الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 50، 22 أيلول 2004

IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE September 22, 2004 This report highlights overall accomplishments and weekly activities from USAID’s reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information on USAID’s pro- grams in Iraq please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq. Contents: Electricity ...................................................... 2 Water and Sanitation .................................... 3 Airports.......................................................... 4 Seaports ........................................................ 4 Bridges, Roads, and Railroads.................... 5 Telecommunications .................................... 5 Education ...................................................... 6 Health............................................................. 7 Economic Governance................................ 8 Agriculture ................................................... 9 Marshlands................................................. 10 Food Security............................................. 10 Local Governance ..................................... 11 Community Action Program ..................... 12 Transition Initiatives.................................. 13 Financial Summary.................................... 14 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, nongovern- mental organizations, and private sector partners. The USAID mission in Iraq carries out programs in education, health care, food security, infrastructure reconstruction, airport management, economic growth, community development, democracy and governance, and transition initiatives. Photo: Artwork from a USAID funded exhibition in southern Iraq USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Electricity September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power genera- tion facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working since May of 2003 to restore capacity to Iraq’s power system. • Generated a peak of 4,518 MW on October 6, 2003, exceeding the capac- ity generated before the conflict. This was the first major milestone in Iraq’s electrical system reconstruc- Highlights this week: • Installation of elec- trical generators at Baghdad Interna- tional Airport is ap- proximately 50 per- cent complete, and is expected to be complete in late fall 2004. This project is rehabilitating and replacing the gen- eration system at the airport to pro- Workers aligning oil cooler for a new generator vide both primary and back-up power. The project includes the installation of two new back-up generator sets generating 5 MW each and the refurbishment of a primary generator, which has the capacity to produce 8 MW. The project is also re- pairing the 11 kv system which distributes power around the airport. tion. • In summer 2004, after months of power reduction for generation unit mainte- nance, generation began steadily increasing. • Repairing thermal units, replacing turbines, rehabili- tating the power distribution network, and installing and restoring generators. • USAID has added 340 MW of capacity through maintenance and rehabilita- tion work, and also repaired a 400 KV transmission line. • USAID and the Ministry of Electricity are working with partners to add a total of more than 2,000 MW to the national grid by December 2005 through maintenance, rehabilitation, and new gen- eration projects. • Most recently, USAID has initiated a project to rehabili- tate 13 existing substations 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 has also begun an operations and maintenance program to improve the output and reliability of 114 power plant units at 19 ther- mal and combustion gas turbine generation sites throughout Iraq. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 2 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Water and Sanitation September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal is to improve the efficiency and reliability of existing water and wastewater treatment facilities, especially those in the south where water quan- tity 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: • The rehabilitation of a waste- water treatment plant in Al Qadisiyah Governorate, which began in August 2003, is on schedule for completion by mid-November. A lack of parts and effective maintenance dur- ing the previous regime caused failure of the mechanical and electrical equipment in the plant, preventing wastewater treatment and creating a health A wastewater treatment plant in central Iraq hazard through the contamina- tion of groundwater and the local river. Work for this project includes clean- ing the plant's aeration tanks and distribution chambers, refurbishing the plant’s mechanical and electrical systems, and restoring the plant to service. Operations and maintenance training will also be provided to ensure sustain- ability of the project. Currently, the mechanical and electrical work is about 80 percent complete. Once all work is complete, this project will serve ap- proximately 80,000 local residents. This project is one of six USAID water and wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation projects in central Iraq. • USAID’s work at a Baghdad wastewater treatment plant, which began in Au- gust 2003, is nearing completion, and is scheduled to finish on October 15. The plant, which was built in the 1960s, is one of three sewage plants in Baghdad. These plants have the capacity to treat the wastewater from 70 to 80% of Baghdad’s 4.7 million residents. One of the plants already began treating wastewater in June 2004 as a result of USAID rehabilitation work. ◊ The USAID portion of this project included cleaning of unit process tanks, restoration of site buildings, landscaping, and installation of 11kv electrical transformers, switchgear, cabling, as well as supply tools, equipment, and laboratory equipment. Upon completion of all US government projects at this plant, the plant will provide wastewater treat ment services for nearly a third of all Baghdad residents. This plant is scheduled to come online in February 2005. • Nationwide: Repaired various lift stations and treatment units. • Baghdad: Expanding one water treatment plant to increase capacity by more than 50 million gallons per day and rehabilitating sew- age treatment plants. ◊ A major wastewater treatment plant in Baghdad began operating in June of 2004; this is the first major plant in the country to oper- ate in over 12 years. ◊ The sewage treatment system in Baghdad, barely functioning for years before the conflict, will be restored to almost 100-percent ca- pacity, serving 80 percent of Baghdad’s population. ◊ Standby generators are being installed at 41 Bagh- dad water facilities. • South: Rehabilitating parts of the Sweet Water Canal system, including repairing breaches, clean- ing the main reservoir, and refurbishing 14 water treat- ment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: Rehabili- tating two water plants and four sewage plants. ◊ Sewage plants in An Najaf, Al Qadisiyah, Kar- bala’, and Babil Gover- norates will serve 440,000. ◊ Water treatment in Najaf and Babil will serve resi- dents and visitors at Iraq’s holiest shrines. • North: Rehabilitating two water plants and one sew- age plant near Mosul and Kirkuk. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 3 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Airports September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal is to provide material and personnel for the repair of airport facili- ties, rehabilitate airport terminals, facilitate humanitarian and commercial flights, and assist the Iraqi Airport Commission Authority. • Flights have been arriv- ing and departing Baghdad International Airport since July 2003. BIAP is process- ing an average of 45 non- military arrivals and depar- tures daily. Highlights this week: • USAID’s rehabilitation of Basrah International Airport’s water and waste- water treatment plants is nearing completion. Rehabilitation of these plants is the final step in USAID’s program to rehabilitate Basrah International Airport. Both plants are expected to be complete in October, and will serve approximately 4,000 individuals at the airport. ◊ USAID has also completed the following projects which prepared the airport to begin commercial operations: cleaned and refurbished pave- ment (runway, taxiways and apron) lines and markings; installed airport signage as required to meet current FAA and International Civil Avia- tion Organization standards; constructed 20 kilometers of new perimeter fence and 7 kilometers of airside fence; supplied, installed, and commis- sioned a Land Mobile Radio System and trained local operators; and provided baggage X-ray units. • Completed emergency infrastructure work at BIAP for civil air operations, in- cluding repairing Terminal C and administration offices and installing VSAT com- munications systems and 6.5 megawatt power gen- erators. • Completed work which is preparing Al Basrah Inter- national Airport for commer- cial operations, including installing VSAT and radio communications; runway, taxiway, and apron striping; and installing baggage x- ray units and a perimeter fence. Seaports Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal was to rehabilitate and improve management at the port, manage port administration, coordinate transport from the seaport, and facilitate cargo- handling services such as warehousing, shipment tracking, and storage. • USAID’s $45 million pro- grams to rehabilitate and improve management at the port were completed in June 2004. • Port reopened to com- Dredger at Umm Qasr Seaport, rehabilitated by USAID mercial traffic on June 17 2003; completed first pas- senger vessel test July 16. • Up to 50 ships offload cargo 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 admini- stration building, passenger terminal, customs hall, and electrical substations. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 4 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Bridges and Roads September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal is to rebuild major transportation routes that were damaged or ne- glected in order to restore the flow of goods and services. The reconstruction of the Khazir Bridge, a four- lane bridge in northern Iraq, was complete in early April. • Completed 36 detailed bridge assessments and demolished irreparable sections in preparation for the rehabilitation of three major bridges in Iraq. Two bridges have been repaired and reopened while the last is set for completion in September 2004. • Repaired a floating bridge over the Tigris River improving traffic in the re- gion for 50,000 travelers a day. • Completed an assess- ment of over one hundred 1,100 km lengths of track and associated facilities throughout the country to identify priority projects. • Constructing 72 kilome- ters of new track and facili- ties between the Port of Umm Qasr and Shuaiba Junction, located west of Basrah. Telecommunications Major Accomplishments to Date As part of USAID’s effort to restore critical infrastructure, USAID is working with the Iraq Telecommunications and Postal Commission (ITPC) to restore the nation’s fiber optic network, repair the phone switching system in Baghdad and restore international telecommunications capability. Al Mamoun Telecommunications Site. USAID officially handed over Al Mamoun to the Ministry of Communications on February 26. Thirteen new telephone switches and an International Satellite Gateway were integrated at the site with fourteen Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company switches allowing more than 100,000 individual sub- scriber lines to be connected. Because of the work at Al Mamoun, international calling service was returned to Iraq on December 30, 2003. All fully operational telephones nationwide can access the switch at Al Ma- moun and the International Satellite Gate- way. • Audited more than 1,200 km of the fiber optic backbone network and performed emergency re- pairs, reconnecting 20 cities and 70% of the population. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by in- stalling switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites. • Installed 13 new switches, and fully inte- grated them with the 14 existing switches. • Ministry of Communica- tions reactivated more than 213,000 subscriber lines. • Installed a satellite gate- way system at Baghdad’s largest telecom exchange and restored international service. • Trained ITPC engineers and technicians in the op- eration and maintenance of the satellite gateway sys- tem and the new switches. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 5 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Education September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals are to increase enrollment, improve the quality of primary and secondary education, ensure classrooms have sufficient supplies, facilitate com- munity involvement, train teachers, implement accelerated learning programs, and establish partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities. Highlights this week: • USAID’s legal education reform university partnership is progressing rapidly and exceeding program goals. At one partnership program this summer, thirty-nine Iraqi law school faculty and legal experts attended a three-week International Law Conference, which included visits to six cities in Egypt and Italy. Also this summer, six Iraqi law faculty specialists attended a two- week intensive training and outreach program in Chicago, Illinois on the American legal system. Additionally, a clinical legal education program has been initiated at two Iraqi law colleges. The library renovation projects at the three universities are also moving forward rapidly. The first university renovation project is approximately 75% complete, and is expected to be fin- ished by the beginning of the fall semester in October. • A new edition of the Iraqi Journal of Agri- cultural Sciences was published this week. It was sponsored by USAID and published by an agricultural college at a university in northern Iraq. The new edition contains 18 papers in Arabic on the agricultural eco- nomics, food science, forestry, field crops, and plant protection. Two articles, on soil science and forestry, are published in Eng- lish. The journal also included an article about the USAID agricultural sciences partnership under expressed its apprecia- tion for the sponsorship. The partnership is aimed at improving agricultural studies throughout Iraq and is led by the University Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences of Hawaii. This journal is helping to en- hance research and faculty development at the Iraqi universities and is also providing a new forum for agricultural stud- ies after years of isolation for Iraq’s higher education system. • Facilities ◊ Awarded 627 grants worth more than $6 million to rehabilitate schools and equip Directorates General. ◊ Rehabilitated 2,405 schools countrywide. • Supplies ◊ Distributed desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secon- dary schools countrywide. ◊ Printed and distributed 8.7 million revised math and science textbooks to grades 1-12 by mid-February 2004. • Institutional Strengthening: ◊ Completed a major initia- tive that trained nearly 33,000 secondary school teachers and administrators, including 860 master train- ers, nationwide. ◊ Conducted a pilot acceler- ated learning program in five Iraqi cities to allow out-of- school children to complete two school years in one year. More than 550 stu- dents participated. ◊ Assisted the Ministry in establishing official baseline education data for Iraq. • Higher Education: ◊ Awarded five grants worth $20.7 million to create part- nerships between U.S. and Iraqi universities. Through these partnerships, Iraqi universities are rebuilding infrastructure; re-equipping university facilities; partici- pating in international con- ferences; attending work- shops and refresher courses; and reforming cur- riculum. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 6 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Health September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals include supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health, deliver- ing essential health services, funding vaccines and high protein biscuits for pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children, providing basic pri- mary health care equipment and supplies, training and upgrading health staff, providing health education and information, and identify the specific needs of the health sector and of vulnerable populations such as women and children. • Vaccinated over 3 million children under five and 700,000 pregnant women with vaccination campaigns that included monthly immu- nization days. • Provided supplementary doses of vitamin A for more than 600,000 children under Highlights this week: • USAID is committed to improving nutrition in Iraq with a special emphasis on expectant mothers and children under the age of five. This goal is being met through several USAID programs including the health, emergency assis- tance, and education programs. Most recently, initiatives to improve nutri- tion have been implemented through USAID’s health partnership with UNI- CEF. During the past month, UNICEF has helped to deliver supplies for im- proved nutrition and is also supporting nutrition training for medical staff. Supplies have included the delivery of 543 metric tons of high protein bis- cuits throughout Iraq and the procurement of 215 grain feeders to support wheat flour fortification. Using USAID funds, UNICEF is also planning a national micronutrient assessment in Iraq. two and 1.5 million lactating mothers. • Provided iron folate sup- plements for over 1.6 million women of childbearing age. • Screened more than 1.3 million children under five for malnutrition. • Distributed high protein biscuits to more than 450,000 children and 200,000 pregnant and nurs- ing mothers. • Provided potable water for 400,000 persons each day in Basrah city and 170,000 persons in Kirkuk and Mosul. • Provided skills training for 2,500 primary health care providers and 700 physi- cians. • Trained 2,000 health educators, teachers, reli- gious leaders and youth to mobilize communities on hygiene, diarrhea, breast- feeding, nutrition and immu- nization issues. • Disseminated information on essential health mes- sages to families around the country. • Renovated 110 primary health care centers. • Provided vaccines and cold chain equipment to selected health centers. • Developed a national plan for the fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 7 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Economic Governance September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID supports sustainable economic reforms in Iraq including examining and reforming laws, regulations, and institutions and providing a framework for pri- vate sector trade, commerce, and investment. The reforms will strengthen the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Commerce and Industry— among others. Highlights this week: • On September 13, USAID’s Private Sector Development Initiative held its first workshop for an Iraqi NGO that provides micro and small business loans. The workshop covered human resource management, including per- sonnel performance review, vetting and reference checking, and job descrip- tion development. The program’s second workshop, on financial lending techniques, is scheduled for late September. In addition, an informational briefing was delivered at the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and In- dustry to begin developing training opportunities for members. ◊ The Iraq Private Sector Development Initiative is a new USAID program awarded in late July 2004. It is providing training, technical assistance, consulting, and business entrepreneurship services to Iraqi businesses to promote the expansion of a competitive and efficient private sector. • Worked with the Ministry of Finance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar. • Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Em- ployment Program. • Provided technical assis- tance on accounting, budg- eting and lending activities at Iraq’s commercial banks. • Improved statistical analy- sis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision proce- dures at Iraq’s Central Bank. • Provided technical assis- tance for CPA’s $21 million microcredit program. • Provided technical assis- tance for the Oil for Food transition to prepare Iraqi ministries to assume re- sponsibility for OFF con- tracts. • Evaluated and updated commercial laws on private sector and foreign invest- ment. • Assisted in developing the reconstruction levy in col- laboration with the CPA and the UK Customs Service; this levy imposes a five percent tariff on imports to Iraq. • Developed a government- wide IT strategy to support the automation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Provided technical assis- tance as well as information on contracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses through business centers. • Provided technical sup- port 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 million USD) in shares were traded in the first day. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 8 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Agriculture September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date 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 re- habilitate the natural resource base. • Summer and Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: These demonstrations are introducing farmers to new technologies and techniques through extension field days. Highlights this week: • A workshop has been conducted for farmers participating in the Winter Vegetables Research and Extension Project in Arbil Gover- norate. The workshop was con- ducted for radish farmers who will be carrying out assessments of three different varieties in their fields. This project was devel- oped to find methods of improv- ing vegetable farmers’ income A workshop for farmers in Arbil Governorate and to develop a model research and extension approach to respond to farmer needs. The main focus of the project is on the farmers’ assessments. This project will also strengthen link- ages between research and extension as the staff from the two agencies work together with farmers on the fields. • Animal Health: Several veterinary clinics in Kirkuk, Fallujah, and other cities are being renovated and a grant has been made for dipping tanks to improve sheep health and wool. • Technology Support: The Ministry of Agriculture and a major university’s schools of Agriculture and Veterinary Science have been awarded grants to furnish and equip computer centers, improving research capabilities and consulting capacity. • Date Palm Propagation: In collaboration with the Minis- try of Agriculture, 40,000 elite date palm offshoots are being used to establish mother orchards in 13 gov- ernorates as part of a multi- plication program and the establishment of a national register of elite varieties. • Agriculture Sector Transi- tion Plan: This plan, com- pleted in mid-April, ad- dresses the short-term re- covery of agricultural infra- structure as well as medium and long-term implementa- tion of policies to develop a market-based agricultural economy. • Initiatives to increase crop pro- duction in Iraq’s marshland ar- eas are progressing. Last week, planting at date palm farm nurs- eries began, with the first plant- ing completed on September 5 and the remaining six expected to be complete by the end of September. A total of 3,500 offshoots will be planted at these sites. These nurseries will introduce new date palm varieties and planting tech- niques to increase date produc- Planting date palm offshoots in Iraq's marshland areas tion, bringing a new source of income to the area. In addition, preparations for wheat, barley, and broad bean planting will begin on September 15 with land-cultivation beginning at the end of September and planting by mid-October. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 9 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Marshlands September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s marshland restoration initiative works with local residents in support of marshland restoration and the social and economic development of marsh communities. A settlement in Iraq's marshlands • Marshland restoration activities have included surveys, pilot sites, flow and marsh hydrology modeling, and infrastructure needs assessments. • Produced a technical assessment in June 2003 in collaboration with the Minis- try of Water Resources and the a major university. • Implementing a strategy for marsh restoration, which includes ecosystem monitor- ing, wetland reconstruction, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, agribusiness, fishing and aquaculture, livestock and dairy produc- tion, and primary healthcare. • Improving capacity through laboratory and GIS development, study tours, training, and formulation of a strategy for international donor assistance and par- ticipation. Food Security Major Accomplishments to Date As part of the U.S. Government’s assistance plan, USAID played a leading role in helping to avert a humanitarian crisis in Iraq by providing assistance to the United Nations’ World Food Program through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace. Having averted a food crisis immediately following the conflict, USAID advisors continue to assist with the management and distribution of food rations for all Iraqi citizens. • Worked directly with the World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re- establish the Public Distribu- tion System (PDS) in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and providing food security throughout the country. Workers load food supplies from a World Food Program warehouse in Umm Qasr, for distribution through local neighborhood agents. USAID supports the program which provides basic food rations to a large number of needy fami- lies in Southern Iraq. • With Iraqi food distribu- tors, Food for Peace, the WFP, and Coalition Forces maintained deliveries from June through December 2003 in all 18 governorates. • Providing support to the Ministry of Trade for ongoing PDS operations. Currently, more than 480,000 metric tons of food is being deliv- ered each month. • 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. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 10 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Local Governance September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s Local Governance Program (LGP) goals include promoting diverse and representative citizen participation in governance; strengthening the man- agement skills of city and provincial administrations and civic institutions; pro- moting advocacy and participation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serving as a recruiting tool for future leaders. • Established regional of- fices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, and Mosul with local offices established in 17 out of 18 governorates and operations in all gover- norates. Highlights this week: • The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Culture has completed construction of an Internet café and training center at a major historic land- mark in northern Iraq. The café will allow approximately 2,000 people to access the Internet. Staff from the Ministry of Culture will manage the cen- ter, which will also be used to enter historical and archaeological data into the Ministry’s new antiquities database. • Twelve district and sub-district council members from At’ Tamim Gover- norate participated in an LGP-supported training seminar on September 4 called “Budgeting: A Democratic Process”. During the seminar, participants discussed the historic role of the council and proposed budgeting processes and decisions. • Eleven staff members from an Al Basrah Education Directorate’s finance department have completed a six day basic computer skills training to allow them to operate a new computerized payroll program for the Directorate’s 24,000 employees. This new system will streamline the monthly payroll process and improve the overall efficiency of the personnel, finance, and au- dit departments. The training covered an array of Microsoft programs, in- cluding Word, Excel and Access. • Thirty government officials and supervisors from Al Basrah Governorate attended a workshop on auditing and financial management on September 8. The workshop had several major activities including briefing local officials on the role of the Board of Supreme Audit, which is responsible for auditing government agencies for waste and fraud; briefing officials on the Iraqi Pub- lic Procurement Order; distributing information on finance and audit activi- ties offered by LGP; and seeking input from local officials to plan future training activities. • A market in Al Basrah Governorate has been cleaned-up and repaired to pro- vide vendors with a safe, sanitary working space. • Awarded $15.5 million in rapid-response grants in the first program year to strengthen the capacity of municipal authorities to de- liver core municipal ser- vices. The grants were used to restore services in agri- culture, education, health, electricity, sanitation, and water. In the second year, a similar grants program worth $13 million is being imple- mented. • Facilitated the establish- ment or refreshment of 16 governorate councils, 90 district councils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Organized and carried out numerous selection proc- esses for governors and mayors, as well as local council elections, throughout Iraq. • Committed $2.4 million for the nationwide Civic Educa- tion Campaign, which edu- cated Iraqis on democracy and Iraq’s political situation. Rehabilitated and refur- bished government facilities. • Supported preparation of 2004 city council budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Al Hillah, Babil, and An Najaf. • More than 25,800 democ- racy dialogues have been conducted to date. • Supporting a series of National Agenda Dialogue Conferences, which engage stakeholders such as aca- demics, journalists, women, tribal leaders, and local government officials in dis- cussions on their roles in Iraq’s democracy. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 11 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Community Action Program September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date The Community Action Program (CAP) works in rural and urban communities across Iraq to promote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government rep- resentatives, USAID is creating representative, participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. Highlights this week: • Community members in Al Basrah Governorate have completed construction of a carpentry workshop at a local orphanage with the help of CAP. The or- phanage supports about 1,000 children and is run by a local organization which provides them with health and educational services to improve their opportunities in the future. • In Wasit Governorate, a sports club rehabilitation project was completed. The project provided four new halls for boxing and wrestling as well as a four room management suite. In addition, the club now has new basketball and volleyball courts as well as a new illuminated soccer field. The rehabili- tated club will directly benefit 750 local residents. • In Salah ad Din Governorate, a new youth center project has been completed. This center provides space for local youth to practice soccer, basketball, computer applications, training courses, music, and plays. It also provided the community and the youth of the area a safe and pleasant venue for social interaction. • The rehabilitation of a Baghdad university library has been completed. The rehabilitation was identified as a priority by Baghdad community members through CAP. The community began the work on February 24; the project included repairs to the main library, supplies of new shelving materials, and new furniture for the common areas. The equipment supplied included air coolers, computers, printers, data show, and water coolers. The project cost $107,269 and was completed in August 2004. • USAID has committed over $92 million to 1,966 projects while Iraqi communities have committed more than 25% of total funding. CAP has estab- lished over 670 community associations in 17 governorates. Five U.S. NGOs each concen- trate on a region: north, Bagh- dad, southwest central, south- east central, and south. ◊ The northern program fo- cuses on the conflict prone areas of the Sunni Triangle, Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. The partner NGO has completed 271 projects with over $11 million in total project commitments including estab- lishing a youth center in Hawija, improving the Tikrit water sup- ply, and developing income generation projects in the north. ◊ In the southwest central region, the partner NGO has established a strong presence in the Shi’i holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, as well as Hillah through active community asso- ciations. A strong emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has provided these communities with sewage and water services, improved schools, and repaired vital social infrastructure. They have completed 219 projects and have over $13.5 million in project commitments. ◊ Income generation is an important emphasis in the Bagh- dad program where 289 projects have been completed through community action groups. A marketplace for over 700 ven- dors is being constructed, and crews are cleaning up medical waste dumps and educating medical personnel on proper disposal methods. Total project commitments are $16.2 million. ◊ In the southeast central re- gion, 125 projects are complete with a total of $13.7 million in commitments. In the Shi’i heart- land, these projects address needs resulting from decades of government neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilita- tion. ◊ The southern program has completed 378 projects through 138 community action groups which average 40% women’s participation. Projects have focused primarily on immediate community needs such as sew- age clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. Total project commitments are $15.9 million. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 12 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Transition Initiatives September 22, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date 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. OTI’s fast-paced assistance meets critical needs—providing short-term employment, restoring basic government and community services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. • Awarded more than 1,700 small grants totaling more than $134.9 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil soci- ety, conflict management and mitigation, human rights and transitional justice. • Supporting initiatives Highlights this week: • Over 470 young people in southern Iraq are participating in a technical training pro- gram with the assistance of a USAID OTI grant. This training program will improve capacity in the region by providing the ma- terials, teachers and other logistics to sup- port a three month training program. Par- ticipants are learning technical skills that Workshop held on terrorism in Iraq will allow them to be employed as welders, tool and die makers and other vocations. • A southern Iraqi organization completed renovations to a rehabilitation cen- ter that will provide disabled persons with rehabilitation services, educational programs and skills to help them reintegrate into society. The OTI grant helped renovate the center’s facilities and provided equipment for handi- capped individuals. • OTI recently supported workshops to allow Iraqis to discuss the country’s developing democracy. In the first series of workshops, journalists, Muslim clerics, and members of the public participated in sessions on the issue of terrorism. The workshops addressed people’s understanding of Islam’s view of terrorism, tolerance and the protection of human life. Under another simi- lar initiative, an Iraqi NGO and cultural center conducted workshops on de- mocracy and elections for 800 participants in vulnerable towns in northern Iraq. • Approximately 70 painters and sculp- tors from southern Iraq recently had the opportunity to participate in two art exhibitions through the support of grants from USAID. The Chairman of the exhibitions described one of them, titled “Human and Reality”, as an ef- fort “to inform the next generation that the aim of people today is to search for peace and security.” crucial to the democratic transition, including civic education, civil society and media development, in- creased women’s participa- tion, conflict mitigation and transitional justice. Groups targeted for assistance in- clude women’s and youth groups, professional asso- ciations and human rights organizations. • Met critical needs during and immediately after the conflict by providing short- term employment, restoring basic government and com- munity services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication and encouraging protection of human rights. • Funded over 60 grants totaling $3 million that focus on women’s issues, includ- ing supporting the establish- ment of 14 women’s centers in Iraq. Rehabilitated over 264 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Sup- porting 65 Iraqi groups in documenting human rights abuses of the Ba’athist re- gime and promoting peace, tolerance, and reconcilia- tion. Artwork from a USAID funded exhibition in southern Iraq USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 13 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Financial Summary September 22, 2004 FY 2003-2004* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation RECONSTRUCTION USAID/ANE .........................................................................................................................Subtotal: $3,488,457,110 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $22,624,704 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Architecture and Engineering services Countrywide $31,328,264 BearingPoint Economic Governance Countrywide $79,583,885 BearingPoint Economic Governance II Countrywide $20,000,000 Bechtel National Airports, buildings, emergency communications, power, rail- roads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sani- tation Countrywide $1,029,833,259 Bechtel National Infrastructure II: Airports, buildings, emergency communica- tions, power, railroads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sanitation, Basra Hospital Countrywide $1,443,359,782 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $120,080,000 DAI Marshlands Dhi Qar Al Basrah Maysan $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $11,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $300,000 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $51,698,152 RTI Local Governance Countrywide $236,911,000 America’s Development Foundation Civil Society Countrywide $42,880,157 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CAII II Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 CEPPS Education Activities in Support of Electoral Processes Countrywide $18,725,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 CEPPS Transitional Government Countrywide $20,700,000 CEPPS Election Observers Countrywide $5,500,000 UNICEF Health, Water, and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing and Distribution: Math and Science Countrywide $10,000,000 USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 14 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Financial Summary September 22, 2004 FY 2003-2004* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 SSA Port Management Umm Qasr $14,318,985 SkyLink Airport Management Baghdad Al Basrah Mosul $27,200,000 MSI Monitoring and Evaluation Countrywide $5,038,772 University Partners • The Research Foundation of the State University of New York/Stony Brook and the Universities of Chicago, Boston, and Oxford • The Human Rights Institute, DePaul University College of Law, and Italy’s International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences • University of Hawaii, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, University of Jordan and the American University in Beirut • Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Benetech, US-Iraq Business Resources • University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cameron University, and Langston University Various universities coun- trywide $20,730,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 VEGA Business Skills Training Countrywide $4,800,000 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/DCHA/OFDA............................................................................................................................... $97,521,781 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 ARC Capacity building, Disaster support Al Basrah $537,746 The Cuny Center Research studies Countrywide $40,260 GOAL Coordination, Nutrition Al Muthanna’ $1,507,900 IDA Health Countrywide $1,318,437 InterAction Coordination Kuwait City $92,860 IOM IDP programs Countrywide $6,545,780 Logistics Commodities and DART support Countrywide $22,553,653 UNICEF Health, nutrition, water/sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 UN OCHA Coordination and Information Countrywide $1,200,000 USAID/Jordan Support for emergency water activities Countrywide $500,000 WFP Logistics and pre-positioning of food Countrywide $5,000,000 IMC Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Water/Sanitation, Capacity building Countrywide $16,252,898 USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 15 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Financial Summary September 22, 2004 FY 2003-2004* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation IRC Health, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $7,800,411 Mercy Corps Health, Non-Food Items, Shelter, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $8,499,786 SCF/US Food Security, Health, Shelter, Nutrition, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation, NGO Consortium Countrywide $7,957,783 World Vision Health, Logistics, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $6,793,739 CARE Quick-impact projects, Water/Sanitation, Health, Blankets Countrywide $9,000,000 USAID/DCHA/FFP....................................................................................................................................$425,571,000 WFP Operations Countrywide $45,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust – 81,500 MT Countrywide $40,337,000 WFP P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities – 163,820 MT Countrywide $140,234,000 WFP Regional Purchase – 330,000 MT Countrywide $200,000,000 USAID/DCHA/OTI................................................................................................................................$200,825,691 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $7,087,595 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $188,985,309 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 IN FY 2003/2004 ...............................................................4,212,375,582 * 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. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 16