الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 42، 18 آب 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE August 18, 2005 Three boxes of learning materials were delivered to two Colleges of Agriculture and Forestry at northern Iraqi universities including books on agriculture, a CD set on environmental quality development, and a biotechnology resource kit. Contents: Economic Governance ......................................2 Agriculture.........................................................3 National Governance......................................... 4 Local Governance ............................................. 5 Community Action Program .............................. 6 Education .......................................................... 7 Transition Initiatives .......................................... 8 Completed Activities.......................................... 9 Financial Summary ........................................... 10 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 ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE August 18, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • 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 5 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. USAID works with Iraqi institutions to establish the enabling environment for sustainable economic growth. Assistance empowers policy makers to formu- late and execute decisions based on economic data, and to implement mod- ern best practices in economic governance. USAID projects provide a frame- work for private sector trade, commerce, and investment throughout Iraq. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Fifteen Iraqi businesswomen learned to create business plans for entrepreneurial ven- tures in a recent USAID train- ing held in central Iraq. The women, all members of busi- nesswomen’s associations, are seeking to expand their existing firms or turn their entrepreneu- rial ideas into profit-making ven- tures. Where others see prob- lems, they see opportunities to develop new businesses in ar- eas like architectural design, Iraqi women entrepreneurs receive training in developing business plans. construction, computer services and publishing. Following the training sessions, each entrepreneur will write a business plan for her idea and present it to be critiqued by the group and the trainers. Those with the most promising plans will seek microfinance loans that can assist them to achieve their goals and help create more long-term private sector jobs in Iraq. Six representatives from three Iraqi-based non-profit organizations at- tended a Microfinance Practitioner Training in the United States with support from USAID. The training was held at Southern New Hampshire University’s Micro-enterprise and Development Institute and was designed to help the representatives move their organizations toward sustainability by im- proving their abilities to evaluate and manage small business loans for credit- worthy enterprises. It also will help raise their management capabilities to in- ternational “best practices” standards. By enhancing their skills through train- ing, these representatives will be better able to professionally manage the non-bank microfinance institutions that will provide working capital loans to small businesses and farmers. By the end of this year, representatives from these three organizations will have extended credit totaling $26 million (monitored by the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office) to rural Iraqis. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 AGRICULTURE August 18, 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 April 2004, addresses the short- term recovery of agricultural infrastructure as well as me- dium- and long-term implemen- tation of policies to develop a market-based agricultural econ- omy. Improved technology has in- creased the number of tomatoes produced per hectare on demon- stration plots. 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 Tomato farmers are harvesting higher yields thanks to improved technologies learned under the Open Field Tomato Demonstration initiative of USAID’s Agri- culture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program. For the demon- strations, ARDI established plots in Baghdad, Diyala and Babylon governorates on which they introduced drip irrigation, black plastic mulch, and fertilization. With the Ministry of Agriculture, USAID representatives monitored the plots and helped participating farmers control tomato pests. Nearly 300 area farm- ers attended field days where they observed the difference between plots planted with new technologies and those planted with traditional practices. The increased yields are expected to result in higher cash returns for farmers. A new sustainable fodder project in Wasit governorate will help live- stock breeders improve the health and productivity of their sheep flocks. The project, which is sponsored by the ARDI program, focuses on farmers who tend flocks of 30 to 150 head of sheep, providing them with fodder for temporary relief and training in fodder production. A pasture development demonstration program will exhibit the production of crops that provide good nutrition for sheep. Farmers will attend four field days to observe demonstra- tion crops and evaluate the benefits of planting forage crops. The project will increase the local production of fodder and pasture for sheep flocks, which will improve the production of milk, meat and lambs, and increase breeders’ in- come. This improved nutrition will increase the rate of successful pregnancies and births of healthy lambs, and the viability of the sheep breeding industry. An ARDI program to improve buffalo calving rates through hormone treatments is showing positive results. The program is being implemented in Baghdad, Muthanna and Dhi Qar governorates where buffalo sometimes do not enter estrus during the hot season because of climactic stress, and may not successfully mate or produce milk. Through the program, 132 buffalo in Baghdad Governorate have received injections of an estrus-inducing hormone and a concentrated protein diet. Buffalo selected to participate in the demon- stration program in Muthanna and Thi-Qar Governorates will begin receiving hormone treatments and concentrate feed diets soon. Of the 132 buffalo already treated, most have entered estrus, and many have mated. ARDI staff expect to see an increase in the number of calves born as a result of the hormone injections, as well as increased milk production from the treated buffalo. The improved calving rates will increase Iraq’s national buffalo herd, which currently numbers approximately 500,000. The breeders will im- mediately benefit from the increased production of milk, as the sale of buffalo milk is the main source of income for many buffalo breeders. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 August 18, 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. • 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 Committee. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Over the past month, USAID arranged for 18 experts to provide assistance to the Iraqi National Assembly’s (INA) Constitutional Committee resulting in the production of 72 topical papers in Arabic on issues including federal- ism, natural resource allocation, human rights and electoral systems. Pa- pers will be made available to all members of the committee. Experts provided support for various drafts of the constitution and met frequently with senior INA members, including the committee chair and two deputy chairs. The final constitutional dialogues were conducted last week, reaching over 79,000 Iraqis in over 3,100 meetings. Final results are expected in the coming days, as the input from the field is still coming in and the last few hundred ques- tionnaires are being entered in the data base. Last week, the five regional NGOs coordinating the dialogues conducted an early assessment of the program to review the performance of each contracted NGO. The assessment took into account the number of individuals reached, questionnaires collected, sessions conducted and the environment in which NGOs had to operate. USAID will offer additional training to NGOs as needed. During the assessment, the NGOs agreed on common observations including: • Lack of public awareness of the political process especially in the rural areas of the south and south center of Iraq • General political apathy among the youth especially in rural areas • Security and instability of western areas of Iraq • Lack of experience and skills among NGO members • Limited time and budget The early assessment will improve the quality of the next phase of constitutional dialogues, which will focus on educating the public on the content of the constitu- tion prior to the referendum. USAID representatives organized a workshop to address the advantages and disadvantages of various electoral systems. Participants expressed con- cern that the current system (national, proportional representation) presented many disadvantages, including that it did not allow for the building of constituen- cies and local accountability. On the other hand, a governorate-based system would disadvantage smaller parties, minorities, and women legislators. Following the workshop, USAID was requested to conduct a series of consultation meet- ings, offering further advisory support on various forms of electoral systems to several key INA members including: • The chair of the INA’s Legal Committee to discuss the advantages and disad- vantages of governorate-based parliamentary elections. • An INA Legal Committee member to discuss electoral systems and the need to reform Iraqi electoral laws. • An INA Foreign Relations Committee member to discuss electoral systems with a focus on minorities and the impact of the current security situation. • The First Deputy Speaker to the INA to discuss the constitutional process, federalism, distribution of oil revenues and the oversight powers of the legisla- tive body as stated in the latest draft of the constitution. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 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. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Local Governance Program (LGP) is promoting the organization of Local Government Associations (LGAs) throughout Iraq. The LGAs will act as lobbying and advocacy organizations to represent the interests of the local government without having any authority to direct their operations. Recent activities included: • A training session on the role of LGAs for 23 new members of an LGA in Babil Governorate. LGA members met with the local INA office to explain the role of LGAs and to present a list of issues related to local govern- ment. • In Karbala Governorate, LGP and LGA members met to map out forth- coming activities and to plan a conference on the impending Constitution to raise public awareness. On July 17 LGA members and the LGP met with the Provincial Council (PC) to provide an update on activities and to offer assistance. The LGA suggested providing education and advocacy to the general public on the legal responsibilities of the PC. • The LGP presented training sessions on “Understanding Public Services” for 36 LGA members—24 men and 12 women. • An LGP representative met the chair of the Afaq sub-district local council in Qadisiyah Governorate to explain the role of LGAs. The chair was given materials to share with other members on the council and to solicit council agreements to join the provincial LGA. LGP Arbil staff presented a three-day workshop entitled “Provincial Council Strategic Planning” to 28 Arbil PC members; six women and 22 men. The workshop focused on topics such as PC duties and responsibilities, projective analyses and development. At the end of the session, LGP staff dis- tributed a questionnaire to be filled in by PC members made up of 10 ques- tions on PC values, mission, vision, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and expectations toward meeting public demand and needs. Once the data is collected, LGP staff will help develop a draft for the Council. The draft is expected to be ready by the end of August. August 18, 2005 • 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 partici- pated. • 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 authorities to deliver core municipal services. The grants were used to restore services in agriculture, educa- tion, health, electricity, sanita- tion, 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. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM The Community Action Program works in rural and urban communities to pro- mote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government representatives, USAID is creating representative participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP) helped a community in Maysan Governorate rehabiliate its sports stadium. The 15,000 person stadium was built in 1959 and regularly hosted soccer and track and field competitions. However, during the war between Iraq and Iran, the stadium was used as an Army arsenal and was severely damaged during a bombardment, resulting in the closing of the facilities. CAP contracted the rehabilitation and the community association organized sports tournaments among the surrounding schools as part of its contribution towards this project. The stadium was handed over to the Directorate of Youth and Sports in May at an opening ceremony that drew many spectators and participants. The project is expected to benefit over 2,000 people. A Baghdad area kindergarten was rebuilt with CAP assistance. The kin- dergarten was in a state of complete disrepair, making it almost impossible for teachers to gauge the educational and emotional development needs of the children. Classrooms were dark and damp and all furniture was broken. Par- ent and community association members in the area stressed to USAID the need to improve the facilities. The project was completed on May 4 and in- cluded the complete rehabilitation of the premises. The classrooms are now well lit, clean, and equipped with modern equipment. This project will benefit 204 pre-school children. CAP helped a community in At Tamim governorate pave its sidewalks around the town center. Most of the roads are not paved in this town in the southwest of the governorate causing flooding and muddy conditions. With paved sidewalks, people can move freely in their town and a heavy rainfall will not cause a local catastrophe. August 18, 2005 • USAID has committed over $135 million to more than 3,300 pro- jects while Iraqi communities have committed more than 25 percent of total funding. CAP has estab- lished over 600 community action groups (CAGs) in 17 gover- norates. Five U.S. NGOs each concentrate on a region: north, Baghdad, southwest 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 651 projects with over $20 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. The NGO has completed 365 projects and has over $21 million in project commitments. • Income generation is an important emphasis in the Baghdad pro- gram where 543 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 $21 million. • In the southeast central region, 201 projects are complete with a total of $18.5 million in commit- ments. In the Shi’a 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 765 projects with total com- mitments of $23 million. Projects have focused on immediate com- munity needs such as sewage clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 EDUCATION August 18, 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 fifth Iraqi archaeology student has arrived at the State University of New York’s Stony Brook (SUNY/SB) campus. His English skills are in need of significant improvement but should improve during English training in the summer and fall semesters to be able to progress into the M.A. program in Archaeology in the Spring 2006 semester. With the assistance of USAID’s Higher Education and Development (HEAD) program, four Iraqi students have already completed a year of study at SUNY/SB including a full semester of work in the graduate archaeology department. All four students are currently conducting summer fieldwork at Native American archaeology digs. On July 2, the International Human Rights Law Institute (IHRLI) at DePaul University’s College of Law and the School of Law at a northern Iraqi university hosted the opening of newly renovated law library facili- ties. During the Ba’athist Party era, there was little government funding for this library, resulting in limitations on legal information and professional devel- opment. Despite challenges of doing reconstruction work in Iraq, IHRLI reno- vated the library, giving it a complete electrical infrastructure upgrade, new furniture and library shelving, Internet access, print and electronic resources, a cataloging system and a basic collection of legal books. The work was con- ducted under USAID’s HEAD program. A soil sciences laboratory has been set up at a central Iraqi university with the assistance of the HEAD program’s Al Sharaka partnership, a cooperative effort between five Iraqi Universities and a consortium of Ameri- can universities led by the University of Oklahoma. The partners are working to strengthen Iraqi university learning environments and administration. Geo- graphic Information Systems and cellular biology laboratories have already been established by the partnership at Iraqi universities. By helping Iraqi uni- versities equip laboratories, USAID is improving the quality of education in critical areas including science, engineering and medicine. Three boxes of learning materials arrived recently for distribution at two Col- leges of Agriculture and Forestry at northern Iraqi universities. The learning materials include books on agriculture, a CD set on en- vironmental quality develop- ment, a biotechnology re- source kit and other re- search tools. The materials were provided by the Col- lege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii as part of the HEAD program. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 • 2,564 schools have been rehabili- tated, some of which through direct contracting and grants to communities. • Hundreds of thousands of desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secondary schools have been distributed countrywide. • 32,700 secondary school teach- ers and administrators, including 928 master trainers, have been trained. Over the next year, up to 100,000 additional teachers will receive in-service training. • Eighty-four primary and secon- dary schools (four in each gover- norate) are being established to serve as model schools. Teachers will receive six weeks of training, and schools will be equipped with computer and science laborato- ries. • More than 550 out-of-school youth completed a pilot acceler- ated learning program. An ex- panded program, targeting 10,000 out-of-school youth, will be imple- mented during the 2005–06 school year. • Satellite Internet access and com- puters were installed at the Minis- try of Education and in all 21 Di- rectorates of Education. To im- prove resource management, an Education Management Informa- tion System is being imple- mented. • More than 8.7 million math and science textbooks have been edited, printed, and distributed throughout Iraq. • Partnerships were established between five American and 10 Iraqi universities. Through these partnerships, more than 1,500 Iraqi faculty and students have participated in workshops, train- ings, 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 Education materials provided to northern Iraqi Agri- culture universities by the Higher Education and De- velopment program. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Awarded 4,091 small grants totaling $290 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and miti- gation, human rights and transi- tional justice. • Funded 131 grants totaling over $4.8 million that focus on women’s issues, including sup- porting the rehabilitation of 40 women’s centers in Iraq. Reha- bilitated over 264 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Sup- porting 65 Iraqi groups in docu- menting human rights abuses of the Ba’athist regime and pro- moting peace, tolerance, and reconciliation. • Met critical needs during and immediately after the conflict by providing short-term employ- ment, restoring basic govern- ment and community services, increasing Iraqi access to infor- mation and communication and encouraging protection of hu- man rights. TRANSITION INITIATIVES USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) supports the transition to a par- ticipatory, stable, and democratic country. OTI provides quick-dispensing, high-impact grants meeting critical needs—providing short-term employment, restoring basic government and community services, increasing access to in- formation and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK A Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) in central Iraq held art and letter writing workshops at 20 primary schools under an Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) grant. The workshops encouraged 9,400 boys and girls from different religious and ethnic backgrounds to express their concern and solidarity with Iraqi children in other communities. Once the letters and paintings were completed, they were displayed to the community through public ceremonies, and subsequently sent to previously identified communities in different parts of Iraq. By providing the workshop materials necessary for this campaign and a small amount of furniture and printed materials for a modest school library, ITI contributes to the creation of a sense of Iraqi unity and identity. An NGO in central Iraq conducted a three day cultural festival for more than 1,600 people through an ITI grant, bringing families together to encourage Iraqi unity and illustrate peaceful co-existence among Iraqis of all religious backgrounds. The festival included educational plays, concerts and dance performances which celebrated Iraq’s culture within the context of religious freedom and tolerance. One of the plays performed multiple times throughout the festival included audience participation in a discussion on religious tolerance. Following the festival, the NGO formed a working group to coordinate follow-up activities on promoting tolerance and unity in a religiously diverse Iraq. Follow-up programs included lectures, art evenings and other cultural events. Through an ITI grant, a northern Iraqi NGO received supplies to organize a program to foster student awareness of the democratic process in a local university. The NGO facilitated meetings with students from different colleges and distributed civic education materials. The students established committees to oversee and implement development projects elected by the community. As a result, 46 departments at the university secured assistance from ITI to implement the projects students prioritized. Grant provisions included computers, furniture and educational equipment. ITI’s assistance established a sense of ownership among students in their respective departments and encouraged active interest in their education and development of the university. August 18, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 COMPLETED ACTIVITIES Since the cessation of the 2003 conflict, USAID has completed its 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 management and distribution of food rations to 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, 2003. • 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 percent 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 to moving 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 (MOT). This work allows shipments 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 U.S. Embassy in Iraq, providing on-going support to the Public Distribution System Working Group to assist the Ministry of Trade with improving PDS management. August 18, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY August 18, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE ................................................................................. Subtotal: 4,001,003,243 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 $38,086,393 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 $1,319,911,678 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CAII Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 CEPPS Transitional Government Countrywide $35,700,000 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 Logenix Health North/Central $108,506 Louis Berger Vocational Education Countrywide $75,016,115 Louis Berger Private Sector Development II Countrywide $95,000,000 MACRO Int’l. Health Countrywide $2,000,000 Partnership for Child Healthcare Health Countrywide $2,000,000 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY August 18, 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 $22,000,000 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 $4,808,858 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 Emergency Relief USAID/DCHA/OFDA...................................................................................Subtotal: $181,363,975 ACTED Water and sanitation, health/hygiene, education Eastern Iraq $2,995,793 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $8,060,839 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 ● 11 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY August 18, 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 $8,638,652 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: $382,709,103 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $10,751,647 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 ................................... $4,990,647,321 * 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. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 12