الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 36، 21 تموز 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE July 21, 2005 Total Number of Confirmed Cases of Malaria in Iraq by Year i Source: Iraq M nistry of Health Statistics 1200 1043 1000 800 600 400 Malaria Cases 307 200 86 0 2002 2003 2004 l i Cases of Malaria and Cholera in Iraq have decreased dramatical y. USAID supported the Iraq Ministry of Health’s effort to combat these diseases. Contents: Water and Sanitation ......................................... 2 Economic Governance ...................................... 3 Agriculture......................................................... 4 National Governance......................................... 5 Local Governance ............................................. 6 Community Action Program .............................. 7 Education .......................................................... 8 Health................................................................ Transition Initiatives .......................................... Completed Activities.......................................... Financial Summary ........................................... 9 10 11 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 July 21, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 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 Work at Karbala’s Water Treatment Plant continues. Contractors are currently installing chlorine piping and ground systems for all five clari- fier units. USAID anticipates that half the units will be operational and pro- ducing drinking water by mid-July. USAID continues to train Iraqis who oper- ate the clarifier units and the low lift station. The project is 78 percent finished and is expected to be complete in September 2005. The plant’s original clarifiers were replaced with four undersized clarifiers that did not treat water to standards needed for efficient downstream treatment. Some of the plant’s processes were becoming overloaded by sediment. Mar- ginal disinfection was effective with most bacteria, but was less effective with pathogens that cause amoebic dysentery, a public health risk exacerbated by the seasonal influx of millions of pilgrims. Because it was in such a dire state of disrepair, the design originally called for replacing the clarifiers rather than repairing them. However, local governing authorities disagreed. A compro- mise was reached to install compact clarifier units adjacent to the existing clarifiers, allowing for future rehabilitation of the existing plant. Workers will install 10 compact clarifier units, with a total capacity of 25 million gallons per day. The project will also enlarge the existing inlet works and associated pump station. USAID contractors are rehabilitating a sewage trunkline in a poor, south- eastern Baghdad neighborhood. The current system does not meet the growing needs of the community; it is undersized and unreliable due to col- lapsed, damaged, and deteriorated pipes which leak and block the flow. Neighborhood residents endure frequent overflows of raw sewage in their homes and streets. Exposed pools of raw sewage can contribute to the spread of communicable diseases. The project consists of four phases to augment the existing sewer lines. The first phase will include the installation of a forced-main sewer, consisting of a 900mm diameter pipe that will run 5.5 km to a sewage treatment plant in Rustimiyah. The second phase will install 3.7 km of 1400 mm gravity-flow sewer line, including manholes. The last two phases involve the installation of two different pump stations, each requiring a total of 10 pumps and supporting electrical systems. Standby diesel generators will sustain reliable pump op- eration independent of the local electrical grid at these two stations. Gravity sewer subcontractors continued installing the 1400mm pipe and con- structing manholes. Contractors are excavating and placing the 900mm force main pipe and the construction of valve vaults at the overflow bypass and at the force main discharge to the existing trunk sewer upstream of the Rustimi- yah Waste Water Treatment Plant. Crews continue to work anchorage points for the pipe bridge over the Army Canal. Subcontractors are relocating a pump station three meters to the south of the original site. The project is expected to be completed by December 2005. Operations and maintenance training will be provided for Baghdad Mayoralty staff to ensure the system is properly managed after it is turned over to the city government. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 • i Nationwide: Repaired var ous sewage lift stations and water treatment units. • Baghdad: Expanding and reha- bilitating one water treatment plant and constructing another to increase capacity by approxi- mately 90 million gallons per i day; rehabil tating sewage treat- ment plants. − A major wastewater treatment plant in Baghdad began operat- ing in June of 2004; this is the l first major sewage p ant in the country to operate in over 12 years. − The sewage treatment system n Baghdad, barely function i ing for years before the conflict, w ill 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: Rehabi litated parts of the Sweet Water Canal system, i i includ ng repair ng breaches, cleaning the main reservoirs, and refurbished 14 water treat- ment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: Rehabilitating two water plants and four sew- age pl ants. − i Completed the rehabil tation of l a sewage p ant in Babil Gover- norate. − Sewage plants in An Najaf, Al Qadisiyah, Karbala, and Babil i Governorates w ll serve 440,000 upon completion. − Water treatment in Najaf and Babil will serve residents and visitors at Iraq’s holiest shrines. • North: i Completed rehabil tation of Kirkuk water plant and con- tinuing refurbishment of sewage plant near Mosul. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE USAID supports sustainable economic reforms in Iraq including examining and reforming laws, regulations, and institutions and providing a framework for private sector trade, commerce, and investment. The reforms will strengthen the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Commerce and Indus- try—among others. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Representatives from USAID, the USAID-funded Private Sector Growth (PSG) project and the Iraq Securities Commission (ISC) recently met in Baghdad with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Ahmed Chalabi, to dis- cuss timely issues related to the development of the country’s capital market and the government’s support for the privatization of state- owned enterprises. The chairman of the Iraq Securities Commission intro- duced four commissioners to Dr. Chalabi at the meeting, during which issues specific to the ISC were covered. PSG team leaders were introduced as advi- sors to the private sector in addressing key capital markets development is- sues in Iraq. During the meeting, ISC representatives raised the possibility of Iraq’s capital markets assisting the government in the privatization of state-owned enter- prises, particularly concerning the potential role of utilizing Iraq’s private sector stock market as a transparent vehicle to ensure equitable availability of shares of stock in privatized companies to the public. In addition, various obstacles to foreign investment in Iraq were discussed. The Deputy Prime Minister noted the importance of foreign investment as a source of capital and technology to stimulate private sector growth. Dr. Chalabi expressed his support for efforts to remove barriers to investment in order to strengthen the private sector and create more long-term jobs in Iraq. July 21, 2005 • Developed WTO Accession i Roadmap in cooperation w th Iraqi officials. • i Provided techn cal assistance as well as information on con- tracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses and entrepreneurs through business centers. • i i- Worked w th the Ministry of F nance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar. • Created more than 77,000 pub- lic works jobs through the Na- tional Employment Program. • i Provided techn cal 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 i bank supervis on procedures at Iraq’s Central Bank; offered a two-week banking course to i Central Bank staff w th 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. • i Developed a government-w de IT strategy to support the auto- mation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • i Provided techn cal support for i the re-open ng of the Iraq Stock Exchange after it was closed down for more than 15 months ; 3.6 billion Iraqi dinars (U.S. $2.4 million) in shares were traded in the first day. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Summer and Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations : These demonstrations are intro- l ducing farmers to new techno o- gies and techniques through l extension fie d days. • Several veteri- Animal Health: li nary c nics 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 i l capabil ties and consu ting ca- pacity. • : In Date Palm Propagation i collaboration w th the Ministry of Agriculture, 40,000 elite date palm offshoots are being used to establish mother orchards in 13 governorates as part of a multipli cation 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 medium and long-term implementation of policies to develop a market- based agricultural economy. 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 USAID is providing a grant to four Iraqi villages to clean irrigation canals that had not been maintained in three years. This resulted in a buildup of grass and silt and reduced water flows forcing local farmers to purchase water or suffer crop losses. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program will provide the farmers with canal cleaning training, equipment, and wages in return for their work. The farmers will clean 9,500 meters of canal serving 625 hectares of land and benefiting 150 families living in the four villages. The results of a USAID-sponsored survey in 14 Iraqi governorates will determine the training needs of pesticide dealers as part of the MOA’s Integrated Pest Management Strategy. To conduct the survey, staff members from the MOA and ARDI are meeting with groups of pesticide dealers to assess their knowledge of local crops and pests, and the suitabil- ity of pesticides. Dealers complete a questionnaire asking for information such as crops grown by area farmers; the insects, diseases, and weeds that affect these crops; and the types of pes- ticides available to combat and control those pests. MOA/ARDI staff members also observe the dealers to see how they interact with farmers buying pesticides. The Kurdistan Agronomist Syndicate (KAS) is renovating its building through a grant from MOA/ARDI. The KAS has a membership of over 2,000 agriculturists and conducts activi- ties promoting agricultural production, including computer courses for agricultural engineers, and supervision for agriculture projects in the private sector. The grant will repair walls, roofs, floors, doors, windows, the electrical system, plumbing system and necessary hardware. ARDI is sponsoring a geneticist from the Ministry of Science and Technology to obtain training in genetics relevant to Iraqi agriculture. The MOA will utilize the research to imple- ment livestock improvement projects. The training will be carried out at the National Research Center and the Agriculture Research Center in Cairo, Egypt, and will include studies on the effects of pesticides, drugs and food additives on DNA; the effects of drugs on animal tissue; and abnormal genetic effects leading to death of animal embryos. Construction began this week for a flower nursery to be managed by a prominent women’s union. This effort will provide business opportunities to women-headed house- holds. Twenty-three women will also receive management training and training on potted plant production. MOA/ARDI will provide a generator, a peat moss processing machine, seeds and tubers, loamy soil, fertilizers, and vases. The expected output for the first year is estimated to be 38,000 flowering plants, 2,700 shade plants, 4,000 flower bouquets, and 8,000 kg of peat moss. This production is expected to increase in later years. Twenty-nine water buffalo producers in Baghdad, Al Qadisiyah, Al Muthanna’, and Dhi Qar are participating in a program to improve pregnancy and calving rates using hormo- nal treatment and improved nutrition. Seventy-five buffalo were injected with hormones and are being fed a high protein feed concentrate. ARDI staff met with Baghdad buffalo breeders who confirm that the main problems they face are low reproductive rates and infertility. The program hopes to improve buffalo productivity. MOA/ARDI has initiated a program to introduce sorghum as a less expensive feed grain for the poultry industry. Over the past year, MOA/ARDI have worked to increase options for poultry farmers who rely on domestic wheat sources and expensive maize imports. ARDI will procure hybrid varieties of sorghum from environments similar to those of Iraq to be planted in demonstration plots in 10 governorates, thus testing the productivity of the varieties in all re- gions. Field days will be organized at each demonstration site for the MOA research staff, and students of nearby agriculture colleges and technical institutes. July 21, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • • • Strengthen the capacity of the legisl ative 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 i Council of Min sters and its pre- i siding Prime M nister to develop governing processes, rules of procedure, regulations and di- rectives necessary to enforce the laws, and to implement gov- i ernment programs and polic es Support the process for adop- tion of an Iraqi constitution that promotes democratic princip les and values through the provi- sion of technical assistance that includes, but is not limited to, providing comparative constitu- ; organizi tional expertise ng con- stitutional conferences and con- ventions; facilitating public awareness, education, and par- ticipation; and assisting in the conduct of a national referen- i dum or other ratify ng 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—that match the needs of the evolving Iraqi democracy. In particular, USAID is ac- celerating support to the Iraq National Assembly and the Constitutional Draft- ing Commission. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID representatives trained an additional 127 facilitators from 63 NGOs to conduct the Constitutional Dialogue program, which will facilitate constituent involvement in the constitutional drafting through civic education and public input. Approximately 300 facilitators from 150 NGOs have been trained to date. The dialogues will have an average audience of 25 people from civil society groups and community associations. The 300 facilitators will each conduct three sessions a week for a total of 900 sessions and 22,500 individuals. Participating NGOs will later gather in regional conferences to ex- amine feedback, before meeting at a national conference in early August. USAID is also helping the Iraqi National Assembly’s (INA’s) Constitu- tional Committee adopt systems to enable public input on the constitu- tion. In June, a USAID-sponsored Civil Society team and a few Iraqi NGOs participating in the Constitutional Dialogue Program met with the Constitution Committee’s Outreach Unit to design a work plan to receive public input. It was agreed that USAID would train the Outreach Unit to design a database and to enter and analyze data that will be presented to the Committee and the public. Data entry training was conducted on June 27 for 16 members of the five re- gional NGOs that will be coordinating activities with the 150 implementing NGOs. The regional coordinating NGOs will be responsible for entering all the data and questionnaire responses collected from each civil dialogue. USAID provided training to 42 INA members on the legislative drafting process. Training topics included creating and introducing a bill; its reading stages; the supporting role played by the legal staff; the form and content of a law; legislative reviews; the role and use of amendments; and reasons why public input is important to the overall legislative process. USAID also provided training to 37 INA members on advocacy and lob- bying for legislators working in a democratic system. USAID civil society representatives led discussions examining advocacy and lobbying at the fam- ily, community, regional, national, and international level—but more specifi- cally at the governmental level. Discussions focused on ways advocacy cam- paigns work, who they involve, and methods that may be used to achieve spe- cific results. Sixteen women representatives of the INA and several NGOs visited South Africa to meet with key women and activists who played a vital role in crafting the South African constitution. Several recurring themes emerged from their discussions including the need to ensure women’s rights in the initial constitution rather than waiting for amendments, and the need for a women’s coalition that cuts across political, ethnic, and socio-economic lines. Upon their return, delegates will lead advocacy efforts throughout Iraq to guarantee the inclusion of women’s rights in the constitution. July 21, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • • • 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, an Iraqi attorney working in conjunction with the USAID’s Local Governance Program (LGP) completed the first draft of the booklet “Iraqi Potential Constitution—Facts, Opinions, and Suggestions” which was developed to disseminate information on the Iraqi constitution, decentrali- zation, and federalism. The booklet includes issues of interest to local and national government institutions as well as NGOs. The attorney who coau- thored the booklet has authored seven books on democracy and local govern- ance organizations. He intends to distribute the final draft to government offi- cials who will then participate in LGP round table discussions on constitution writing. The LGP assisted the Babil Provincial Council (PC) in brokering a deal to make a location available for the satellite based Al-Iraqia TV to house its regional activities. In return for access, Al-Iraqia TV will merge its opera- tions with Babil TV including hiring its nine staff members. The PC is hoping this agreement will encourage Al-Iraqia TV to cover their local government activities more extensively. The Babil PC chairperson, a lawyer by profession, requested that the LGP develop and conduct a training session on “the Precedent of Law in Interpreting the Legal Authority of Local Government” for five PC mem- bers and 28 department representatives working in finance and law. LGP’s earlier work educating the PC on aspects of local revenue generation led to the appointment of a sub-committee within the PC that was tasked with conducting a preliminary study on how sources of local revenue might be cre- ated from the attraction of the ancient ruins of Babylon. Separately, LGP is assisting the Babil PC in putting together a feasibility study on local sources of revenue in their province. LGP is working with local government officials and civic institutions to form local government associations (LGA) that will act as lobbying and ad- vocacy organizations that represent the interests of the local government to other government officials and the public. The associations do not have any authority to direct the activities of their members. Babil LGA members, in coordination with LGP, held a conference on “How to Improve the Security Situation in Babil” for Provincial Council members, local council members, department heads and representatives from police, unions, nongovernmental organizations, and political and religious parties. In Karbala, LGP presented training sessions on the Constitution and on Federalism to 23 Karbala LGA members. LGP offered a presentation to 22 Wasit LGA mem- bers on case studies citing both the Association of Palestinian Local Authori- ties (APLA) and other local government associations. July 21, 2005 • • • • More than $2.5 million was i committed to the nationw de Civic Education Campaign, which educated Iraqis on de- l mocracy and politica transition in Iraq. Over 550 democratic dialogue facilitators were re- i cruited to help Iraqis partic pate in politica processes. l More than 29,000 local democracy dialogues events were con- i i ducted by elect on day, in wh ch well over 789,700 Iraqis partici- pated. Established regional offices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, i and Erbil, w th 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 we ll 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 di scussions on their roles in Iraq’s developing de- mocracy. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 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 The Community Action Program (CAP) completed two projects in the Marshlands areas near Basrah. Both projects targeted basic sources of livelihood in the area – fish and wheat production. Through one of the pro- jects, CAP provided wheat seeds, fertilizer and diesel fuel for a wheat produc- tion farm. A second project established a small fish farm. In late spring the communities collected their first harvest of wheat and fish. July 21, 2005 • • • • USAID has committed over $131 million to 3,120 projects while Iraqi communiti es 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 wi th over $29 million in project commitments including improving the Tikrit water supply, and devel- oping income generation pro ects j 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 Karbal a. Emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has improved community water/sanitation ser- vices and schools, and repaired vital social nfrastructure. It has i completed 322 projects and have over $21.5 million in project com- mitments. 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, i 179 projects are complete w th 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 proj ects w ith total com- mitments of $21.9 million. Pro- jects have focused on immed iate community needs such as sew- age clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. CAP helped an Arbil Governorate community build four new classrooms and a soccer field at its primary school. The school struggled with over- crowding because it had six classrooms for 706 students. Students were di- vided into morning and afternoon sessions, but there were still 55 students per classroom. There was also no outside area for school recreational activities. The local municipality donated land for a soccer field and materials for four new classrooms while the Ministry of Education supplied the new school furni- ture–four blackboards and 72 desks and chairs. The students will soon have enough space to learn comfortably and space for recreational activities. CAP supplied medical equipment and renovated facilities for a Diyala governorate community’s health clinic. The program renovated the cen- ter’s bathrooms and laboratory, and supplied equipment such as microscopes, a centrifuge, an oven, auto claves, thermometers, and wheelchairs. The clinic serves tens of thousands of people in the area but lacked modern medical equipment and was in a general state of disrepair. Many local residents were compelled to rely on the health center be- cause the next closest facility was too far away. With the improvements, the commu- nity can now depend upon a well-stocked and functioning health center. CAP worked with a Baghdad community association to remove trash from a pub- lic garden. With no supervision or guide- lines in some Baghdad municipalities, resi- dents and garbage trucks dumped their gar- bage in the public space. The field soon be- came a mess and health hazard. USAID funded a local contractor to remove the garbage, plant trees and install bath- rooms and waste bins. The municipality agreed to conduct daily trash pickups in the area. The health risk has been eliminated and the community is now enjoying the beautified area. The garden before and after be- ing cleaned and planted. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 EDUCATION July 21, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • 2,510 schools have been rehabili- tated through direct contracting and grants to communities. • Hundreds of thousands of desks, chairs, cabi nets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secondary schools have been distributed countryw ide. • 32,700 secondary school teach- ers and administrators, including 928 master trainers, have been trained nationwide. Over the next year, up to 100,000 addit ional 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 s x weeks of i training, and schools will be equipped w ith 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 imp le- 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 partici pated in workshops, trainings, conferences, and courses in Iraq, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. • i University facilit es, 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 i university l braries. 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’s Higher Education and Development (HEAD) program in partner- ship with the University of Hawaii established a forage facility to assist agriculture students study animal nutrition at a university in Iraq. Three PhD students are utilizing the new equipment in studies that will improve tech- nique, output and efficiency in Iraq’s agricultural field. The facility consists of a grinder for grinding grain and mixer for mixing the forage. The machinery enables students to add supplements and medication to livestock forage. The new equipment will enable Iraqi students to study animal nutrition and improve both the quantity and quality of livestock in Iraq. The equipment will allow students to add medications and supplements to animal feed and moni- tor the results. Three doctoral students are already utilizing the laboratory to study physiology among goats and meat production of lambs and ewes. The Mississippi Consortium for International Development (MCID) con- tinued preparations for a second round of the Community Sustainable Outreach Workshop (CSHOP), which includes the award of mini-grant funds for several outreach projects on public health. MCID works with three Iraqi universities in northern Iraq to build capacity in public health and sanitation, with support from HEAD. The CSHOP program is essential in establishing community ties to develop sustainable public health outreach programs that will improve the health status of the general public. In the past, CSHOP mini-grants have funded such projects as “Soybean as Diet Therapy for Diabetics”, “Tuberculosis an Endemic Disease in Dohuk; Prevention and Control”, and “Promotion of Ex- clusive Breast Feeding in Dohuk Governorate.” Training recently began for the Master Trainers under the teacher train- ing initiative of the Basic Education program. Twenty-five Iraqi Master Trainers are currently participating in a five-week training in Amman, Jordan conducted by Hashemite University experts and international/regional consult- ants. The training will help the Master Trainers develop teacher training strategies, methodologies, and resource materials. When finished, they will return to Iraq to train a core group of 440 teacher trainers in the 21 Director- ates of Education in Iraq. These teacher trainers will then begin the process of training 50,000 teachers for grades 1 to 3. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of teachers across Iraq. USAID has also renovated train- ing facilities to support this program. USAID’s Basic Education program is rebuilding water and sanitation fa- cilities in 800 schools. In May, work began on 132 schools bringing the total number of schools under rehabilitation to 355. Facilities in 11 Maysan gover- norate schools have already been completed. The Basic Education program is also leading efforts to reconstruct 70 schools throughout the country. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 HEALTH July 21, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Vaccinated over 3 million chil- dren under 5 and 700,000 i pregnant women w th vaccina- tion campaigns that included i monthly immun zation days. • Provided supplementary doses of vitamin A for more than 600,000 children under 2 and 1.5 million lactating mothers. • Provided iron folate supple- ments for over 1.6 million women of childbearing age. Screened more than 1.3 mil • lion children under 5 for malnutri- tion. • Distributed high protein bis- cuits to more than 450,000 children and 200,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers. • l Provided potab e water for l 400,000 peop e each day in Basrah city and 170,000 peo- ple in Kirkuk and Mosul. • l Provided skil s 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, i breastfeed ng, 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 i fortify wheat flour w th iron and folic acid. Total Number of Confirmed Cases of Malaria in Iraq by Year Source: Iraq Ministry of Health Statistics 1043 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Malaria Cases 307 2002 2003 2004 86 Total Number of Confirmed Cases of Cholera in Iraq by Year Source: Iraq Ministry of Health Statistics 423 321 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 Cases of Malaria and Cholera in Iraq have de- creased dramatically. Malaria and cholera have been public health prob- lems in Iraq over the last 10 years. For example, Malaria has been en- demic, particularly in the North. During a 1996 out- break about 40,000 Ma- laria cases were re- ported. Since 1998, the incidence of malaria has been declining, accord- ing to the Iraq Ministry of Health Statistics. In 2002, 1,043 malaria cases were reported, dropping to 307 during 2003 and only 86 cases in 2004. To fight malaria and other mosquito borne diseases, USAID supported the Iraqi Min- istry of Health’s (MOH) effort to make impregnated bed nets more widely available in the country. Cases of cholera in Iraq have also decreased dramatically. During outbreaks from 1997 to 2000, cholera cases peaked at over 20,000 in a single year. A serious diarrheal disease, cholera has been declining since 1999, but still re- mained a health issue in the southern part of Iraq. In 2002, the total number of cholera cases reported was 423. This figure fell to 192 during 2003 and only 35 in 2004. USAID supported the Government of Iraq’s and UNICEF’s efforts to improve water and sanitation conditions for Iraqi households and as- sisted the MOH in expanding health education efforts while improving diar- rheal diseases services. However, the rate of other diarrheal diseases in chil- dren under the age of 5 still remains high in Iraq. 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 192 35 2001 2002 2003 2004 Cholera Cases UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE TRANSITION INITIATIVES USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) supports the transition to a par- ticipatory, stable, and democratic country. OTI provides quick-dispensing, high-impact grants meeting critical needs—providing short-term employment, restoring basic government and community services, increasing access to in- formation and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK A nongovernmental organization (NGO) serving the blind in southern Iraq conducted a two month train-the-trainer course for Braille instruc- tion through an Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) grant that provided com- puters, electrical equipment, stipends and transportation. The majority of the blind community in southern Iraq cannot read Braille, which hinders their participation in society, further marginalizing an already underserved popula- tion. Equipment included in this grant assisted the NGO in providing a public service for the approximately 8,000 blind people in the lower south region. Assistance allows the NGO to develop other activities for the community it serves and to advocate issues of concern to local authorities. July 21, 2005 • ll Awarded 3,926 sma grants totaling $284 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and miti- gation, human rights and transi- tional justice. • Funded 113 grants totaling over $4.26 million that focus on women’s issues, including sup- i porting the rehabil tation of 47 women’s centers in Iraq. Reha- bilitated over 264 Iraqi nationa l ministries, schools, clinics and other muni l cipa buildings. Sup- i porting 65 Iraq groups in docu- menting human rights abuses of the Ba’athist regime and pro- moting peace, tolerance, and reconciliation. • Met critical needs during and immediately after the conflict by providing short-term employ- ment, restoring basic govern- ment and community services, increasing Iraqi access to infor- mation and communication and i encourag ng protection of hu- man rights. A district governing council in southern Iraq rehabilitated three kilome- ters of roads through a series of ITI grants. In collaboration with the Mu- nicipalities Department, ITI provided resources to rehabilitate the roads while the Municipalities Department committed to repave the roads once ITI activi- ties are completed. Governorate officials also identified road repair as a prior- ity, as many roads are impassable due to accumulated trash and sewage from clogged and inadequate sewage systems. Through this grant, ITI provided short-term employment to 371 unemployed laborers to clear trash, fill holes and re-grade roads. Activities helped mitigate tensions in the crime-ridden area, which has a nearly 65 percent unemployment rate, and improve the lo- cal environment. By providing labor and equipment to meet the local need, ITI assisted the community to visibly improve community infrastructure and strengthen support for local authorities during Iraq’s political transition. 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 the management and distribution of food rations for all 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 how to operate and maintain the satellite gateway system and the new switches. BRIDGES AND ROADS • Rebuilt three major bridges—Khazir, Tikrit and Al Mat bridges—critical for 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 facilitates the shipment of bulk cargo from the port to Bagh- dad 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 United States 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 21, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 FINANCIAL SUMMARY July 21, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE ................................................................................. Subtotal: $4,113,122,424 Health Abt Associates 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 $1,386,809,782 Education Countrywide $56,503,000 Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 Transitional Government Countrywide $35,700,000 Countrywide $49,275,000 CAII CAII CEPPS CEPPS CEPPS Voter Education, Domestic Observation and Con- flict Resolution Elections Administration Support Countrywide $40,000,000 Community Action Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $258,820,000 Marsh ands l South Agriculture CEPPS Program DAI $4,000,000 DAI Countrywide $101,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $300,000 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $52,171,260 Health Logenix North/Central $108,506 Louis Berger Vocational Education Countrywide $75,016,115 Louis Berger Private Sector Development II Countrywide $95,000,000 MSI Monitoring and Evaluation Countrywide $5,284,781 Partnership for Child Healthcare Countrywide $2,000,000 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 12 Health FINANCIAL SUMMARY July 21, 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 15,000,000 SkyLink Airport Management Bag., Bas., Mos. $27,200,000 SSA Umm Qasr Port Management $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 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 Health WHO Countrywide $1,273,894 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 • • • • • 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, i l Mississippi Valley State University, University of M ssissippi Medica Center, Benetech, US-Iraq Business Resources University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cameron University and Langston University Emergency Relief USAID/DCHA/OFDA...................................................................................Subtotal: $181,352,975 ACTED Capacity Building Water and sanitation, health/hygiene, education Eastern Iraq $2,995,793 i Administrative Administrat ve Costs Countrywide $8,049,839 AirServ ARC Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 Al Basrah $537,746 CARE IDP Assistance, Quick-impact projects, Water and Sanita- Countrywide $9,043,148 tion, Health, Emergency Relief Commodities The Cuny Center Research Studies Countrywide $40,260 GOAL Al Muthanna Coordination, Nutrition $1,507,900 InterAction Coord nation i Kuwait City $92,860 IDA Countrywide $1,318,437 Health UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 13 FINANCIAL SUMMARY July 21, 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 IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation IRD Northern Iraq $17,076,190 Logistics Emergency Relief Commodities and USAID/DART Support Countrywide $22,771,653 Mercy Corps i IDP Ass stance, 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 WFP WFP WFP Operations Countrywide $45,000,000 Emerson Trust—81,500 MT Countrywide $40,337,000 P.L. 48– Title II emergency food commodities—163,820 MT Countrywide $140,234,000 Regional Purchase—330,000MT Countrywide $200,000,000 USAID/DCHA/OTI........................................................................................Subtotal: $382,451,936 i Administrative Administrat ve Costs Countrywide $10,494,480 Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $6,462,167 Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $354,500,376 Countrywide $160,359 Media Radio SAWA Countrywide $400,000 National Governance Countrywide $650,000 National Governance Countrywide $1,042,315 Countrywide $39,238 Spa War** Inter-Ministry Communications Countrywide $8,703,001 IOM DAI Internews NDI/IRI IFES ICNL Media Civil Society TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-2005 ................................... $5,102,498,335 * 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