الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 34، 23 حزيران 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE June 23, 2005 Combustion turbine and exhaust stack at the Taza substation in Kirkuk. Work at the substation will add 325MW to the national grid upon completion. 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 23, 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. Combustion turbine and exhaust stack at the Taza substation in Kirkuk 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 continues on the installa- tion of the V-94 combustion gas turbine at the Taza Substa- tion in Kirkuk. The turbine’s enclosure and air intake struc- ture have been installed and workers are currently assem- bling the generator’s various piping systems (coolant, oil flow, etc.). Power, communica- tions cables and the fire detection system have been installed. A V- 64 combustion gas turbine has already been installed and contin- ues to generate at its base load to the national grid. The project’s Scope of Work includes the design, manufacture, delivery, in- stallation, testing, and commissioning of one V-64 Combustion Gas Turbine (65MW nominal rating) and one V-94 Combustion Gas Turbine (260MW). Combined, these will supply 325MW to the national grid. The plant’s gas pipeline has also been extended by 15 kilometers to connect to a fuel source. Finally, plant operation and maintenance staff will receive training. The Taza Substation site, south of Kirkuk, is an ideal location because: it is at a major hub of 132 kV and 400kV grids; and, with a direct connection to an existing gas pipeline, gas supply to the plant is direct. The work is ex- pected to be complete in October 2005. Work is continuing on the rehabilitation of two units at the Doura power plant in southern Baghdad. Although its four steam boilers and turbines are each rated at 160MW, all have been poorly maintained for many years, largely due to spare parts shortages. Its cooling systems are now severely damaged so its turbines can no longer be operated at full-load without risk of further damage from overheating. As a result, the plant has operated far below its full-load rating of 640MW. Recent average total plant electrical generation, with the other two units operating, has been in the range of 160-170MW (the two units are operating at only 50% of rated MW). Recently, work continued on reconnecting the Unit 6 cold reheat piping to the turbine. Workers are also progressing with generator and exciter alignment. On Unit 5, cold reheat piping reconnections have been completed and loop checks are continuing on turbine instrumentation. This project covers steam turbine generator units #5 and #6 at Doura. Both turbines require extensive work before they can operate reliably at their de- sign output. Upon completion, an estimated 320 MW will be available for Iraq’s national electrical grid. Overall work on this project is now 94 complete, and is expected to be finished in the Fall of this year. 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 Workers continued to in- stall equipment and run tests as work moves for- ward on the refurbish- ment of a water treatment plant in Karbala. The plant is located in the city’s center, near one of Shia Islam’s holiest shrines. In addition to providing wa- ter to city residents, potable water is supplied season- ally to an estimated three million pilgrims. The plant’s original clarifiers were re- placed with four undersized clarifiers that did not treat water to standards needed for efficient downstream treatment. Some of the plant’s processes were be- coming overloaded by sediment. Marginal disinfection was effective with most bacteria, but was less effective with pathogens that cause amoebic dysentery, a public health risk exacerbated by the seasonal influx of millions of pilgrims. Because it was in such a dire state of disrepair, the design originally called for replacement of the clarifiers rather than repair, but local governing authorities disagreed. A compromise was reached to install compact clarifier units adja- cent to the existing clarifiers, allowing for future rehabilitation of the existing plant. This project will install 10 compact water treatment plants, with a total capacity of 25 million gallons per day. The project will also enlarge the exist- ing inlet works and associated pump station. Recently, workers completed installation of the cable tray at the intake struc- ture and the low lift pumping station. Sand media is being placed in the com- pact treatment unit filters. Main generator testing has begun at the low lift sta- tion. Four of the compact units could be ready to receive flow as early as July 1 if the plant provides adequate operating personnel. The project is now 54 percent finished and will be complete in September 2005. June 23, 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. Compact water treatment units at the Karbala water treatment plant UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 June 23, 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 The PSD program recently provided financial analysis training in Am- man, Jordan to 26 middle- and senior-level managers from two organiza- tions in Iraq’s emerging non-bank microfinance industry. By the end of the one-week course, attendees improved their skills in conducting financial analyses, preparing financial performance reports, and making recommenda- tions to improve the financial performance of their organizations. The course was one of a series of training modules designed to move the or- ganizations toward becoming sustainable non-bank credit, or microfinance, institutions that lend money to small businesses and farmers. A stronger, non-bank microfinance industry in Iraq will help empower thou- sands of poor families to better realize their potential through savings and credit programs for small enterprises. To assist the Government of Iraq (GoI) to meet generally accepted stan- dards in budget execution, USAID is working through partners under the Economic Governance II program to implement a state-of-the-art Finan- cial Management Information System (FMIS) that will provide tools for fed- eral financial management. Under Phase I of the project, 57 FMIS sites will be established at Ministries, spending agencies, and governorate treasuries by the end of June 2005. Under Phase II, a further 128 FMIS sites will be put in place. FMIS orientation and computer skills training courses have been completed at 55 out of 57 of the Phase I sites while hardware has been installed at 44 out of 57 sites. By June 30, it is anticipated that all equipment will be installed and tested at Phase I sites. From July though December, staff will conduct further tests using live data in parallel with the current pen-and-paper legacy system. During this time the system will also be extended to all 128 Phase II agencies that will progres- sively join the live testing as they come on line. Currently, the GoI is planning to go “live” with the automated FMIS system by 1 January 2006. Until that time, the parallel legacy system will remain in place to verify and confirm data. • 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. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 June 23, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Summer and Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: These demonstrations are intro- ducing farmers to new technolo- gies and techniques through extension field days. • Animal Health: Several veteri- nary clinics in Kirkuk, Fallujah, and other cities are being reno- vated and a grant has been made for dipping tanks to im- prove sheep health and wool. • Technology Support: The Min- istry of Agriculture and a major university’s schools of Agricul- ture and Veterinary Science have been awarded grants to furnish and equip computer centers, improving research capabilities and consulting ca- pacity. • Date Palm Propagation: In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, 40,000 elite date palm offshoots are being used to establish mother orchards in 13 governorates as part of a multiplication program and the establishment of a national reg- ister of elite varieties. • Agriculture Sector Transition Plan: This plan, completed in 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 Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruc- tion and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program will repair two culverts in Babil Governorate that carry water underneath roadways to irrigate farmland. The efficient use of water and functioning irrigation systems are especially important in southern and central Iraq, where there is less rainfall. The project will be implemented through local partners working with MOA/ ARDI specialists. MOA/ARDI will fund the procurement of materials and the civil works for the culvert repair. Specialists will advise on work progress. With the greater flow of water, the 250 Iraqi families who work and live on the sur- rounding farmland will directly benefit. The families include approximately 1,520 individuals who depend on the land as their main source of income. Two media centers in northern Iraq are producing agricultural publica- tions with funding from MOA and ARDI. Support for this activity is intended to increase the government’s capacity to produce high-quality publications that keep farmers apprised of best practices and issues in farming. As the production capacity of Iraqi agriculture develops, adequate communi- cation is vital to farmers. Previously, the government’s two media centers did not have the proper equipment to produce materials for extension staff or farmers. Two media centers were established with MOA/ARDI support earlier this year. The funding purchased video cameras, mixers, television monitors, digital cameras and projectors. MOA/ARDI also provided new computers, software and printers, which are used in the production of the publications. At a workshop in central Iraq, the MOA and ARDI recently launched a summer rice demonstration activity which could benefit thousand of farmers. During the event, specialists outlined challenges faced by Iraq’s rice farmers and explained how the new project will address these needs. Rice farming is the primary source of income for thousands of Iraqi farmers. The project uses several approaches to improve rice production. First, MOA/ ARDI will increase rice production through a package of improved agricultural practices on demonstration fields throughout the country. Next, a training pro- gram for farmers and extension agents will provide support for the broad-scale adoption of these improved methods. Finally, a seed multiplication program will ensure that farmers are using high quality seed. MOA/ARDI staff are also working to support apple farmers. An apple demonstration program, similar to the rice program, has designated sev- eral orchards around the country to demonstrate improved cultivation techniques. By using improved methods and apple varieties, productivity is expected to rise from 7,000 kg/donum (one donum = 1/3 acre) to 12,000 kg/ donum. Through the increased skill base, larger incomes, and greater pro- ductivity, this project will impact the lives of more than 200 Iraqis. The bene- fits will continue to accrue as the apples are harvested and brought to market, and as farmers in the areas around the demonstration sites implement the benefits of the improved methods.UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 June 23, 2005 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • Strengthen the capacity of the legislative branch of the Iraqi interim and transitional govern- ments and its staff during the interim and transition period to include lawmaking, representa- tion, executive oversight, and other responsibilities as pro- vided by the Transitional Admin- istrative Law (TAL) • 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 recently met with the Chairman of the Iraqi National Assembly’s (INA) Constitutional Committee to review assistance programs. Other topics of discussion included new venues for the Committee, security issues, and USAID’s revised work plan and seminar schedule. A tour of the Commit- tee’s potential site of operation was also organized to examine its condition and identify equipment needs. On May 31, a conference was organized for 29 Sheiks from Basra and surrounding areas on methods of communication for Iraqis living in the south regarding the constitutional drafting process. Discussions ad- dressed issues of concerns and methods of raising those concerns to the Constitutional Committee. The conference ended by identifying various advo- cacy strategies. USAID will remain in close contact with the sheikhs who ex- pressed interest in furthering their collaboration. In late May, USAID’s partner providing support to the transitional Iraqi government organized a seminar for 12 senior INA staff members from all major departments to review their human resources policies and pro- cedures. Three days prior to the seminar, each participant was provided a copy of a proposed Human Resources Manual to give enough time to indi- vidually review and comment on the content of the draft manual. Each compo- nent and topical area was then individually discussed in the seminar aimed to garner feedback and fine tune human resources policies and priorities. In late May, USAID held an Engendering of the Constitution workshop for 17 women, including two members of the INA and 15 NGO represen- tatives from Baghdad, Hilla, Diwaniya, Semawa and Wasit, to review the results of focus group research conducted by the implementing partner’s Po- litical Party Program. USAID’s Director on Constitutional programs presented a problem-solving exercise to craft an advocacy platform and legislative pro- gram surrounding women’s rights and social policy. She stressed the impor- tance of the use of qualitative research such as focus group and participatory research methods. USAID recently held a series of meetings with senior members of the Iraqi Transitional Executive Authority. Representative meetings include: On May 31, with the Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, to discuss the cur- rent structure and functions of the Office of the Prime Minister. On May 31, with the Minister of Finance to discuss USAID assistance to the Ministry, including advisory and training assistance on policy coordination and staff skills training. On June 1, with Dr. Khudair Abbas, the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers. After reviewing USAID’s programs and proposed plan of activities, Dr. Abbas specified his interest in training modules addressing the staff devel- opment and policy coordination needs of ministers.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 23, 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 With the help of staff and training from USAID’s Local Governance Pro- gram (LGP), the As Sulaymaniyah Provincial Council has been very ac- tive in performing its functions to the fullest extent possible under the existing circumstances. For instance, Provincial Council committees have been active in monitoring the market price of basic food items and in recom- mending actions to address increasing automobile traffic problems in the gov- ernorate. On June 2nd , the LGP Regional Training Director met with the As Sulaymani- yah Provincial Council chair and members of the Law Committee. The pur- pose of the meeting was to train committee members on items to be consid- ered in developing ground rules and council by-laws that will make council meetings more productive and effective and to address various questions such as council and committee authority; roles and responsibilities; and the Provincial Council’s relationship with local councils, governors, and other min- istry directories. The Mosul Provincial Council convened its twelfth regular meeting on June 6th. Thirty-two Council members, LGP staff, the Deputy Governor, Mosul security, police representatives, and the General Directors of Edu- cation and Health attended the session which addressed the issue of the Provincial Council’s responsiveness to citizen’s demands. The Council’s Committee on Human Rights also presented a report on detainees’ rights vio- lations and mistreatment. Councilors discussed with the General Director of Education the issue of continued Kurdish, Turkmen, Assyrian languages in School curriculum. 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 Ac- tion Program (CAP) worked with a Community Action Group (CAG) in a village 100 kilometers outside of Baghdad to improve the local potable water source. The village is located in a largely agri- cultural area along a con- nector road of the Bagh- dad-Karbala highway, and has a population of 1,100. The area is dependent upon a network of irrigation canals for its agricultural activities; however, the vil- lage lacked a supply of po- table drinking water. The project involved the installation of water pipe, a wa- ter pump and a generator, as well as the completion of needed repairs to the station’s electricity network. CAP is constructing a sport and recreation center in Wasit Governorate. The center will consist of a gymnasium, locker room, smaller activity rooms, offices, basketball and volleyball courts, and a playground. The center’s staff will offer trainings on language, computers, and music. The project will also fund agricultural experts to conduct lectures for intermediate school students on plant and tree care. Students will be involved in the design of gardens for the school and other public buildings. The total cost of the project is $219,000 and will create and estimated 30 short-term jobs and 20 long-term employ- ment opportunities. A community outside of Mosul is working with CAP to repair three kilo- meters of local road. No repairs have been done in the area for over twenty years and the neighborhood roads are impassable. Cars have difficulty reaching the hospital, schools, and the main market. Local children fall into the mud on their way to and from school. Repairing the road will make it eas- ier and safer for people to travel home, and for children to walk to school with ease. The work will improve public safety and health and has potential for improving the local economy. June 23, 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. Villagers in a rural community outside of Baghdad prepare pipe installations to rehabilitate the village potable water station. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 EDUCATION June 23, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 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 A total of 504,458 Secondary School Student Kits have been distributed to students in 2,244 secondary schools in Iraq. This initiative is being co- ordinated through Iraq’s Ministry of Education (MOE) which will coordinate distribution of the remaining 20,542 kits. Each kit contains 10 Arabic exercise books, one English exercise book, one drawing set, one lab notebook, 12 pencils, four pencil sharpeners, four erasers, a ruler, and a calculator. Health faculty members at Jackson State University (JSU) are develop- ing curriculum and course materials that will be shared with two major Iraqi universities participating in USAID’s Higher Education and Devel- opment (HEAD) program. The materials include a Comparative Health Sys- tems course and comparative analyses of health systems in the U.S., UK, Canada, Iraq, Oman, and Egypt. Lectures, suggested reading lists, assign- ments and sample examinations are also included with course materials. Also under the JSU and the Mississippi Consortium for International Develop- ment partnership, seven faculty members - primarily doctors and engineers - from several major Iraqi medical education institutes received minigrants for the development of public health outreach projects. Several laboratories and libraries are being refurbished and reequipped under the HEAD partnership with the University of Oklahoma (UO). Biology laboratory equipment was recently delivered to a Basrah university. A UO staff member will set up the equipment and train Iraqis on its use in June. Soil science, veterinary medicine and global mapping laboratories will be es- tablished at the five universities participating in the HEAD/UO partnership. UO recently established an advanced geography lab at a major Iraqi technical university which is being utilized by over 400 students, 100 of whom are women. At the new lab, students use modern GIS/GPS technologies to proc- ess satellite imagery to analyze changes in Iraq’s environment, climate and infrastructure. UO staff will be conducting workshops and instructing lab staff in the maintenance and use of the equipment and laboratories. UO has also refurbished university libraries including the internet computer center and library at the University of Babil which officially opened in May. Ten thousand out of school Iraqi youth aged 12-18 will attend Acceler- ated Learning Program (ALP) schools beginning in the fall that will allow them to make up for two missed years of primary school in one year. ALP schools will be identified by each Department of Education and will re- ceive special kits for classrooms, teachers and students. The program is be- ing implemented by UNICEF with USAID support. Fifteen ALP resource persons are being trained this month in Amman; each will go on to train 17 trainers in each of the participating governorates. A total of 2,000 teachers country-wide will be trained to teach in the ALP schools, and 1,000 students will be enrolled in each participating governorate. 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. • Nearly 33,000 secondary school teachers and administrators, in- cluding 928 master trainers, have been trained nationwide. Over the next year, up to 100,000 addi- tional 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 50,000 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 1,400 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 3,765 small grants totaling $277 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and miti- gation, human rights and transi- tional justice. • Funded 107 grants totaling over $7.2 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. 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 Agricultural Directorate of a district in northern Iraq renovated their offices and received furniture and equipment under an Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) grant. This directorate currently has 46 employees working throughout nine separate departments in the district. The Agricultural Director- ate provides basic agricultural and horticultural services to all five sub-districts in the area that cover more than 1.63 million acres of fertile farming land. Ser- vices include the supply of seed, fertilizers and logistical support to farmers in 284 villages. Through this assistance, ITI has enhanced local government’s capacity to provide agricultural services to farmers and their families and im- prove production capacity for thousands of farmers in the area, thereby in- creasing their standard of living and improving confidence in local govern- ment. A sub-district sport and youth department in northern Iraq renovated a stadium through an ITI grant. The stadium, located in the center of town, was built in 1989 and, prior to this grant, did not receive any structural mainte- nance due to neglect and a lack of funds. By renovating a public facility that can be used for sporting and cultural events, ITI has promoted civic participa- tion and provided tangible improvement in the lives of many community mem- bers. Through this assistance, ITI has given young people opportunities to engage in healthy activities. June 23, 2005 • 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. 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 23, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 FINANCIAL SUMMARY June 23, 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 23, 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 23, 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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