruited to help Iraqis participate in political processes. More than 29,000 local democracy dialogues events were con- ducted by election day, in which well over 789,700 Iraqis partici- pated. • Established regional offices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, and Erbil, with resident expat and Iraqi professional staff oper- ating in all 18 governorates. • Awarded $15.5 million in rapid- response grants in the first pro- gram year to strengthen the capacity of authorities to deliver core municipal services. The grants were used to restore services in agriculture, educa- tion, health, electricity, sanita- tion, and water. In the second year, a similar grants program worth $1.5 million has been implemented. • Facilitated the establishment or refreshment of 16 governorate councils, 90 district councils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Supported preparation of 2004 and 2005 budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Hillah, Babil, and Najaf. • Organized and carried out nu- merous selection processes for governors and mayors, as well as local council elections, throughout Iraq. • Supported a series of National Agenda Dialogue Conferences, which engaged stakeholders such as academics, journalists, women, lawyers, health profes- sionals, tribal leaders, the dis- abled and civil society organiza- tions in discussions on their roles in Iraq’s developing de- mocracy. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM The Community Action Program works in rural and urban communities to pro- mote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government representatives, USAID is creating representative participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP) worked with a community in northern Iraq to rebuild the sports facilities at a rehabilitation center for the disabled. The rehabilitation center was established in 1986 to assist men newly disabled from the Iran/Iraq war, but now offers services to all people with disabilities in At Tamim and As Sulaymaniyah governorates. Sports ac- tivities in this area are dependent on the weather. It is too cold and rainy in winter, and too hot in summer for an all year program. CAP helped the com- munity build a center for year round sports that will attract new people with disabilities to activities, increasing their self-esteem and physical conditioning. The rehabilitation center is donating the land and the staff to run the center and the community will donate volunteers to run the sports teams. Seventeen full time jobs will be created to run the center and provide specialized advice and treatment. July 28, 2005 • USAID has committed over $131 million to 3,120 projects while Iraqi communities have committed more than 25 percent of total funding. CAP has established over 600 community action groups (CAGs) in 17 gover- norates. Five U.S. NGOs each concentrate on a region: north, Baghdad, southwest central, southeast central, and south. • The northern program focuses on the conflict prone areas of the Sunni Triangle, Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. The partner NGO has completed 433 projects with over $29 million in project commitments including improving the Tikrit water supply, and devel- oping income generation projects in the north. • In the southwest central region, the partner NGO has established a strong presence in Hillah and the Shi’a holy cities Najaf and Karbala. Emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has improved community water/sanitation ser- vices and schools, and repaired vital social infrastructure. They have completed 322 projects and have over $21.5 million in project commitments. • Income generation is an important emphasis in the Baghdad pro- gram where 522 projects have been completed through CAGs. A marketplace for over 700 vendors is being constructed, and crews are cleaning up medical waste dumps. Total project commit- ments are $22.3 million. • In the southeast central region, 179 projects are complete with a total of $16.7 million in commit- ments. In the Shi’i heartland, these projects address needs resulting from decades of govern- ment neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilitation. • The southern program has com- pleted 625 projects with total com- mitments of $21.9 million. Pro- jects have focused on immediate community needs such as sew- age clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. At the request of the local community association, CAP is improving the telephone network of a town in southern Diyala Governorate. The town had many damaged lines which impeded service, and was without servicing or updating for many years. The community requested the project to improve communication among the local population—especially during emergencies— and to increase local incomes by enhancing business opportunities. CAP sup- plied the community with telephone fittings, connections and service equip- ment. The community association, with the cooperation of the telephone net- work office, provided the professional staff, a loading truck and telephone ca- bles. The new working telephone network improves daily lives and comforts local people who lack many other services. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 EDUCATION July 28, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • 2,564 schools have been rehabili- tated through direct contracting and grants to communities. • Hundreds of thousands of desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secondary schools have been distributed countrywide. • 32,700 secondary school teach- ers and administrators, including 928 master trainers, have been trained nationwide. Over the next year, up to 100,000 additional teachers will receive in-service training. • Eighty-four primary and secon- dary schools (four in each gover- norate) are being established to serve as “centers of excellence.” Teachers will receive six weeks of training, and schools will be equipped with computer and sci- ence laboratories. • More than 550 out-of-school youth completed a pilot acceler- ated learning program. An ex- panded program, targeting 10,000 out-of-school youth, will be imple- mented during the 2005–06 school year. • Satellite Internet access and com- puters installed at the Ministry of Education and in all 21 Director- ates of Education. To improve resource management, an Educa- tion Management Information System is being developed. • More than 8.7 million math and science textbooks have been edited, printed, and distributed throughout Iraq. • Partnerships have been estab- lished between five American and 10 Iraqi universities. Through these partnerships, more than 1,500 Iraqi faculty and students have participated in workshops, trainings, conferences, and courses in Iraq, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. • University facilities, such as librar- ies, computer and science labora- tories, lecture halls, and buildings, have been rehabilitated at col- leges of law, engineering, medi- cine, archeology, and agriculture. In addition, books and electronic resources have been provided to university libraries. USAID’s goals are to increase enrollment, improve primary and secondary education, ensure classrooms have sufficient supplies, facilitate community involvement, train teachers, implement accelerated learning programs, and establish partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID is supporting the Ministry of Education (MOE) in its development of an Education Management Information System (EMIS). USAID’s sub- contracting partner PRIMUS recently completed the EMIS prototype ver- sion 1.2.0 and began the prototype of the financial system. EMIS’ System Overview Document (SOD) and System Requirements Specifications (SRS) draft have been completed and USAID representatives provided training to four developers from the Iraqi MOE on Microsoft SQL Server and Micro- soft .NET technologies. Several discussions were held with Ghassan Jamil, the director general of the MOE’s Information Technology Center, on the pro- totype. EMIS will assist the MOE in nationwide monitoring and planning re- lated to facilities, human resources, enrollment, student performance, and other information. A web-based distance learning program was provided to representatives from the five Iraqi universities that are participating in the Al Sharaka partnership with several American universities under USAID’s Higher Education and Development program. The Iraqi information technology professionals received training during three-week courses on Instructional Systems Design, Web Communication and Design, Web Based Educational Systems, and Educational Courseware via Flash. Also under the Al Sharaka program, an internet center was recently inaugu- rated at a southern university by the University president. This was the fourth computer center established by Al Sharaka (in addition to computer installa- tions made under other program activities, such as GIS/GPS, etc.). The cen- ter is equipped with 20 PCs, peripherals, Internet connectivity, and access to the EBSCO on-line “library.” Staff for the center were selected and trained. Several training courses were held in the northern governorates for hos- pital staff and pregnant mothers on the benefits and issues related to breastfeeding. The courses shaped hospital policy and behavior, and cov- ered some of the problems associated with breastfeeding. Ten training ses- sions were also held in Dahuk governorate Primary Health Clinics and with local religious leaders to encourage them to advocate breast feeding within their communities. A training course was held for 25 teachers working in Community Child Care Units to prepare them to disseminate breastfeeding information to primary and secondary school girls. Two weekly TV spots on good breastfeeding techniques are being broadcast while 200 cards and leaf- lets have been produced to hand out in labor rooms and prenatal care units on good breast feeding technique. The breastfeeding courses were part of the Community Sustainable Health Outreach Program being conducted by a northern Iraqi university to develop academic programs in sanitation preventive health and educational aware- ness. The program is sponsored by the HEAD program’s partnership be- tween Jackson State University, the Mississippi Consortium for International Development and several Iraqi universities to improve the quality of instruction in institutions of higher learning on public health. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 HEALTH July 28, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Vaccinated over 3 million chil- dren under age 5 and 700,000 pregnant women with vaccina- tion campaigns that included monthly immunization days. • Provided supplementary doses of vitamin A for more than 600,000 children under age 2 and 1.5 million lactating moth- ers. • Provided iron folate supple- ments for over 1.6 million women of childbearing age. • Screened more than 1.3 million children under age 5 for mal- nutrition. • Distributed high protein bis- cuits to more than 450,000 children and 200,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers. • Provided potable water for 400,000 people each day in Basrah city and 170,000 peo- ple in Kirkuk and Mosul. • Provided skills training for 2,500 primary health care pro- viders and 700 physicians. • Trained 2,000 health educa- tors, teachers, religious lead- ers and youth to mobilize com- munities on hygiene, diarrhea, breastfeeding, nutrition and immunization issues. • Disseminated information on essential health messages to families around the country. • Renovated 110 primary health care centers. • Provided vaccines and cold chain equipment to selected health centers. • Developed a national plan to fortify wheat flour with iron and folic acid. Workshops for physician trainers to increase their skills in a range of training methodologies. USAID is supporting the Iraqi Ministry of Health to strengthen essential health services, improve the capacity of health personnel, and respond to the spe- cific health needs of vulnerable populations such as women and children. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK In early July, a group of 25 physi- cians from the Iraqi Ministry of Health graduated from a six-day Training of Trainers’ workshop (TOT). Participants were repre- sentatives of various departments of the Ministry of Health and Pri- mary Health Care Centers from across the country. The compe- tency-based workshop was de- signed to increase physician trainer skills in a range of train- ing methodologies and enable them to practice different types of training approaches including on-the-job training, coaching and the use of training demon- strations. All 25 participants had to pass pre/post tests and design training materials for micro-teaching presentations. USAID’s Training Model Primary Providers (TMPP) program aims to support the Ministry of Health in training primary health care providers and other staff for 150 model primary health care centers currently under construction around the country. The training program will upgrade the technical knowledge, clini- cal and management skills and performance of center directors, physicians, nurses, medical assistants and other staff assigned to model centers. Suc- cessful implementation of this activity will increase access to quality primary health care services effective in reducing infant, child and maternal morbidity and mortality. This training program will provide approximately 1,400 physicians, 1,000 nurses, 2,100 medical assistants, and 150 center directors with improved knowledge and enhanced clinical and management skills, and an additional 5,000 center staff with strengthened team work and problem-solving skills. Improving staff skills will lead to enhanced services at model primary health care centers, with potential benefits for approximately 32,500 people per pri- mary health care center, for a total of 4,875,000 beneficiaries at 150 primary health care sites around the country. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 COMPLETED ACTIVITIES Since the cessation of the 2003 conflict, USAID has completed its planned work at Umm Qasr Seaport, re- stored significant portions of Iraq’s telecommunications network, rebuilt three major bridges and restored the rail line connecting Umm Qasr with Basra city and points north. USAID also helped avert a humanitarian cri- sis during the conflict by providing assistance to the United Nations World Food Program. USAID advisors continue to assist with management and distribution of food rations to Iraqi citizens. SEAPORTS • The $45 million program to rehabilitate and improve management at Umm Qasr seaport was completed in June 2004. • Port reopened to commercial traffic on June 17, 2003; completed first passenger vessel test July 16, 2003. • Up to 50 ships offload at the port every month. • Completed dredging to open all 21 berths to deep-draft ships; maintenance dredging is ongoing. • Applied port tariffs on June 20, 2003. • Renovated the grain-receiving facility to process 600 MT of grain an hour. • Renovated the administration building, passenger terminal, customs hall, and electrical substations. TELECOMMUNICATIONS • Audited more than 1,200 km of the fiber optic backbone network and performed emergency repairs, reconnecting 20 cities and 70 percent of the population. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites. • Installed and fully integrated 13 new switches with 14 existing switches. • Worked with the Ministry of Communications to reactivate more than 215,000 subscriber lines. • Installed a satellite gateway system at Baghdad’s largest telecom exchange and restored international service. • Trained telecom engineers and technicians in the operation and maintenance of the satellite gateway system and the new switches. BRIDGES AND ROADS • Rebuilt three major bridges—Khazir, Tikrit and Al Mat bridges—critical to moving people and commercial products throughout the country. • Rebuilt a substantial portion of the Iraqi Republican Railway line connecting Basrah with the port of Umm Qasr includ- ing physical track construction, installing culverts, and repairing gatehouses. The remainder of the work has been handed over to the Ministry of Transportation. This work allows shipments of bulk cargo from the port to Baghdad and throughout the country. FOOD SECURITY • Worked directly with the World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish the Public Distribution Sys- tem (PDS) in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and providing food security throughout the country. • With Iraqi food distributors, Food for Peace, the WFP, and Coalition Forces maintained deliveries from June through December 2003 in all 18 governorates. • Played a key role in an agreement between the WFP, CPA, and the MoT that provided the WFP with the resources and authority to continue to support the PDS through June 2004. • In partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, providing on-going support to the Public Distribution System Working Group to assist the Ministry of Trade with improving PDS management. July 28, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY July 28, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE ................................................................................. Subtotal: $3,988,903,243 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $23,031,886 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 America's Develop- ment Foundation Civil Society Countrywide $42,880,157 Army Corps of Eng. Architecture and Engineering Services Countrywide $38,086,393 BearingPoint Economic Governance Countrywide $79,583,885 BearingPoint Economic Governance II Countrywide $103,500,000 Bechtel Airports, buildings, power, railroads, roads, bridges, port, water and sanitation Countrywide $1,029,833,259 Bechtel Infrastructure II: Airports, buildings, emergency communications, power, railroads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sanita- tion, Basra Hospital Countrywide $1,309,811,678 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CAII Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 CEPPS Transitional Government Countrywide $35,700,000 CEPPS Voter Education, Domestic Observation and Con- flict Resolution Countrywide $49,275,000 CEPPS Elections Administration Support Countrywide $40,000,000 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $258,820,000 DAI Marshlands South $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $101,352,912 Logenix Health North/Central $108,506 Louis Berger Vocational Education Countrywide $75,016,115 Louis Berger Private Sector Development II Countrywide $95,000,000 Partnership for Child Healthcare Health Countrywide $2,000,000 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 12 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY July 28, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation RTI Local Governance Countrywide $241,910,757 RTI Local Governance II Countrywide $70,000,000 RTI Health Training Countrywide $22,000,000 SkyLink Airport Management Bag., Bas., Mos. $27,200,000 SSA Port Management Umm Qasr $14,318,985 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing & Distribution: Math & Science Countrywide $10,000,000 UNICEF Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 University Partners • The Research Foundation of the State University of New York/Stony Brook and the Universities of Chicago, Boston and Oxford • The Human Rights Institute, DePaul University College of Law and Italy’s International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences • University of Hawaii, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, University of Jordan and the American University in Beirut • Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Benetech, US-Iraq Business Resources • University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cameron University and Langston University Countrywide $20,730,000 VEGA Business Skills Training Countrywide $12,089,702 VFH Elections Support Countrywide $1,000,000 WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 WHO Health Countrywide $4,808,858 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 Emergency Relief USAID/DCHA/OFDA...................................................................................Subtotal: $181,352,975 ACTED Water and sanitation, health/hygiene, education Eastern Iraq $2,995,793 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $8,049,839 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 ARC Capacity Building Al Basrah $537,746 CARE IDP Assistance, Quick-impact projects, Water and Sanita- tion, Health, Emergency Relief Commodities Countrywide $9,043,148 The Cuny Center Research Studies Countrywide $40,260 GOAL Coordination, Nutrition Al Muthanna $1,507,900 InterAction Coordination Kuwait City $92,860 IDA Health Countrywide $1,318,437 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 13 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY July 28, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation IMC Health, IDP Assistance, Food Security, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Capacity Building Countrywide $34,832,887 IOM IDP Assistance Countrywide $18,392,470 IRC IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,000,411 IRD IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Northern Iraq $17,076,190 Logistics Emergency Relief Commodities and USAID/DART Support Countrywide $22,771,653 Mercy Corps IDP Assistance, Health, Emergency Relief Commodities, Shelter, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $25,251,114 SCF/US Food Security, Health, IDP Assistance, Shelter, Nutrition, Emergency Relief Commodities, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,638,652 UNICEF Health, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 OCHA Coordination and Information Countrywide $1,200,000 USAID/Jordan Support for Emergency Water Activities Countrywide $500,000 WFP Food Security, Logistics Countrywide $5,000,000 World Vision Health, Logistics, Emergency Relief , Water and Sanitation Countrywide $6,793,739 USAID/DCHA/FFP.......................................................................................Subtotal: $425,571,000 WFP Operations Countrywide $45,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust—81,500 MT Countrywide $40,337,000 WFP P.L. 48– Title II emergency food commodities—163,820 MT Countrywide $140,234,000 WFP Regional Purchase—330,000MT Countrywide $200,000,000 USAID/DCHA/OTI........................................................................................Subtotal: $382,401,891 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $10,444,426 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $6,462,167 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $354,500,376 Internews Media Countrywide $160,359 Radio SAWA Media Countrywide $400,000 NDI/IRI National Governance Countrywide $650,000 IFES National Governance Countrywide $1,042,315 ICNL Civil Society Countrywide $39,238 Spa War** Inter-Ministry Communications Countrywide $8,703,001 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-2005 ................................... $4,978,229,109 * Figures in funding sheet are subject to change and do not represent a final official accounting of USG obligations. ** For accounting purposes, funding for this activity has been obligated by OFDA under an existing interagency agreement. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 14