IRAQ LOCAL GOVERNMENT

IRAQ LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT June 19, 2003 1 Strategic Objective Iraqi citizens benefit from improved local governance as a result of strengthening local governments and civil society organizations to respond to a broad range of issues in sub-national administration, service delivery and citizen participation in local administration 2 Expected Results Restoration of Basic Services Efficient and Effective Local Administration and Services Effective Civil Society Organizations Transparent and Participatory Policy Processes Improved Services and Quality of Life 3 Project Field Management Establish one Project office in each of the 4 regions defined by the Office of Coalition Provisional Authority (OCPA), as they become permissive, expanding to Governorate level offices as warranted: 1. al-Basrah 2. al-Hillah 3. Baghdad 4. Kirkuk and Mosul 4 5 Institutional Setting: Policy Guidance; Early Coordination of Activities Policy guidance from OCPA (through USAID) Build on field based information obtained by Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART) and Civil Affairs (CA) personnel Collaborate with Office of Transition Initiative (OTI) teams, especially in rapid response grant mechanisms 6 Governorate Teams are Backbone of Coordinated Early Efforts Governorate Support Teams (GSTs): The military component of the Governorate Teams. They are under the command of the major subordinate commander. These include Civil Affairs Officers (CAs). OCPA regional (currently 4) leadership and staff, transitioning to OCPA staff in some or all Governorates. May include other elements associated with OCPA over time. LGTs are formed by the Iraq Local Government Project (RTI) consisting of local government management and civil society experts. Others include CPA governorate based staff and IO/NGO entities. 7 Baghdad Activities (May-June 2003) Provided technical advice in the preparation of concept for the new municipal governance structure, resulting in the design of Neighborhood and District Interim Advisory councils leading to a Baghdad City Advisory Council and developed rollout strategy Conducted a “train the trainers” training course for 75 military commanders and Civil Affairs officers to assist in developing community support action plans and assist in forming the neighborhood councils. Provided first grant: $250,000 (in coordination with OTI) to furnish the Interim Neighborhood Advisory Council meeting rooms aimed at facilitating the convening of neighborhood meetings Approximately 50 Neighborhood Councils set up by mid-June 8 Baghdad Municipal Structure (courtesy Andy Morrison, U.S. State Department) Baathist System Interim System 476 Sectors No Representation At least 1 Rep/Sector (Baghdadis are doing this themselves) Neighborhood Advisory Councils (Appointed in consultation with Coalition) 87 Neighborhoods “Mukhtars” Appointed by Interior Ministry Variable Size 9 Districts District Advisory Councils Part of “Zone” Councils 1/3 Ex Officio voting members 2/3 elected Baath members 15-35 Members City of Baghdad No Representation City Advisory Council 31 Members Governorate of Baghdad Supreme Council 1/3 Ex Officio; 2/3 Baath +10 Saddam Appointees 9 TBD Southeast Region Activities (May-June 2003) BASRAH developed municipal work plans with Coalition Military commanders and OCPA regional coordinator, and initiated assistance assigned senior city management advisor, working with Basrah Technical Secretariat, Coalition Military commander and OCPA Coordinator opened Basrah office and deployed initial technical team designed and initiated Rapid Response Grants program provided first grant: $20,000 for reconstruction and refurnishing Primary Health Clinic & Regional Support Center (serves population of 50,000) UMM QASR developed municipal work plans with Coalition Military governor provided first grant: $100,000 for the rehabilitation and refurnishing all schools in the city (20), benefiting 7,000 students. 10 South Central Region Activities (May-June 2003) AL HILLAH developed regional work plans with Coalition Military commanders and OCPA Heartland Regional Coordinator, and initiated assistance developed system for coordination with military GST teams opened Hillah office and deployed 6 person technical team An Nasariyah, Karbala, Al Kut, An Najaf, Al Diwaniyah Initial workplans, rapid response grants, startup activities underway focusing on budget planning and other service delivery management and technical functions 11 North Region Activities (June 2003) Initial staff deployed in Kirkuk and Mosul Initial workplans developing, focus on training technical department personnel and interim councils on basics of city government, budgeting, accounting, planning, etc. 12