الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 35، 30 حزيران 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE June 30, 2005 The Community Action Program works with People with Disabilities in As Sulaymaniyah. Here an Iraqi man learns about fundraising and advocacy during a workshop designed to strengthen the role of disabled members of a community. Contents: Electricity ...........................................................2 Water and Sanitation.........................................3 Economic Governance ......................................4 Agriculture.........................................................5 National Governance......................................... 6 Local Governance ............................................. 7 Community Action Program ........................... 8 Education ....................................................... 9 Transition Initiatives ....................................... 10 Completed Activities....................................... 11 Financial Summary ........................................ 12 USAID assists Iraqis in reconstructing their country by working with Iraq’s Interim Government. Programs are implemented in coordination with the United Nations, country partners, nongovernmental organizations and private sector partners. This report highlights USAID’s overall accomplishments and recent reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information, please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WWW.USAID.GOV ELECTRICITY June 30, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • By October, 2003, rehabilitated electric power capacity to pro- duce peak capacity greater than the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Production reached 5,365 MW on August 18, 2004. • Since achieving record power production in Summer ‘04, the Ministry of Electricity—with as- sistance from USAID—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 855 MW of capacity through maintenance and rehabilitation work, and also repaired a 400 KV transmission line. • USAID and the Ministry of Elec- tricity are working with partners to place an additional 792 MW in the national grid by Decem- ber 2005 through maintenance, rehabilitation, and new genera- tion projects. • USAID completed a project to convert two units that produce 80 MW each to operate on crude/heavy fuel oil instead of diesel which is in short supply. • USAID initiated a project to re- habilitate 13 existing substa- tions and construct 24 new sub- stations in Baghdad. These 37 substations will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad resi- dents. USAID recently handed over work on 12 of these sub- stations to the Ministry of Elec- tricity. USAID’s goals include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power genera- tion facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working since May 2003 to restore the capacity of Iraq’s power system. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Work is nearing completion on a project that will allow Baghdad Interna- tional Airport (BIAP) to achieve 100 percent electrical self-sufficiency. The BIAP electrical system has an generation output design range of 18 to 22.3 MW and consists of three 33kV power transformers, 11kV and 400 V dis- tribution systems, five diesel generators, and numerous smaller emergency generators. The project includes the refurbishment of the distribution system to facilitate the management and control of generation and load and the addi- tion or replacement of 17 diesel generators. Recent work includes the installa- tion of equipment control panels and the repair of batteries. Overall, the activ- ity is now 98 percent finished and is scheduled for completion this summer. The new expansion of a power plant in south Baghdad is now producing elec- tricity. The first firing of one of the ex- pansion’s two combustion turbines— Unit 1B—took place a day ahead of schedule. On June 16, engineers syn- chronized Unit 1B with the grid and es- tablished a base load of 95 megawatts (MW). This plant expansion is produc- ing megawatts for the Iraqi power grid before the critical summer peak. Prior to energizing Unit 1B it was neces- sary to complete a final alignment of the expansion’s second combustion turbine generator. Work is currently in progress on balancing the expansion’s heavy fuel oil tanks. Six Ministry of Electricity (ME) personnel associated with the plant recently completed operations and main- tenance training. The expansion augments the existing plant at the south Baghdad plant which is a mid-sized thermal power plant with a 132-kilovolt (KV) connection that is serviced by a heavy fuel pipeline. Because the connection and pipeline are suitable for upgrades, Baghdad South was selected for expansion of its elec- trical generation capacity. Power generation in Iraq is currently not continuous but is limited to about 12 hours a day. The first phase in the project included site work such as leveling and compact- ing the soil and the purchase of one of the two 106 MW combustion turbines. Phase One also included the supply of auxiliaries such as skids, modules, switchyard, bus duct, transformers, and embedded conduit system. The sec- ond phase includes the purchase and installation of a second 106 MW com- bustion turbine. The project is currently 79 percent complete and will add 212 MW to the na- tional grid when finished in August 2005. Expansion of the Baghdad south power plant is producing power to meet the summer demand peak. The project will add 212 MW to the na- tional grid when finished in August. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 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 Iraqi officials are developing a national water plan. The Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) and USAID recently hosted a planning workshop for to prepare the timeline for developing the resources strategy. Once com- pleted, the strategy will be the first all-inclusive planning document for Iraq’s water sector in more than 25 years. At the three-day meeting, 20 participants representing the MWR and the Ministry of Agriculture discussed the impor- tance of using an integrated approach to water resources planning. The Minis- try of Municipalities and Public Works, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Electricity will also contribute to the strategy planning. Workshop participants discussed the overall two-phase approach to the devel- opment of the Water Resources Strategy Plan. In the first, 14-month phase of the plan, data will be collected on relevant aspects of water use in Iraq includ- ing irrigation demand, potable drinking water and water for industrial uses. In the second phase, the government will analyze appropriate interventions and carefully identify investment priorities. At the workshop, participants raised the major issues that must be addressed in the final strategy. Toward the end of the conference, the participants developed a work plan, which describes the roles of each contributor. An important objective of the water strategy is to provide the Iraqi government with information to negotiate international water treaties with its neighbors. At present, a lack of current information on water availability and its use in vari- ous sub-sectors puts Iraq at a disadvantage vis-à-vis its upstream neighbors. MWR/USAID anticipates the completion of the first phase within the next 12- 14 months, and it will form the basis for the development of Phase 2, which would take 2 to 3 years to complete. Once finished, the plan will serve the country for the next three decades. USAID’s work at water and waste water treatment plants in Ad Dujayl (Diyala Governorate) is complete and the facilities are now servicing the city’s 60,000 residents . Work at the water treatment plant was completed on May 26 and on February 27 at the waste water treatment plant. The new water treatment plant will ensure delivery of a safe dependable water supply to the city. Prior to the work, the water treatment plant operated well below capacity, pro- viding only 33 percent of the potable water needed for the region. As a result, many residents relied on untreated well water which led to outbreaks of dan- gerous water-born diseases like typhoid and cholera. This project’s goal was to restore and expand the water and sewage treat- ment plants serving the region. The sewage treatment plant was operational but required repair of its equipment and the addition of a new settlement tank in order to run properly. The water treatment plant expansion included the installation of three new compact units, each capable of producing 1.27 million gallons per day, will increase total capacity by 3.8 million gallons per day. June 30, 2005 • Nationwide: Repaired various 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 day; rehabilitating sewage treat- ment 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 per- cent capacity, serving 80 per- cent of Baghdad’s population. − Standby generators are being installed at 41 Baghdad water facilities. • South: Rehabilitated parts of the Sweet Water Canal system, including repairing breaches, cleaning the main reservoirs, and refurbished 14 water treat- ment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: 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 rehabilitation of Kirkuk water plant and con- tinuing refurbishment of sewage plant near Mosul. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 June 30, 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 A recent Executive Order by Iraq’s Prime Minister established a Legisla- tive Committee on Privatization, mandating it to prepare a draft privatiza- tion law. To assist the Government of Iraq, the privatization component of USAID’s Private Sector Development (PSD) program is supporting the devel- opment of “best practices” privatization legislation. By having a sound privati- zation law in place, Iraq will be better able to provide clear legal authority for its privatization program and an eventual implementing privatization agency. More than 60 bankers and members of Iraqi business associations took part in a workshop in Baghdad to discuss mutual needs for changing traditional bank lending methods. The workshop was organized and led by PSD program staff and was designed to be a forum where each group learned of the other’s needs regarding the challenges of obtaining business loans and meeting restrictive lending procedures. The workshop also served to educate businesspeople on the types of loan assistance available and generate de- mand for loans that utilize new credit procedures which are being imple- mented by the project’s partner private banks. Until recently, private banks in Iraq loaned money only to businesses which could put up property as collateral. By implementing cash flow-based lending procedures, private banks will be able to enlarge their pool of potential clients, which will strengthen the private sector and create jobs. By learning about the new process for obtaining private bank loans, local businesspeople will be able to access credit, expand their businesses, and generate sustainable em- ployment growth. PSD program staff recently met with six members of Iraq’s Legislative Committee on Privatization to discuss privatization experiences in other countries that might have relevance for Iraq and ways of moving forward in order to strengthen the private sector. As a result of the meeting, PSD project staff will continue to provide the Legislative Committee with support in developing model legislation that can serve as the basis of privatization in Iraq. The legislation will provide a legal framework for the privatization of State Owned Enterprises and define a process to transfer ownership of cer- tain enterprises from the public sector to the private sector, which typically is better able to grow the businesses and create sustainable jobs. USAID’s Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) recently sup- ported training events for Iraqi small- and medium-sized enterprises and approved 14 small business grants. These activities are part of VEGA’s continuing efforts to support the development of a competitive and efficient private sector through training, technical assistance, consulting, and business entrepreneurship services. Recent training activities included sessions for 31 small businesses in the non-permissible areas of Baghdad, Mosul, and Kirkuk; , and trainings for 13 consultants in Baghdad who will provide business plan- ning services to Iraqi companies for the purpose of accessing credit under the Iraqi Middle Market Development Fund (IMMDF) and other credit programs. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 • Developed WTO Accession Roadmap in cooperation with Iraqi officials. • Provided technical assistance as well as information on con- tracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses and entrepreneurs through business centers. • Worked with the Ministry of Fi- nance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar. • Created more than 77,000 pub- lic works jobs through the Na- tional Employment Program. • Provided technical assistance on accounting, budgeting and lending activities at Iraq’s com- mercial banks. Trained 116 bankers from the Rafidain and Rasheed banks in six training courses. • Assisted in management of $21 million micro-credit program. • Improved statistical analysis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision procedures at Iraq’s Central Bank; offered a two-week banking course to Central Bank staff with the Fed- eral Reserve Bank of New York. • Evaluated and updated com- mercial laws on private sector and foreign investment. • Assisted in developing the five percent reconstruction levy on imports; built capacity of cus- toms officials to implement levy. • Developed a government-wide IT strategy to support the auto- mation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Provided technical support for the re-opening of the Iraq Stock Exchange after it was closed down for more than 15 months; 3.6 billion Iraqi dinars ($2.4 mil- lion USD) in shares were traded in the first day. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 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 As part of efforts to improve the hydraulic infrastructure in rural areas, the Ministry of Ag- riculture (MOA) and USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program are set to begin re- pairs of some discharge regu- lators – devices that help to limit and direct the flow of wa- ter through irrigation canals. Improving the hydraulic system in Iraq is central to the MOA/ARDI mission of increasing agricultural production throughout the coun- try. In the center and south of Iraq, agriculture relies heavily on irrigation. But unfortunately most canals, drainage, and hydraulic structures have not been properly maintained or replaced since they were installed in the 1980s. As part of a new project recently approved by USAID, MOA/ARDI will com- mence repairs on a discharge regulator that provides water to 10,000 donums (2,500 hectares) of land in central Iraq’s Qadissiyah Governorate. The in- creased ability to control water amounts will positively affect the livelihoods of 1,050 farm families who rely on the agricultural production from the adjacent land as their major source of income. In total, over 7,000 Iraqis will benefit. Under the terms of the grant, MOA/ARDI will provide for the purchase of the mechanical and electrical parts, as well as the civil works necessary for proper installation. Through training, the Ministry of Water Resources is also being equipped to better maintain this discharge regulator and other components of the hydraulic infrastructure. June 30, 2005 • 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. MOA/ARDI is repairing a water discharge regu- lator that will benefit over 7,000 Iraqis who live on the surrounding farmland. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • Strengthen the capacity of the legislative branch of the Iraqi interim and transitional govern- ments and its staff during the interim and transition period to include lawmaking, representa- tion, executive oversight, and other responsibilities as pro- vided by the Transitional Admin- istrative Law. • Assist the Executive Authority, the Presidency Council, and the Council of Ministers and its pre- siding Prime Minister to develop governing processes, rules of procedure, regulations and di- rectives necessary to enforce the laws, and to implement gov- ernment programs and policies • Support the process for adop- tion of an Iraqi constitution that promotes democratic principles and values through the provi- sion of technical assistance that includes, but is not limited to, providing comparative constitu- tional expertise; organizing con- stitutional conferences and con- ventions; facilitating public awareness, education, and par- ticipation; and assisting in the conduct of a national referen- dum or other ratifying mecha- nism. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE In the post-election period, USAID will continue to plan and implement a vari- ety of programs, undertaken in full partnership with Iraqi counterparts, match- ing the needs of the evolving Iraqi democracy. In particular, USAID is acceler- ating support to the Iraq National Assembly and the Constitutional Drafting Commission. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s partner providing support to the constitutional development process is in the final preparatory stages of the Constitutional Dialogue Program which began in mid-June and is designed to facilitate constitu- ent involvement in the constitutional process. The program will focus on civic education and encourage public input in the drafting process. It is ex- pected to involve the participation of some 200 to 300 trainers, up to 150 NGOs, and 200,000 Iraqis nationwide. USAID’s partner is currently working closely with four master trainers as- signed throughout the country. On May 27 and 28, the implementing partner provided the master trainers with a work plan and educational material to be used in communicating the basics of the constitutional process. The master trainers will recruit 10 to 15 local NGOs, each of which will in turn provide two additional facilitators. During the second phase of the program, each facilitator will coordinate and implement constitutional dialogue meetings with up 20 people. These dialogues will help educate participants about the constitutional process and solicit feedback. The Iraqi women’s caucus recently met with USAID to discuss ways to ensure that Iraqi organizations and institutions are legally protected re- gardless of gender, ethnicity and religion. An Islamic scholar was in atten- dance to explore constitutional issues viewed in the context of Islamic law. USAID will also provide access to constitutional experts. The women’s cau- cus now has a draft statement to take to their parties and will be using the tools gained during advocacy trainings to work internally to encourage their parties to agree to the concepts they have been discussing. Twelve Members of the Iraqi National Assembly (INA) attended a work- shop on the Rules of Procedure in the American legislative process. Follow-up workshops helped INA members understand the relationship be- tween a legislator and an executive branch and practical ways to ensure gov- ernment accountability. The follow-up workshops included training for United Iraqi Alliance coalition members on legislative-executive relations, training for INA members on enforcing executive accountability and overseeing the ex- ecutive’s activities to ensure that decisions are in the citizen’s interest, and a session on including public input into policy making, legislation and the consti- tutional process. Three important Iraqi women’s organizations are planning a series of workshops aimed at educating women on the constitutional process and providing a mechanism for their input into the content of the constitu- tion. Representatives from the three organizations met to discuss work plans and coordination methods. They also received an intensive half-day of train- ing on financial record-keeping and reporting. Together these local partners will conduct workshops focused on constitutional education, awareness, and women’s advocacy in 13 cities throughout Iraq. June 30, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 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. June 30, 2005 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • More than $2.5 million was committed to the nationwide Civic Education Campaign, which educated Iraqis on de- mocracy and political transition in Iraq. Over 550 democratic dialogue facilitators were re- cruited to help Iraqis participate in political processes. More than 29,000 local democracy dialogues events were con- ducted by Election Day, in which well over 789,700 Iraqis participated. • Established regional offices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, and Erbil, with resident expat and Iraqi professional staff oper- ating in all 18 governorates. • Awarded $15.5 million in rapid- response grants in the first pro- gram year to strengthen the capacity of municipal authorities to deliver core municipal ser- vices. The grants were used to restore services in agriculture, education, health, electricity, sanitation, and water. In the second year, a similar grants program worth $1.5 million has been implemented. • Facilitated the establishment or refreshment of 16 governorate councils, 90 district councils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Supported preparation of 2004 and 2005 budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Hillah, Babil, and Najaf. • Organized and carried out nu- merous selection processes for governors and mayors, as well as local council elections, throughout Iraq. • Supported a series of National Agenda Dialogue Conferences, which engaged stakeholders such as academics, journalists, women, lawyers, health profes- sionals, tribal leaders, the dis- abled and civil society organiza- tions in discussions on their roles in Iraq’s developing de- mocracy. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK On June 7th, the Local Governance Program (LGP) team in Baghdad de- livered two training programs to 24 members of the Baghdad Provincial Council on the Roles of Committees and Local Government in Baghdad during the Transitional Period. The following issues were discussed during this training session: Roles of Committees • Committee structure • Subcommittees • Tasks of committees • Models of world experiments • Rules of conduct Local Governments in Baghdad during the Transitional Period • Baghdad after 9/4/2003 • New Iraqi Government Formation • The beginning of the Local Govern- ment Program • Baghdad city councils system design • The concept of caucuses • Information and technical support The LGP recently conducted workshops for Basrah governorate district councils. The training module topics included Sources of Authority, Council Procedures and Functions, Code of Conduct and Work Methods and Citizen Participation. A total of 76 district council members from May- san, Dhi Qar, Al Muthana and Basrah governorates participated in the pro- gram. Participants included eight women members of the Basrah Gover- norate Council. Council members in Samawah City received an additional training session on fiscal authority. LGP staff are working with the Basrah Governorate Council—including the Council’s chairman—to plan a federalism/decentralization work- shop. Using example states of Spain, Mexico, and India, LGP intends to pre- sent key characteristics of federalism, government structures, constitutional division of powers, fiscal arrangements, and special features of federalism. The workshop is planned to be held at a USAID resource center in southern Iraq. Senior Basrah University professors and distinguished council members will also participate in the workshop. Decentralizing responsibilities from the central to the local government en- hances political participation, strengthens local services and provides greater flexibility and autonomy of decision making at the local level. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM The Community Action Program works in rural and urban communities to pro- mote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government representatives, USAID is creating representative participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP) partner working in As Sulaymaniyah conducted a ten day workshop for people with disabilities. The training covered two key areas: training of trainers, and advocacy and fund- raising for associations of dis- abled people. Participants in- cluded representatives of the dis- abled community and staff from the CAP partner in the region. Participants returned to their gov- ernorates planning to conduct presentations that would promote the rights of the disabled and demonstrate techniques to in- clude persons with disabilities in the community. These presentations will raise awareness among community leaders and members about the issues disabled people in their community face. Commenting on the benefits of the training, one participant said, “The end of the ten-day training marks the beginning of a lifelong journey.” This training was the second in a series designed to promote the rights of dis- abled persons and build advocacy capacity among their associations. The first training took place in November 2004, and introduced trainees to interna- tional human rights standards and principles regarding persons with disabili- ties. June 30, 2005 • USAID has committed over $131 million to 3,120 projects while Iraqi communities have committed more than 25% of total funding. CAP has established over 600 community action groups (CAGs) in 17 governorates. Five U.S. NGOs each concentrate on a region: north, Baghdad, south- west central, southeast central, and south. • The northern program focuses on the conflict prone areas of the Sunni Triangle, Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. The partner NGO has completed 433 projects with over $29 million in project commitments including improving the Tikrit water supply, and devel- oping income generation projects in the north. • In the southwest central region, the partner NGO has established a strong presence in Hillah and the Shi’a holy cities Najaf and Karbala. Emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has improved community water/sanitation ser- vices and schools, and repaired vital social infrastructure. They have completed 322 projects and have over $21.5 million in project commitments. • Income generation is an important emphasis in the Baghdad pro- gram where 522 projects have been completed through CAGs. A marketplace for over 700 vendors is being constructed, and crews are cleaning up medical waste dumps. Total project commit- ments are $22.3 million. • In the southeast central region, 179 projects are complete with a total of $16.7 million in commit- ments. In the Shi’i heartland, these projects address needs resulting from decades of govern- ment neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilitation. • The southern program has com- pleted 625 projects with total com- mitments of $21.9 million. Pro- jects have focused on immediate community needs such as sew- age clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. An Iraqi man learns about fundraising and ad- vocacy for persons with disabilities during a ten day workshop designed to strengthen the role of disabled members of a community. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 EDUCATION June 30, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE Women as a percent of the population of faculty and students at Iraqi agricultural colleges 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Faculty Students Baghdad Tikrit Mosul Salahaddin Suleimania Dohuk 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 The University of Hawaii (UH)—on behalf of USAID’s Higher Education and Development (HEAD) pro- gram—collected information in May on the gender demographics of faculty and staff at the agricultural colleges of several Iraqi universi- ties. Results showed that women comprised 7-35% of the faculty and 25-52% of the students of responding colleges; female enrollment was high- est among undergraduate students. Many women end their academic careers after obtaining their Bachelor’s degree, and generally less than 10% of women faculty at Iraqi agricultural colleges have obtained their Doctorate degree, thereby impeding their upward mobility into administrative and leadership positions. The five Iraqi students that are currently studying at UH under the HEAD program made rapid progress in May. All five completed their Spring se- mester courses and one had the noteworthy distinction of receiving the highest final score in his Plant Propagation class. Another of the students initiated an agri- culture experiment in May on tomatoes with a UH faculty member. Two other Iraqi students reviewed corn breeding program and production practices at commercial seed production centers. All of the Iraqi students attended a College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources biotechnology forum on new molecular tech- niques and on public concerns regarding genetically modified organisms. At the State University of New York at Stony Brook, four Iraqi archaeology students who are studying abroad with the support of the HEAD program have completed their first full semester work in the graduate archaeology department. All had passing grades ranging from B- to A. The four students have now left for their summer field programs. Two are excavating an ancestral Hopi village in Arizona; the others are working on Pueblo dig in Colorado. Two additional Environmental Health Education Resource Centers will be established at two universities in Iraq—one in the Arbil region and one near Hilla. The universities have already allocated space for laboratories and libraries for the Centers and will support the necessary electrical and plumbing work for the facilities. Center Coordinators and Directors have been identified from among university faculty and equipment will soon be sent to the new centers. Medical doctors who attended training courses in Amman in February will begin to organ- ize local training courses at the centers for doctors and students in their regions. A primary focus of USAID’s Basic Education program is to assist the Minis- try of Education (MOE) in improving the quality, equity and efficiency of the education sector through planning education reform, conducting needs as- sessments and recruiting Iraqi professionals. The current focus is on training programs for senior and mid-level MOE managers. Training topics have included education policy analysis; strategic planning; statistical sampling and analysis; education planning; assessment and evaluation methods, budget preparation/ execution, resource allocation models, and using IT in financial management. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 • 2,510 schools have been rehabili- tated through direct contracting and grants to communities. • Hundreds of thousands of desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secondary schools have been distributed countrywide. • 32,700 secondary school teach- ers and administrators, including 928 master trainers, have been trained nationwide. Over the next year, up to 100,000 additional teachers will receive in-service training. • Eighty-four primary and secon- dary schools (four in each gover- norate) are being established to serve as “centers of excellence.” Teachers will receive six weeks of training, and schools will be equipped with computer and sci- ence laboratories. • More than 550 out-of-school youth completed a pilot acceler- ated learning program. An ex- panded program, targeting 10,000 out-of-school youth, will be imple- mented during the 2005–06 school year. • Satellite Internet access and com- puters installed at the Ministry of Education and in all 21 Director- ates of Education. To improve resource management, an Educa- tion Management Information System is being developed. • More than 8.7 million math and science textbooks have been edited, printed, and distributed throughout Iraq. • Partnerships have been estab- lished between five American and ten Iraqi universities. Through these partnerships, more than 1,500 Iraqi faculty and students have participated in workshops, trainings, conferences, and courses in Iraq, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. • University facilities, such as librar- ies, computer and science labora- tories, lecture halls, and buildings, have been rehabilitated at col- leges of law, engineering, medi- cine, archeology, and agriculture. In addition, books and electronic resources have been provided to university libraries. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Awarded 3,815 small grants totaling $279.7 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and miti- gation, human rights and transi- tional justice. • Funded 111 grants totaling over $4.23 million that focus on women’s issues, including sup- porting the establishment of 24 women’s centers in Iraq. Reha- bilitated over 264 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Sup- porting 65 Iraqi 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 encouraging protection of hu- man rights. 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 The sewage department of a city in central Iraq rehabilitated eight sew- age pumping stations through a series of Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) grants. Ten pumping stations were damaged during recent intense fighting in the city and were in need of repairs to allow the wastewater removal system to function properly. Many areas of the city are suffering from sewage overflows on the streets as a result, which increases residents’ risk for water-borne dis- eases. By supporting the pumping station rehabilitation, USAID has enabled the sewage department to operate more effectively and to remove wastewater from residential areas of the city. This assistance is part of a larger effort to restore essential infrastructure in the city as residents who left during the fight- ing return, increasing confidence in local government and helping with the transition to normalcy. The Department of Electricity in a city in central Iraq received furniture and equipment for their offices with the help of an ITI grant. This govern- ment office sustained damage during intense fighting in the city and was un- able to reopen due to the need for repairs and a lack of furniture and equip- ment. The department is now working out of an alternate site until a long-term solution is found but was in immediate need of equipment and furniture to adequately conduct their duties and maintain proper archives of their opera- tions. By appropriately equipping this office, USAID has enabled the Depart- ment of Electricity to resume operations and assist with efforts to restore es- sential infrastructure in the city. This grant has also increased confidence among residents in the transition to a democratic Iraq as residents see the enhanced capacity of their local government. An agricultural directorate in northern Iraq received equipment and fur- niture with the help of an ITI grant. As a result of intense fighting during the Iran-Iraq war and later between opposing Kurdish parties, this particular area suffered extensive damage and has limited basic services. The Agricultural Directorate is responsible for providing basic agricultural services including providing seeds and fertilizer to 200 villages. Through this assistance, USAID has improved the productive capacity of thousands of farmers in the area by enabling the directorate to respond to their needs, thereby raising the stan- dard of living and increasing confidence and trust in local government. A culture and youth activity center in northern Iraq augmented their out- reach programs by receiving equipment, furniture and computers through the support of an ITI grant. This center, located in a rural area in northern Iraq, improves the lives of local youth through social and cultural ac- tivities. Through this assistance, USAID has enabled the center to provide more activities and courses that offer practical training in areas such as com- puters, music, and cultural diversity, helping youth to become more active, positive participants in Iraqi society. June 30, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 COMPLETED ACTIVITES Since the cessation of the 2003 conflict, USAID has completed their 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. • 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% of the population. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites. • Installed and fully integrated 13 new switches with 14 existing switches. • Worked with the Ministry of Communications to reactivate more than 215,000 subscriber lines. • Installed a satellite gateway system at Baghdad’s largest telecom exchange and restored international service. • Trained telecom engineers and technicians in the operation and maintenance of the satellite gateway system and the new switches. BRIDGES AND ROADS • Rebuilt three major bridges—Khazir, Tikrit and Al Mat bridges—critical for the movement of 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. June 30, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 FINANCIAL SUMMARY June 30, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE .................................................................................. Subtotal: 4,090,878,068 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $23,031,886 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 America's Develop- ment Foundation Civil Society Countrywide $42,880,157 Army Corps of Eng. Architecture and Engineering Services Countrywide $30,842,037 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 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 $49,275,000 CEPPS Elections Administration Support Countrywide $40,000,000 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $258,820,000 DAI Marshlands South $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $101,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $300,000 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $52,171,260 Logenix Health 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 Health Countrywide $2,000,000 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 12 FINANCIAL SUMMARY June 30, 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 Port Management Umm Qasr $14,318,985 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing & Distribution: Math & Science Countrywide $10,000,000 UNICEF Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 University Partners • The Research Foundation of the State University of New York/Stony Brook and the Universities of Chicago, Boston and Oxford • The Human Rights Institute, DePaul University College of Law and Italy’s International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences • University of Hawaii, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, University of Jordan and the American University in Beirut • Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Benetech, US-Iraq Business Resources • University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cameron University and Langston University Countrywide $20,730,000 VEGA Business Skills Training Countrywide $12,089,702 VFH Elections Support Countrywide $1,000,000 WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 WHO Health Countrywide $1,273,894 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 Emergency Relief USAID/DCHA/OFDA...................................................................................Subtotal: $180,657,106 ACTED Water and sanitation, health/hygiene, education Eastern Iraq $2,995,793 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $8,034,839 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 ARC Capacity Building Al Basrah $537,746 CARE IDP Assistance, Quick-impact projects, Water and Sanita- tion, Health, Emergency Relief Commodities Countrywide $9,043,148 The Cuny Center Research Studies Countrywide $40,260 GOAL Coordination, Nutrition Al Muthanna $1,507,900 InterAction Coordination Kuwait City $92,860 IDA Health Countrywide $1,318,437 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 13 FINANCIAL SUMMARY June 30, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation IMC Health, IDP Assistance, Food Security, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Capacity Building Countrywide $34,832,887 IOM IDP Assistance Countrywide $18,392,470 IRC IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,000,411 IRD IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Northern Iraq $17,076,190 Logistics Emergency Relief Commodities and USAID/DART Support Countrywide $22,771,653 Mercy Corps IDP Assistance, Health, Emergency Relief Commodities, Shelter, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $25,251,114 SCF/US Food Security, Health, IDP Assistance, Shelter, Nutrition, Emergency Relief Commodities, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $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: $382,283,322 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $10,325,866 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $6,462,167 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $354,500,376 Internews Media Countrywide $160,359 Radio SAWA Media Countrywide $400,000 NDI/IRI National Governance Countrywide $650,000 IFES National Governance Countrywide $1,042,315 ICNL Civil Society Countrywide $39,238 Spa War** Inter-Ministry Communications Countrywide $8,703,001 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-2005............................................................$5,079,389,496 * 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. 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