الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 46، 15 أيلول 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE September 15, 2005 With the assistance of USAID’s Higher Education and Development program, over 100 computers and a satellite dish have been installed at a northern Iraqi university giving the entire campus high-speed Internet access. Contents: Electricity ...........................................................2 Economic Governance ......................................3 Agriculture.........................................................4 National Governance......................................... 5 Local Governance ............................................. 6 Community Action Program .............................. 7 Education .......................................................... 8 Transition Initiatives .......................................... 9 Disaster Assistance........................................... 10 Completed Programs ........................................ 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 September 15, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • By October 2003, rehabilitated electric power capacity to pro- duce peak capacity of 4,518 MW, greater than the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Peak pro- duction reached 5,365 MW in August 2004 and a peak of 5,389 MW in July 2005. • USAID has added 1,086 MW of capacity through new genera- tion, maintenance, and rehabili- tation work, and also repaired a 400 kV transmission line. • USAID and the Ministry of Elec- tricity are working with partners to place an additional 400 MW on the national grid by Decem- ber 2005 through completion of additional rehabilitation and new generation projects. • USAID completed a project to convert two generators, produc- ing 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 residents. USAID recently handed over work on 12 of these substations to the Ministry of Electricity. ELECTRICITY USAID’s goals include the installation of new generation and emergency re- pair or rehabilitation of power generation 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 On September 11, USAID Mission Director Dawn Liberi and Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja’afari in- augurated the opening of the new 216 megawatt (MW) Baghdad South power plant. This is a new grass roots combustion gas turbine power plant, consisting of two 108 MW gas turbine generators capable of burning residual fuel oil, supplied by the nearby Doura refinery. More than 700 Iraqis worked on the major project. This power plant increases the city’s overall power generation by more than 10 percent and provides enough power for approximately 195,000 homes, more than 1.5 million people. The Power Plant Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Program has com- pleted a series of training programs and will be continuing to provide spare parts and technical support through mid-2006. O&M serves as a short-term source of spare parts and technical support, while also providing for long-term improvement through training in best operational practices and modern management techniques. Total electrical generation capacity for Iraq’s thermal and combustion power infrastructure is more than 11,000 MW. However, it has generally performed in the range of 35 to 50 percent of rated capacity, due in part to poor operational techniques, an absence of a proper preventive maintenance program, and a lack of funds for spare parts. The training component of the project, completed earlier this summer, pro- vided for the classroom training of 238 staff-members from all levels of the Ministry. To customize the curriculum, the trainees were broken down into four tiers, including Senior Management, Middle-Management, Plant Supervisory personnel, and plant technician/operators. Course concepts ranged from stra- tegic planning down to certification for Instrument Technicians. In addition, a two-week course for developing “train-the-trainer” skills was administered for 83 plant supervisors from across the ministry’s 19 power plants. Nineteen sets of training materials, along with supporting IT equipment, were delivered to each power plant to help jumpstart the local level training effort. To date, the spare parts and technical services program has been successful in supporting the Ministry and helping to ensure sustainability of USAID’s in- vestment in the power sector. Over $30 million in critical spares have been delivered or are on order. In addition, technical services and parts were pro- vided to work on two vital combustion turbine generators that supply MW to the Baghdad area. The units were operating at 60 percent capacity and in need of a mandatory inspection/repair inspection. The O&M Program provided roughly $20 million for this crucial work, completing the task in time to provide much needed support during the Summer Power peak period. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE September 15, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Assisted the Government of Iraq to develop and submit the first filing in the WTO accession process - the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime. • Provided technical assistance and information on contracting opportunities for Iraqi busi- nesses 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 and capacity building to three private sector banks to develop their own lending programs. • Trained over 700 Iraqis in Inter- national Accounting Practices. • Assisted in management of $21 million micro-credit program. Providing over 40,000 hours of microfinance training in 2004- 2005. • 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 automate plan- ning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Developing the Iraqi Investment Promotion Agency with the Gov- ernment of Iraq. USAID works with Iraqi institutions to establish an environment for sustainable economic growth. Assistance empowers policy makers to formulate and exe- cute decisions based on economic data, and to implement modern best prac- tices in economic governance. USAID projects provide a framework for pri- vate sector trade, commerce, and investment throughout Iraq. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID staff met with 35 board members from Iraq’s private banks to set a strategy for the development of the banking industry and to dissemi- nate best practice standards of international banks. The session included a briefing on the economic and monetary situation of the banking industry and its impacts for Iraq’s private banks, comparisons of Iraqi banks with operations of other banks in the Arab region, and discussions of banking products that serve the needs of customers and can produce additional revenue. “Some of the new banking products that were discussed are new to us,” noted one banker who attended the meeting. “During the period of Saddam, no one could hold sessions or meetings regarding the development of the banking sector,” he added. “It was forbidden. Holding this session is like transferring businessmen from the darkness to the light.” The first modern English language business books have recently been delivered to five Baghdad area learning resource centers. The centers had been isolated for years. Each shipment included more than 100 books covering accounting, marketing, leadership, auditing, economics, and law. The books, which were supplied by USAID’s project to develop Iraq’s private sector, comply with the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s Global Curriculum for Accountants and ensure that bookkeepers in Iraq are trained using the same standards as their colleagues throughout the world. The Government of Iraq submitted its Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) of the nation on August 29th to the WTO in Ge- neva, Switzerland, to mark the start of the accession process. Technical assistance in drafting the memorandum was provided by USAID. The MFTR document describes all aspects of a country’s trade policy that have a bearing on WTO Agreements. The memorandum covers general economic indicators, policies affecting trade in goods, such as import and export regulations, agri- cultural and industrial policies, intellectual property rights, trade in services, customs valuation, and licensing requirements. Based in Geneva, Switzer- land, the World Trade Organization is the only global international organiza- tion dealing with the rules of trade between nations. It consists of 148 mem- ber nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and France. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 AGRICULTURE September 15, 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. 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 Directors of Agriculture and Planning from all 18 governorates in Iraq and the central Ministries assembled at a USAID sponsored meeting to prepare for the 2007 National Agricultural Survey, which will collect crop planting and production data that will dictate policy decisions. In the past, the Central Statistics Organization was in charge of the collection and processing of all national statistics, but in view of the special nature of agricul- ture it was agreed in 2003 to transfer that responsibility to the Ministry of Agri- culture (MOA). The workshop initiated the outline of program and planning guidelines for the national agricultural survey and assigned responsibilities for the preparatory work. Staff from USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruction and De- velopment for Iraq (ARDI) program and the MOA shared experiences from the past year of farm surveys in several pilot governorates to demonstrate the ca- pabilities and challenges facing nationwide surveys. The participants agreed that a national agricultural survey would be conducted in 2007, and several governorate wide surveys in 2006. The results from the farm surveys will be promptly released and disseminated, followed by intergovernmental meetings to assess experiences, readiness, and needs. Representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout Iraq recently attended an NGO Leaders Workshop hosted by USAID. The workshop helped prepare organizations to be potential partners in implement- ing USAID’s agricultural development projects, by developing the leadership capacity to enable the NGOs to take a more active role in the development of Iraq’s agriculture sector. Representatives from 10 NGOs working in the governorates of Basrah, Muthanna, Ninewa, Tamim, Sulaymaniyah, Arbil, and Dahuk attended the conference. The workshop began with an overview of the work that ARDI has been doing in the agricultural sector, as well as an outline of priorities for the coming year. The NGOs were invited to review their own areas of emphasis, with particular attention to the agricultural sector. The participants formed smaller working groups to discuss strategies for broad-based action in the ag- ricultural sector through collaborative work with government agencies, private entrepreneurs, farmers’ organizations, and the international community. To- ward the close of the two-day event, the participants proposed the creation of a coalition of NGOs which would meet periodically to exchange ideas and dis- cuss possible areas of collaboration. All of the groups agreed to meet again at the beginning of December, and one of the participants offered to host the event and share the costs of the meetings. ARDI will continue to support the creation of an NGO network organization, and will form active partnerships with new NGOs to support projects and activities throughout the country. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 September 15, 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 adopt- ing an Iraqi constitution that promotes democratic principles and values through technical assistance that includes, but is not limited to, providing com- parative constitutional expertise; organizing constitutional confer- ences and conventions; facilitat- ing public awareness, educa- tion, and participation; and as- sisting in the conduct of a na- tional referendum or other ratify- ing mechanism. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE USAID continues to plan and implement a variety of programs, undertaken in partnership with Iraqi counterparts, matching the needs of the evolving Iraqi democracy. In particular, USAID is accelerating support to the Iraqi National Assembly during the constitutional drafting process and upcoming referendum and elections. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK A final draft of the Iraqi Constitution has now been shared with the United Nations and is being printed for widespread distribution. Although there are still some reservations about the most recent document—within the Sunni community in particular—the draft does reflect concessions from the Iraqi Shi’a and Kurdish parliamentarians, particularly with regard to the de- scription of the Iraqi national identity. USAID is providing support for an expert analysis of each article of the constitution, the identification of the laws neces- sary for its implementation, and the drafting of a list of key issues likely to emerge during the public debate of the document in the coming months. The program is emphasizing the potential impact on substantive topics such as women’s rights, religious issues, and federalism. This analysis will help inform public education and outreach efforts. The available draft was also circulated to the International Advisory Group for comments and advice on implementa- tion laws. The Constitutional Awareness Program is actively reaching out to in- volve Sunni and Shi’a groups in the political process. In anticipation of the Oct.15th referendum, USAID partners recently met with several Sunni mem- bers of the Constitutional Committee and the National Assembly to discuss outreach programs to take place in Sunni areas over the next month. These programs will educate Sunni citizens about the draft constitution and encour- age them to vote. Also, the program will train additional event facilitators from Sunni areas and will bring more Sunni NGOs into program activities. Program leaders also met with a delegation of three clerics close to Shi’a Aya- tollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani and 10 NGO leaders from Najaf. The meeting emphasized that the Constitutional Awareness Program operates impartially, and invited members to participate in future civil society and election activities. The group agreed to appoint a coordinator to assist with outreach in Najaf. In addition to meetings with political leaders, the civil society team continues to work with its program NGO partners to identify participants for future trainings and educational outreach about the draft constitution. The Women’s Program conducted a coalition-building workshop for 21 women from 12 different organizations. Over the two-day training, partici- pants discussed merits of combining efforts and outlined the steps necessary to build an advocacy coalition. With help from the program, participants began structuring an advocacy coalition among seven of the groups and are already taking steps to define operating rules. They also elected sub-committees for media, advocacy, and communication. This new women’s advocacy coalition has decided to work on legislative drafting, especially personal status laws. The voter registration observation program has been successfully com- pleted. Monitors reported that close contact with people working in the Voter Registration Centers and helped them to evaluate the credibility and com- pleteness of incoming reports. Also, monitors succeeded in building good rela- tions with Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI), benefiting all par- ties during the next elections.UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 September 15, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS 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 Twelve key members of the Provincial Council in Al Anbar Governorate received training in administrative authorities and responsibilities. The initial session, entitled “PC Authorities and Responsibilities” marks the start of the training program for the new Provincial Council in this previously isolated province of Iraq. Discussions involved the Council’s authority to monitor pro- grams of central ministries in the province and to elect and remove the Gover- nor and police chief. Participants also received training on ways of increasing revenues and methods of engaging ordinary citizens in the decision making process. This first meeting will be followed by regular training sessions, help- ing the Provincial Council build capacity. The Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC) is working to finalize lists of proposed projects and scopes of work. The PRDC has thus far defined nearly all of the scopes of work for the 52 proposed projects, working in collaboration with USAID partners and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Fifteen road reconstruction projects have al- ready been submitted and funded, with implementation beginning mid- September. The Baghdad PRDC has also submitted another project list to the Provincial Council for approval. The PRDCs are advisory bodies established in each governorate to help en- sure that resources and authority flow from the central government to Iraq’s 18 provinces. Composed of community members, local leaders, and develop- ment partners, these PRDCs identify and prioritize their own development needs from a regional perspective, and design projects to address them. De- fining these project scopes of work is an important step for Baghdad’s nascent PRDC, helping the organization develop the ability to clearly define and over- see local development projects. Recommendations from the PRDC pass on to the Provincial Council, which makes the final decision. The Baghdad Provincial Council, in coordination with USAID partners, organized a workshop with the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of nine dis- tricts and six Qadas Councils. In all, 28 members of various leadership councils in the governorate, including representatives of the Regional Council, attended the one-day event. The workshop aimed to strengthen the relation- ship and build a working association between the Provincial Council and the other councils of Baghdad. Participants agreed to hold another two-day con- ference in September. The Provincial Council also agreed to hold bi-weekly meetings with the same participants, giving them an opportunity to collectively provide insights and promote decentralization of local services in the new con- stitution. • Launched a Civic Education Campaign, which educated Iraqis nationwide on democracy and political transition in Iraq. Over 550 democratic dialogue facilitators were recruited to help Iraqis participate in political processes. More than 22,000 local democracy dialogues events were conducted by elec- tion day, in which well over 750,00 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 authorities to deliver core municipal services. The grants were used to restore services in fire safety, educa- tion, health, electricity, sanita- tion, and water. In the second year, a similar grants program is being implemented. • Facilitated the establishment or refreshment of 16 governorate councils, 96 district councils, 195 city or sub-district councils, and 437 neighborhood councils. • Supported preparation of 2004 and 2005 budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Hillah, Babil, and Najaf. • 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 ● 6 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM The Community Action Program (CAP) works in rural and urban communities to promote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government representa- tives, USAID is creating representative participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK A community development group (CDG) in Al Muthanna’ governorate met with local civil society organizations to develop two projects and build working relationships. Although the meeting, organized by USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP), was intended to familiarize the CDG with local groups and resources, participants soon discussed and approved two project ideas. The first project will help generate income for eight women heading large families by providing 30 days of training in sewing and tailoring. The second project will provide 10 days of computer training to five commu- nity leaders. The sites for the two workshops—a sewing factory and a com- puter training center—were established by local NGOs with CAP support. The CDGs—a key element of CAP—represent individual, self-defined com- munities within a city and identify common needs and potential solutions. They provide for a collective, community-based approach to local develop- ment and decentralization. Each community is represented at the CDG cluster meetings, with each group having equal voting power in order to assure a fair and transparent project prioritization process. Eighteen new community action groups (CAG) have recently been formed in the southern governorates – Basrah, Dhi Qar, and Al Muthanna’. Communities are showing an increasing interest in building CAGs and local organizations, drawing from the experience of neighboring commu- nities as well as USAID. The groups will help provide initiative and manage- ment oversight for local development projects, giving Iraqi citizens a voice in the decisions that affect their communities. CAP partners have also actively encouraged increased collaboration between district and municipal councils and the CAGs. Representing geographically defined neighborhoods, Communities Action Groups engage local residents in the process of identifying their needs and designing projects to meet them. CAG members also offer secure assistance support from local government, obtain necessary authorizations from relevant government bodies, mobilize contributions, and monitor project progress and quality. These community groups are a core component in USAID’s efforts to help Iraqi communities identify and prioritize their own development needs, and develop projects to address them. September 15, 2005 • USAID has supported over 3,300 projects with not more than 25 percent of total funding coming from Iraqi communities. CAP has established 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 ● 7 EDUCATION September 15, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • 2,717 schools have been rehabili- tated, some of which through direct contracting and grants to communities. • Hundreds of thousands of desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards, and more than 3 million school kits have been distributed country- wide. • 36,000 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 11,000 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 will be installed. • 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 university libraries. 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 The Higher Education and Development (HEAD) Program has completed production of a “Comparative Health Systems” course curriculum for use in Iraqi universities. The CD ROM-based curriculum includes informa- tion on health systems and outlines the methods for analyzing their relative efficiency and effectiveness. The course includes essential demographic, eco- nomic, mortality, health care, and health services data from case studies on Iraq, Oman, Egypt, Canada, the UK, and the United States. The curriculum also includes course materials, such as Power Point lectures, suggested read- ing lists, assignments, and sample examinations. Sponsored by USAID, the HEAD Program brings together American and Iraqi universities to strengthen Iraq’s capacity in critical areas such as public health. A team of scientists from Iraqi and U.S. universities are continuing col- laborative research work in the health sciences. The project, funded by HEAD, studies the molecular basis of B-Thalassemia in northern Iraq. The genetic disorder, which manifests itself as severe anemia, is one of the most serious health problems worldwide and accounts for a major number of child- hood deaths annually in Iraq. Funds totaling $4,403 were transferred to sup- port the research project. This partnership is an essential component in estab- lishing ties between U.S. and Iraqi universities and other research institutions. The Internet Technology Infrastructure project at a northern Iraqi university is nearing completion. Over 100 computers have been installed and the campus-wide network is functioning. A satellite dish has also been installed, giving the entire cam- pus high-speed Internet access. Equip- ment has already been sent for the final part of the project: linking the medical col- lege and a satellite campus with wireless equipment. The IT Infrastructure project is part of the HEAD Program’s larger commitment to help Iraqi universities re- build and develop the vital facilities and educational infrastructure of a func- tioning university. The partnership led by Jackson State University is one of five groups in the HEAD Program. Since January 2004, HEAD has helped Iraqi universities build capacity in legal education, public health, environmental health, library sciences, archaeology, and agricultural sciences. Community Sustainable Outreach Workshop (CSHOP) awarded its last in a series of mini-grants for public health research. Recipients include professors and medical experts from Iraqi universities, as well as two public health non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in northern Iraq. One recent project is developing nursing and medical practices around the delivery of public health services. This community outreach program is helping build the capacity of communities to develop sustainable public health programs. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 September 15, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Awarded 4,445 small grants totaling $306 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and miti- gation, human rights and transi- tional justice. • Funded 143 grants totaling over $5.1 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 Sanitary conditions in a major city in southern Iraq were significantly improved by a series of clean-up projects supported by Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) grants. Seven projects were conducted by a local organization to clean areas that had become overrun with waste. The area was neglected by the previous regime and services such as trash removal and sewage sys- tem up-keep have been grossly inadequate. The local organization employed nearly 800 laborers from their community to conduct the projects. Each neighborhood saw 100-150 of its residents engage in strenuous activity to re- move backed-up sewage and trash. These 60-day jobs provided not only a healthier environment for all area residents but inspired confidence in the local governments and improved the local economy by putting people back to work. An independent group of university students in northern Iraq helped demonstrate the advantages of consensus building by working together to decide the appropriate use of an ITI grant. ITI representatives held meetings with students representing five university departments – Kurdish, Math, English, Science, and Social Sciences – and gave them the opportunity to make department-specific requests. Instead, the students decided by con- sensus to pool their resources and make a joint project proposal. The activity is part of a larger effort to teach democracy on a grassroots level. The ITI grant ultimately provided air-conditioners for a lecture hall and a pho- tocopy machine. The students themselves organized committees to oversee and implement this project, carrying the sense of project ownership beyond the simple decision-making process. Overall, this grant benefited 500 univer- sity students and demonstrated the potential of democratic participation to the entire student body. A local NGO recently used an ITI grant to help renovate the second larg- est stadium of an ethnically tense and politically important city of north- ern Iraq. Thousands of returned internally-displaced people currently inhabit the largest stadium. Thus, the second largest stadium is the only option for significant public events, ranging from prestigious intra-governorate soccer competitions to university graduations. The stadium was looted during the 1991 upris- ing and has since been neglected and fallen into greater disrepair. The population contin- ued to use the stadium despite its alarming safety hazards. The grant provided the labor and equipment needed to help renovate the stadium. With a high-quality facility, the city can proudly – and safely – host public events. Seating over 6000 people, the renovated sta- dium should now be more suitable to bolster- ing community spirit among this mixed popula- tion. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Rehabilitated 105 water treat- ment units and 396 kilometers of water networks to ensure the provision of potable water in critical areas. • Rehabilitated 72 health facilities and re-equipped 238 to improve the quality of health care. • Vaccinated over 3,000 women and children against measles. • Registered internally displaced persons and provided them with water, blankets, medical kits, and hygiene kits. • Rehabilitated a water treatment plant in a poor area of Baghdad. The rehab is benefiting 1 million residents. DISASTER ASSISTANCE In the first year, USAID’s humanitarian assistance focused on emergency in- terventions to prevent food and water shortages and provide adequate shelter and medical supplies throughout Iraq. USAID is now directing humanitarian assistance efforts through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to specifically target Iraq’s internally displaced persons (IDPs). HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Representatives from 27 villages in the Kalar district of Sulaymaniyah attended the first in a series of hygiene education “training of trainers” sessions. The sessions, organized and led by OFDA partners, will educate future trainers about the importance of hygiene practices in the workplace, in schools, and at home. Supported by leaflets and posters, these representa- tives will then carry this information back to their villages and hold a total of 40 training sessions throughout Diyala and southern Sulaymaniyah districts. Poor hygiene in the region contributes to the spread of infectious and water- borne diseases. Diarrhea, preventable with good hygiene and clean drinking water, has become one of the main killers of children under five. According to a UN report, the number of deaths in Iraq from diarrhea per 1,000 cases rose from 1.6 in 1990 to about 19 in 1998, underscoring the importance of hygiene education. OFDA and implementing partners will extend a water pipeline network across three districts in Wasit governorate. Over the past few weeks, pro- ject leaders have held meetings with local council members and tribal Sheiks to discuss the possibility of their participation in the project. The meetings also extended to other community authorities and affected populations in the tar- geted areas to build local support and discuss issues of location, logistics, and security. OFDA has also worked closely with the engineering staff of the Wasit Water Directorate to discuss challenges and constraints. The network exten- sion will greatly increase local access to potable water, benefiting residents and IDPs in the area. Construction will additionally create a number of jobs for local laborers. Preparations have begun for the construction of new water compact units in three villages in the Al Kahlaa district, Maysan governorate. OFDA engineers and health experts have been meeting with tribal Sheiks, community leaders, and affected populations throughout the area to coordi- nate planning and investigate specific health and infrastructure needs. Many of the local tribesmen have pledged to help when the implementation process gets started. Planning has also proceeded with the assistance of the district Water Office Directorate to help better identify and address the needs of the local population. IDPs and other vulnerable populations in the area have suffered from the poor avail- ability of clean drinking water. Often, pota- ble water is only available through costly water tankers. The new water units will help address the serious health concerns that have developed. The compact units will be able to process 50 cubic meters of water per hour. September 15, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 COMPLETED PROGRAMS 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-sea ships. • 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. September 15, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY September 15, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE ................................................................................. Subtotal: $3,972,003,243 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 $41,000,000 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 $30,016,115 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 ● 12 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY September 15, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation RTI Local Governance Countrywide $241,910,757 RTI Local Governance II Countrywide $85,000,000 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: $182,082,075 ACTED Water and sanitation, health/hygiene, education Eastern Iraq $2,995,793 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $8,278,939 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 ARC Capacity Building Central and Southern Iraq $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’ and Dhi Qar $1,507,900 InterAction Coordination Countrywide $92,860 IDA Health Countrywide $1,318,437 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 13 PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY September 15, 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 Central and Southern Iraq $18,892,470 IRC IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,000,411 IRD IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation, Livelihoods, Emergency Relief Commodities Northern and Central 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: $382,636,167 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $10,678,711 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 ................................... $4,962,292,485 * 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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