Accomplishments: Agriculture and Marshlands

Weekly Update #17 تقرير رقم 15 Accomplishments: Food Security Objectives include: providing oversight support for the countrywide public distribution system, which provides basic food and non-food commodities to 25 million Iraqis; participating in the design of a monetary assistance program to replace the commodity-based distribution system in order to support local production and free-market infrastructure; and promoting comprehensive agriculture reform to optimize private participation in production and wholesale markets. Iraqi food agents record food deliveries and distribute rations to Iraq's 25 million people. Photo: USAID Worked with the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish Iraq's public distribution system in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and maintaining food security. Contributed cash and food aid in the amount of $425 million to WFP's emergency operations immediately following the conflict, making the U.S. the foremost contributor to WFP emergency operations in Iraq. Placed food specialists in Baghdad, Basrah, Al Hillah, and Arbil to support food operations immediately after the conflict. Provided ongoing support and technical assistance to WFP and local Iraqi authorities in the Ministry of Trade and the Kurdish Food Departments to ensure the smooth transition of public distribution system management tasks to the Iraqi government. Special attention was given to the transition phase in the northern governorates of Dahuk, Sulaymanyah, and Arbil. The initial handover of responsibilities occurred on November 21 without significant problems. Played a key role in negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding that has been signed by the CPA, the MOT of Iraq and the World Food Program that details WFP's new areas or responsibility to include: capacity building and training, procurement of food commodities, the renegotiation of certain food contracts, shipment and overland transport of food commodities, and pipeline management. The World Food program will now continue to assist with supporting the PDS through June 2004 and will begin work immediately to help assure food deliveries continue. Currently providing food aid expertise to CPA and MOT in Baghdad and assisting with the CPA OFF Coordination Center as WFP and CPA/MOT continue to distribute food to all Iraqis. Photo & Caption: Food For Iraqi Families - 01/14/04 Helping Iraq's Vulnerable - 12/05/03 (PDF) USAID Awards Contract for Agricultural Reconstruction and Development - 10/21/03 Transcript: Pre-Bid Conference on the Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) RFP - 06/17/03 Last Updated on: February 05, 2004