الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 16، 17 شباط 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE February 17, 2005 One of four temporary mobile substations that will substitute for Baghdad substations under repair by USAID Contents: Electricity ...........................................................2 Water and Sanitation.........................................3 Economic Governance ......................................4 Agriculture.........................................................5 Education .......................................................... 6 Democracy and Governance......................... 7 Elections Update............................................ 8 Transition Initiative ......................................... 9 Completed Activities....................................... 10 Financial Summary ........................................ 11 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 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE A new transformer for a Baghdad substation. ELECTRICITY 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 of 2003 to restore the capacity of Iraq’s power system. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Work is 38 percent complete on a USAID project to reha- bilitate 13 existing 33kv- 11kv substations and install 24 new substations in Bagh- dad thereby improving the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million city residential and commercial consumers. While the work is underway, four new mobile substations will be deployed to provide temporary power. This project will assess the condition of the city’s existing electrical distri- bution network, determine both present and future needs of the system, and restore and expand greater Baghdad’s electrical distribution substation net- work to meet its present needs. At this time, contractors assessed 13 existing substations and have identified the equipment necessary to install the 24 new substations. All new equipment will be furnished, installed, and tested by USAID contract personnel; Ministry of Electricity (MoE) staff will attend substation operation and maintenance training. The project was initiated in response to the poor condition of many Baghdad substations and because significant population increases in the past 10 years have outpaced the capabilities of the existing electrical grid. Distribution sub- stations are necessary to transform high voltage electricity distributed from electrical transmission lines to the lower voltage needed for distribution to con- sumers. The substations transform electricity received from major power plants from 33kv down to 11kv and distribute it through lower voltage feeder lines to the end users – homes and businesses. Repairs to Baghdad’s distri- bution system are critical, as the additional electrical generation has little chance of benefiting the Iraqi people unless it reaches their homes and busi- nesses. This USAID project will provide new and rehabilitated substations only. The installation of the 33kv primary power feeders for the substations is part of a concurrent project being managed by the U.S. Army’s First Cavalry Division. The MoE is responsible for the installation of the 11kv feeders that feed into the residential distribution transformers. This project was developed in coop- eration with the MoE who provided a list of substations to be reconstructed and helped establish the technical standards for the project design. The MoE also prioritized the order of construction for the substations so that the project delivers power to the neediest areas first. Contractors expect work on this project to be complete by December 2005. February 17, 2005 • 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—has be- gun the standard Fall mainte- nance process which will neces- sarily reduce the amount of power available for consump- tion. USAID worked with the MOE to conduct last Fall’s maintenance program. • Repairing thermal units, replac- ing turbines, rehabilitating the power distribution network, and installing and restoring genera- tors. • USAID has added 600 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 add a total of more than 942 MW to the national grid by De- cember 2005 through mainte- nance, rehabilitation, and new generation 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. • Most recently, USAID has initi- ated a project to rehabilitate 13 existing substations and con- struct 24 new substations in Baghdad. These 37 substations will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad resi- dents. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 February 17, 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 Final inspections began last week on USAID’s project to restore a Najaf water treatment plant. The plant is now running and producing treated water at a reduced capacity; full operation is scheduled to begin later this month. All of the major pumps have now been commissioned and turned over to the Min- istry of Municipalities and Public Works. To ensure that plant operations con- tinue and maintenance is performed regularly, extensive operations and main- tenance training was completed by plant staff. All work at the site is sched- uled to be substantially complete in February. The water treatment plant supplies potable water to the 563,000 residents of Najaf. This project is restoring the plant to its full capacity and water quality standard and will provide high-quality drinking water to the city’s residents. Contractors have installed 25kms of pipe to rehabilitate Baghdad’s dete- riorating municipal water system. Currently, water losses are at 60 percent – more than six times the acceptable level in U.S. systems. In general, losses stem from system leaks and un-metered uses such as government buildings and fire protection. The result is low pressure and contaminated water, a pub- lic health hazard, especially in densely-populated city districts. To rehabilitate the system, information is being collected to construct a model demonstrating the supply and demand input of major water mains and to as- sess the costs of improvements. From this analysis, engineers will prioritize rehabilitation projects. The water system rehabilitation is 16% complete and is scheduled for completion in December 2005. The last two phases involve the installation of two pump stations and a vertical pump lift-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; residents endure frequent overflows caus- ing raw sewage to back up into their homes and streets. Exposed pools of raw sewage contribute to the spread of communicable diseases. The project includes four phases: assessment, design, installation, and train- ing. The assessment and design phases are largely complete and installation of the new trunkline system is now underway. 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. The project is scheduled to be completed in December 2005. Work is 66% complete to rehabilitate the water and sewage treatment facilities serving rural, north-central Diyala Governorate. The plants re- quire rehabilitation and expansion to better serve the region’s 60,000 resi- dents. Currently, the water treatment plant is operating below capacity and only provides 33 percent of the water needed for the region. As a result, many residents rely on untreated well water during summer months. Use of untreated water can lead to outbreaks of dangerous water-born diseases like typhoid and cholera. This project is scheduled to be complete in May 2005. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 • Nationwide: Repaired various sewage lift stations and water treatment units. • Baghdad: Expanding one water treatment plant and constructing another to increase capacity by approximately 70 million gallons per day; rehabilitating sewage treatment plants. − A major wastewater treatment plant in Baghdad began operat- ing in June of 2004; this is the first major sewage plant in the country 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- percent capacity, serving 80 percent of Baghdad’s popula- tion. − 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 reservoir, and refurbished 14 water treatment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: Rehabilitating two water plants and four sew- age plants. − Completed the rehabilitation of a sewage plant in Babil Gover- norate. − Sewage plants in An Najaf, Al Qadisiyah, Karbala, and Babil Governorates will serve 440,000 upon completion. − Water treatment in Najaf and Babil will serve residents and visitors at Iraq’s holiest shrines. • North: Completed rehabilita- tion of Kirkuk water plant and continuing refurbishment of sewage plant near Mosul. February 17, 2005 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 USAID’s Private Sector Development II (PSD II) program is working with Iraqi counterparts to support the restructuring and privatization of Iraq’s State Owned Enterprises. Restructuring is a core component of this pro- gram, as a liberalized economy would encourage competition, investment, and overall economic growth. In support of this objective, PSD II advisers provide technical assistance and cooperate closely with Iraqi government offi- cials and private sector representatives. Recent activities have included: New Privatization Agency. PSD II advisors are supporting the establishment of an Iraqi government privatization agency to oversee any national privatiza- tion program. PSD II recently completed a draft decree on the proposed new privatization agency and shared it with the members of the Iraqi Privatization Commission (IPC), eight cabinet ministries, and the prime minister’s economic development advisor and privatization advisor. The various members and of- ficials involved in this effort are now discussing the content of the draft decree, which will be formally introduced at the next IPC meeting by the committee chair. In cooperation with Iraqi counterparts, PSD II advisors are also in the final stages of an organization needs and training assessment that will be used to plan training and capacity building activities for the proposed new pri- vatization agency. Legal Framework of Privatization. The PSD II team has completed a short assessment paper and is continuing its review of laws and legal acts relevant to privatization and the commercial environment in Iraq. These include laws governing retirement and labor issues, public contracts, foreign investment, selling and leasing, corporations, private companies, securities markets, bank- ruptcy, and restitution. The assessment requires examining large volumes of information and will help guide legal reform efforts. Advisors from USAID’s Private Sector Development II (PSD II) program have completed guidelines for developing accounting and auditing stan- dards. These guidelines will be translated into Arabic and distributed to Iraqi counterparts. A draft “Common Body of Knowledge” on accounting methods and practices has been completed in English and in Arabic and is now circulating among Iraqi professors, professionals, and regulators for com- ments. In addition, the PSD II team has created a list of fundamental account- ing and auditing texts; this list is now being vetted with Iraqi counterparts. Ac- counting and auditing materials from several neighboring countries have also been identified as sources of information on appropriate accounting standards are now being provided to PSD II Iraqi counterparts. A plan on adopting inter- national accounting standards has been drafted in English and will be trans- lated and vetted with Iraqis. Additionally, a preliminary survey of existing accountant and auditor licenses has been completed; work is now needed to update findings. A discussion paper is being drafted on recommendations for a certification assessment exam and curriculum reform. • 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. • Improved statistical analysis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision procedures at Iraq’s Central Bank. • Provided technical assistance for CPA’s $21 million micro- credit program. • Provided technical assistance for the Oil for Food transition to prepare Iraqi ministries to as- sume responsibility for OFF contracts. • Evaluated and updated com- mercial laws on private sector and foreign investment. • Assisted in developing the re- construction levy in collabora- tion with the CPA and the UK Customs Service; this levy im- poses a five percent tariff on imports to Iraq. • Developed a government-wide IT strategy to support the auto- mation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Provided technical assistance as well as information on con- tracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses through business centers. • 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. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 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 mid-April, 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 The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), local government institutions, and local sub-contractors are implementing a project with the support of USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) aimed at identifying and developing agriculture and extension programs that respond to farmers’ needs as identified by farmers them- selves. The project, which specifically employs a Participatory Assessment and Project Idea Development methodology, will be conducted throughout Northern Iraq. Twenty-six staff from Iraqi subcontractors participated in a three-day training workshop in late December in As Sulaymaniyah to prepare for assessments in As Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk governorates. The training engaged participants in using participatory rural appraisal tools and provided tips for working with villagers including communication skills and team development. Four re- searchers and five agricultural extension agents from the MOA facilitated the workshop which resulted in the confirmation of January field implementation plans. An ARDI-supported inspection team is making progress in surveying Case New Holland (CNH) farm equipment. Eleven inspectors are work- ing with CNH engineers throughout Iraq to identify equipment in need of repair. The team predicts that by the end of February, farmers will have made applications for about 1,000 CNH tractors and combines to be first in- spected and then repaired. The team reports that the vast majority of in- spected tractors and combines are more than 20 years old and require either new or substantially rebuilt engines in addition to other repairs and spare parts. ARDI is exploring ways of meeting these repair needs while keeping costs to a minimum. Staff from USAID’s Local Governance Program in the South Central re- gion conducted a workshop in January on the identification and treat- ment of infectious crop diseases for 43 members of a local farmer’s as- sociation. The workshop included a site visit to the Agriculture Directorate’s Laboratory and an introduction to plant diseases and scientific methods for treating them. The workshop supports LGP’s goal of developing Iraqi civil society organiza- tions to improve the quality of services delivered to their communities. Assist- ing a farmer’s association also furthers USAID’s goal of improving the state of the Agriculture sector in Iraq. February 17, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 EDUCATION February 17, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Facilities − Awarded 627 grants worth more than $6 million to rehabilitate schools and equip Directorates General. − Rehabilitated 2,405 schools countrywide. • Supplies − Distributed desks, chairs, cabi- nets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secondary schools countrywide. − Printed and distributed 8.7 mil- lion revised math and science textbooks to grades 1-12 by mid-February 2004. • Institutional Strengthening − Completed a major initiative that trained nearly 33,000 secondary school teachers and administra- tors, including 860 master train- ers, nationwide. − Conducted a pilot accelerated learning program in five Iraqi cities to allow out-of-school chil- dren to complete two school years in one year. More than 550 students participated. − Assisted the Ministry in estab- lishing official baseline educa- tion data for Iraq. • Higher Education − Awarded five grants worth $20.7 million to create partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi universi- ties. Through these partner- ships, Iraqi universities are re- building infrastructure; re- equipping university facilities; participating in international conferences; attending work- shops and refresher courses; and reforming curriculum. USAID’s goals are to increase enrollment, improve the quality of primary and secondary education, ensure classrooms have sufficient supplies, facilitate community involvement, train teachers, implement accelerated learning pro- grams, and establish partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and uni- versities. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK More than 50,000 Secondary School Student Kits providing basic sup- plies for learning have arrived at four regional directorates of education. Each directorate is now coordinating with local schools to arrange for their pick-up. During the past two weeks, more than 193,000 kits have been deliv- ered to 10 directorates across Iraq. A USAID partner is facilitating the distribu- tion as part of the second year of programming for the improvement of basic education in Iraq. By the end of the program, more than 525,000 students in 1,656 schools will receive kits. This initiative is being coordinated through Iraq’s Ministry of Education. In the past two years USAID partners dis- tributed more than 900,000 kits to primary school students and 1.5 million kits to secondary school students. USAID also supported UNICEF’s distribution of 18,000 recreation kits to primary and secondary schools. Twenty-four Supplies Directors from Iraq’s Ministry of Education partici- pated in a 10-day study tour in Cairo to learn how a similar country deals with issues related to textbook production and distribution. The tour was part of the UNESCO Textbook program for Iraq’s primary and secondary schools that was funded by a $10 million grant from USAID. Supplies Direc- tors from all but one governorate were able to participate. Participants toured the Egyptian Ministry of Education, a text book distribution center, a textbook printing company, and a model school. UNESCO, in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Education and the visited organizations, facilitated the tours as well as guest lectures and multi-media resources for the Iraqi Supplies Directors. Participants discussed decentralization, textbook storage, record-keeping for distribution and purchases, the role of technology, and the upcoming VSAT installation in Iraqi education directorates. VSAT, a form of satellite communi- cation that allows the transmission of data, voice and video signals, will im- prove many aspects of directorate operations, not only textbook distribution. Four Iraqi universities are building capacity in Archaeology, Assyriology and Environmental Health with support from USAID’s Higher Education and Development program (HEAD). The program partner is the State Uni- versity of New York (SUNY/SB); recent accomplishments include: Archaeology and Assyriology Program — Funding has been authorized to equip a computer training classroom at a participating Iraqi university with 30 tables, 30 chairs, 15 computers, 11 computer trolleys, and high speed inter- net. Additionally, three Iraqi students currently studying at SUNY/SB attended the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America in Boston. Environmental Health Program — An Environmental Health Education and Resource Center in southern Iraq received its first shipment of lab equipment and environmental health library material. Also, Forty Iraqi professors, physi- cians and graduate students are participating in an 11-day environmental health training course to introduce the newly established Environmental Health Education and Resource Centers. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Established regional offices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, and Mosul and operations in all governorates. • Awarded $15.5 million in rapid- response grants in the first pro- gram year to strengthen the capacity of municipal authorities to deliver core municipal ser- vices. The grants were used to restore services in agriculture, education, health, electricity, sanitation, and water. • Facilitated the establishment and refreshment of 16 gover- norate councils, 90 district coun- cils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Organized and facilitated nu- merous selection processes for governors and mayors, as well as local council members, throughout Iraq. • Committed more than $2.4 mil- lion for the nationwide Civic Education Campaign, which educates Iraqis on democracy and Iraq’s political situation. More than 28,500 democracy dialogues have been conducted to date. • Supported preparation of 2004 city council budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Al Hillah, Babil, and An Najaf. • Supporting a series of National Agenda Dialogue Conferences, which engage stakeholders such as academics, journalists, women, tribal leaders, and local government officials in discus- sions on their roles in Iraq’s emerging democracy. DEMOCRACY & GOVERNANCE USAID’s goals in the Democracy and Governance sector include promoting representative citizen participation in governance at the national and sub- national level; supporting the administration of transparent and credible elec- toral processes; strengthening the management skills of national, city, and provincial administrations and civic institutions; promoting advocacy and par- ticipation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serv- ing as a recruiting tool for future leaders. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK The Local Governance Program’s Policy Reform Team (PRT) worked to finalize the preparation of a handbook on Local Government Associa- tions (LGA). The handbook will be distributed beginning in February as part of the LGA Toolkit to garner broad support among local councils and Civil So- ciety Organizations for the establishment of either a national LGA or gover- norate branches. This effort will also be important for preparing delegates from each governorate for a National Conference on LGAs planned for late February. PRT expects that the LGA initiative will lay the foundation for other associations to be formed in Iraq such as a National Association of Mayors or a National Association of Governors. The PRT has been conducting trainings throughout Iraq on the development of LGAs for the past several months. These trainings prepare local PRT staff on conducting mini seminars for local officials on the concept of LGAs and to demonstrate the use of the LGA Toolkit. The training also prepares local PRT staff to perform assessments on the division of responsibilities among levels of government, and to prepare a detailed analytical study of the system for strategic planning, policy, and program development at the local level. LGP staff continued to work with the Basrah education directorate to produce a monthly payroll database for their 24,000 employees. The January 2005 payroll was the third consecutive month the directorate was able to produce the payroll with only limited technical assistance from LGP staff. Additionally, LGP continued to assist in developing a database for the Basrah Education Directorate’s Planning Department. When complete, the database will provide detailed statistical information on the rehabilitation status of Basrah area schools. Finally, Basrah LGP staff are writing a compre- hensive financial guide for the governorate’s local councils. The guide will pro- vide the foundation for sound accounting and basic financial practices. Recent LGP initiatives will develop the Baghdad Mayoralty’s administra- tive capacity. LGP staff met with the head of the Mayoralty’s Geographic In- formation Department (GID) to discuss progress on development of a Geo- graphic Information System (GIS). The GID has begun using an LGP devel- oped training center in the Mayoralty’s water building for its GIS personnel to learn the intricacies of GIS applications. LGP recently submitted a report to the Mayoralty evaluating the capability of specific software needed for hydrau- lic modeling and calculations. The GID director requested additional training support from LGP, including possible distance training. Developing GIS capa- bilities in the Mayoralty will allow for better infrastructure planning, health plan- ning, emergency planning, land cadastre and eventually for an electronic fee collection system in Baghdad. In February, LGP staff also successfully linked the Mayoralty’s Computerized Budgeting System and Personnel and Salary System with their Accounting System. February 17, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE ELECTIONS UPDATE Consistent with USAID’s policy with regard to supporting elections, USAID activities in Iraq make a good faith effort to assist all political organizations with equitable levels of assistance, do not seek to determine election out- comes, and support representative multiparty systems. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID has now received comprehensive reports on the January 30 elec- tions from more than 80% of the country’s polling places. These reports were completed by the 10,000 Iraqi monitors that were trained by USAID part- ners who conducted comprehensive polling center assessments at three times during the election day—at opening, midday, and closing. Each assess- ment considered key items such as opening and closing times, preparation and availability of documents, voter secrecy and intimidation, and correct elec- toral staff procedures. Below are excerpts of the results of the monitors’ re- porting. For a full report of these statistics please visit http://www.usaid.gov/ iraq/accomplishments/elections_fb.html February 17, 2005 • USAID has awarded a coopera- tive agreement to the Consor- tium for Election and Political Processes Strengthening (CEPPS) which includes three US NGOs. This agreement has a $50 million ceiling, of which $23 million has been obligated to date. Within this electoral processes grant USAID seeks to achieve the following: − Educate voters and promote participation in the electoral process − Build the capacity of Iraqi elec- tion monitoring organizations − Support efforts to monitor and mitigate electoral conflict. • USAID also awarded a $40 mil- lion cooperative agreement to an NGO to support the Inde- pendent Electoral Commission of Iraq's (IECI) administration of the transitional election cycle, which includes the January 2005 elections, the October 2005 Constitutional Referen- dum, and the December 2005 National Assembly Elections. This program is being imple- mented at the request of the IECI and in direct coordination with UN activities. • For more information on the elections, please visit the web- site of the Iraqi Election Infor- mation Network, www.iraqiein.org/english. EIN is an NGO coordinating elections support across Iraq. Was there intimidation of voters near or inside the polling center? Were any other domestic election observers present at the polling station? Were the ballot boxes shown to be empty to all present? Were voters checked for traces of indelible ink? Was the identity of the voters checked properly? Were the names of voters properly searched on the voters ' list? Were the ballots properly verified by stamp before issued to vot- ers? Was the polling station organized so voters could vote privately? Did any voter vote more than once? Was the finger of the voter properly marked with ink before they put their ballot into the ballot box? Were all the ballots placed into the proper ballot boxes? Were the ballot boxes visible to everybody throughout the entire process? Did the overall process allow voters to vote freely and privately? Did the polling finish at 5:00 P.M.? Did all voters in line when the polling was closed have a chance to vote? Were any of voters who arrived after 5:00 P.M. allowed to vote? Was the counting open to the public? Was intimidation or disruption observed inside or outside the poll- ing station? Did the counting start immediately after the close of poll? Were all writing materials removed from the counting area prior to counting? Yes 9% 66 No 91% 34 98 98 97 97 98 2 2 3 3 2 95 9 98 99 99 5 91 2 1 1 97 92 94 27 93 15 89 99 3 8 6 73 7 85 11 1 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Awarded more than 2,779 small grants totaling more than $223.8 million for quick impact activities that support good gov- ernance, civil society, conflict management and mitigation, human rights and transitional justice. • Funded over 100 grants ap- proximately $4 million that focus on women's issues, including supporting the establishment of 14 women's centers in Iraq. Rehabilitated 20 Iraqi clinics and 177 schools. Provided sup- port for 29 projects valued at over $1.8 million to rehabilitate and equip youth centers throughout Iraq and imple- mented 55 grants valued at over $3.2 million to rehabilitate sport facilities and establish sporting leagues throughout the country. • Coordinating with the U.S. Army First Cavalry Division (1st Cav) since April 2004, the ITI has approved 860 grants, worth over $103 million to support stabilization activities that pro- vide immediate assistance to improve the provision of essen- tial services such as trash pickup and surface sewage removal, while generating short- term employment opportunities for underemployed Iraqi youth. Funds have supported rehabili- tation of schools and clinics and centers for youth and women. TRANSITION INITIATIVE USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative supports the transition to a participatory, sta- ble, and democratic country. ITI provides quick-dispensing, high-impact grants meeting critical needs—providing short-term employment, restoring basic gov- ernment and community services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) provides grants to support the activities of local government institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Below are recent activities conducted with the support of ITI grants. A 375-member legal issues NGO in southern Iraq organized a conference on comparative law and democracy through a $3,000 grant. The conference brought together about 300 local government officials, lawyers, judges, and CSO leaders to discuss Arab and Western law and their implications for Iraq’s transition to de- mocracy. The agricultural services center of a southern governorate organized six training sessions on modern agricultural methods for 240 women from marsh areas with the support of a $53,221 ITI grant. This grant will enable the participants to im- prove productivity at family farms, and disseminate newly-acquired knowledge to area women. A $246,000 ITI grant supported the renovation of a women’s textile factory in south central Iraq. The assistance will improve the factory’s work environment while increasing production and providing a venue for democracy-related training sessions for local women. The factory is operated by over two hundred women from lower income families. An Iraqi photographers’ association organized an exhibition promoting freedom of expression and other democratic themes through a grant valued at $5,060. USAID support allowed the NGO to use this exhibition to promote increased par- ticipation in social and political life and raise awareness on democratic principles. A 400-member NGO in southern Iraq organized a series of seminars for women through a $5,000 grant to increase women’s participation in political, economic and cultural activities. ITI support covered the cost of the facilities, materials and other logistical needs for the seminars which covered such topics as economic development, the role of women in the district, education of women and children, and women's rights within new democratic systems. An NGO conducting mine awareness activities in northern Iraq received an $18,000 grant to purchase equipment that will improve the ability of the 120 mem- ber staff to organize mine risk-awareness courses and information campaigns. A disadvantaged sub-district in northern Iraq received a grant that supported tem- porary employment for local residents engaged in clean-up activities. The grant covered a 10 km2 area where an ethnically mixed population of 15,000 citizens resides. Grant activities included the establishment of permanent trash collection points to help ensure the sub-district remains clean. The local council of a district in southern Iraq was able to establish a public library through a grant valued at $32,824. This grant provided computer equipment, con- temporary Arabic books and furniture, and funded the renovation of a room in the local council building for use as a library. The library will increase learning oppor- tunities for young people and other district residents, provide a venue for social and cultural activities, and help promote a positive outlook on Iraq’s political tran- sition. February 17, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 COMPLETED ACTIVITES Since the cessation of the 2003 conflict, USAID has completed planned work at Umm Qasr Seaport and re- stored significant portions of Iraq’s telecommunications network. USAID also helped avert a humanitarian crisis 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. SEAPORT • USAID’s $45 million programs to rehabilitate and improve management at the port were completed in June 2004. • Port reopened to commercial traffic on June 17 2003; completed first passenger vessel test July 16. • 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, re- connecting 20 cities and 70% of the population. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites. • Installed 13 new switches, and fully integrated them with the 14 existing switches. • Ministry of Communications reactivated more than 215,000 subscriber lines. • Installed a satellite gateway system at Baghdad’s largest telecom exchange and restored international service. • Trained ITPC engineers and technicians in the operation and maintenance of the satellite gateway system and the new switches. FOOD SECURITY • Worked directly with the World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish the Public Distri- bution System (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 Distribu- tion System Working Group to assist the Ministry of Trade with improving PDS management. February 17, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 FINANCIAL SUMMARY February 17, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE Subtotal: $3,819,454,912 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $23,031,886 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Architecture and Engineering Services Countrywide $31,328,264 BearingPoint Economic Governance Countrywide $79,583,885 BearingPoint Economic Governance II Countrywide $103,500,000 Louis Berger Group Vocational Education Countrywide $27,200,000 Louis Berger Group Private Sector Development II Countrywide $60,000,000 Bechtel National Airports, buildings, emergency communications, power, railroads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sanitation Countrywide $1,029,833,259 Bechtel National 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 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $165,830,000 DAI Marshlands Dhi Qar Al Basr Maysan $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $101,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $300,000 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $51,698,152 RTI Local Governance Countrywide $236,911,000 America's Develop- ment Foundation Civil Society Countrywide $42,880,157 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CAII Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 CEPPS Transitional Government Countrywide $20,700,000 CEPPS Voter Education, Domestic Observation and Con- flict Resolution Countrywide $47,175,000 CEPPS Elections Administration Support Countrywide $40,000,000 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 FINANCIAL SUMMARY February 17, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation VFH Elections Support Countrywide $1,000,000 UNICEF Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing & Distribution: Math & Science Countrywide $10,000,000 WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 Logenix Health North/Central $98,006 SSA Port Management Um Qasr $14,318,985 SkyLink Airport Management Baghdad, Al Basrah, Mosul $27,200,000 MSI Monitoring and Evaluation Countrywide $5,038,772 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 Univer- sity Countrywide $20,730,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 VEGA Business Skills Training Countrywide $12,089,702 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 Emergency Relief USAID/DCHA/OFDA...................................................................................Subtotal: $157,379,161 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $7,978,194 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 ● 12 FINANCIAL SUMMARY February 17, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation IMC Health, IDP Assistance, Food Security, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Capacity Building Countrywide $28,952,898 IOM IDP Assistance Countrywide $16,392,470 IRC IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,000,411 IRD IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Northern Iraq $10,000,000 Logistics Emergency Relief Commodities and USAID/DART Support Countrywide $22,553,653 Mercy Corps IDP Assistance, Health, Emergency Relief Commodities, Shelter, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $20,199,786 SCF/US Food Security, Health, IDP Assistance, Shelter, Nutrition, Emergency Relief Commodities, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $7,957,783 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: $371,967,357 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $10,009,901 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $6,462,167 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $344,500,376 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............................................................$4,774,372,430 * 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 ● 13