USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 21, 24 March 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE March 24, 2005 Iraqi educators participated in capacity building workshops. USAID’s Education II project trained over 3,000 educators. Contents: Electricity ...........................................................2 Water and Sanitation.........................................3 Education ..........................................................4 Economic Governance .....................................5 Agriculture ......................................................... 6 Health ............................................................... 7 Local Governance.......................................... 8 National Governance ..................................... 9 Transition Initiatives ....................................... 10 Community Action Program ........................... 11 Completed Activities....................................... 12 Financial Summary ........................................ 13 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 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE ELECTRICITY USAID’s goals include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power genera- tion facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working since May 2003 to restore the capacity of Iraq’s power system. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Work is continuing on the refurbishment of two units at a large thermal power station in Baghdad. The station’s four steam boilers and turbines were each designed to produce 160 MW; however, due to lack of mainte- nance, the plant is now operating in the 160-170 MW range, far below its full- load rating of 640 MW. The project employs 310 Iraqi workers and covers the rehabilitation of both turbines, the replacement of boiler and turbine controls with a modern, sus- tainable system, and the refurbishment of the 132kV switchyard. The project also includes rehabilitation of water intake screens, auxiliary mechanical equipment and electrical equipment, electrical cabling, electrical raceways, cable trays and control systems. Upon completion, an additional 320 MW is projected to be available for Baghdad’s electrical grid. This project is now 85 percent finished and scheduled for completion this summer. A project rehabilitating power substa- tions will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad residential and commercial consumers. All site as- sessments have been completed and concrete work is moving forward on a project to rehabilitate 13 existing 33kv – 11kv substations and install 24 new sub- stations in Baghdad. While the work is underway, four new mobile substations have been deployed to provide tempo- rary power. Overall work is 59 percent finished and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Work is nearing completion on the restoration of electrical facilities at Baghdad International Airport; when work is complete, the generators at the airport will produce enough electricity to meet operating needs, re- ducing the burden on the national grid. The project includes the refurbish- ment of an 11kV distribution system to facilitate management and control of generation and load. The BIAP electrical system consists of three 33kV power transformers, 11kV and 400 V distribution systems, five diesel generators, and numerous small emergency generators. Its electrical generation output design range is 18 to 22.3 MW. The project is now 86 percent complete. Since their work began at the airport in May 2003, USAID repaired the airport terminal and administration offices, installed communication systems, rehabili- tated customs offices, and repaired passenger support facilities. March 24, 2005 • By October, 2003, rehabilitated electric power capacity to pro- duce peak capacity greater than the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Production reached 5,365 MW on August 18, 2004. • Since achieving record power production in Summer ‘04, the Ministry of Electricity—with as- sistance from USAID—has be- gun the standard Fall mainte- nance process which will neces- sarily reduce the amount of power available for consump- tion. USAID worked with the MOE to conduct last Fall’s maintenance program. • Repairing thermal units, replac- ing turbines, rehabilitating the power distribution network, and installing and restoring genera- tors. • USAID has added 600 MW of capacity through maintenance and rehabilitation work, and also repaired a 400 KV transmission line. • USAID and the Ministry of Elec- tricity are working with partners to add a total of more than 792 MW to the national grid by De- cember 2005 through mainte- nance, rehabilitation, and new generation projects. • USAID completed a project to convert two units that produce 80 MW each to operate on crude/heavy fuel oil instead of diesel which is in short supply. • USAID initiated a project to re- habilitate 13 existing substa- tions and construct 24 new sub- stations in Baghdad. These 37 substations will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad resi- dents. USAID recently handed over work on 12 of these sub- stations to the Ministry of Elec- tricity. Iraq workers are installing 24 power substations in Baghdad, improving electricity reliability for 2 million Iraqis. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE Refurbishment of a water treatment plant in Karbala will supply safe water and improve sanitation. WATER AND SANITATION USAID’s goal is to improve the efficiency and reliability of existing water and wastewater treatment facilities, especially those in the south where water quantity and quality are particularly low. An anticipated 11.8 million Iraqis will benefit from USAID’s $600 million in water and sanitation projects. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Workers are installing lift pumps and pouring concrete foundations as work moves forward on the refurbishment of a water treatment plant in Karbala. The plant is located in the city center, near one of Shia Islam’s holiest shrines. In addi- tion to providing water to city resi- dents, the plant provides potable water to an estimated three mil- lion Shia pilgrims. Some of the plant’s processing trains were becoming overloaded by solid- laden influent. Marginal disinfec- tion was effective with most bac- teria, but less effective with pathogens that cause amoebic dysentery, a public health risk. Because it was in such a dire state of disrepair, the project originally called for the replacement of the original clarifiers rather than repair, but local governing authorities disagreed. A compromise was reached to install compact clarifier units adjacent to the existing clarifiers, allowing for future rehabilitation of the existing plant. This project will install 10 compact clarifier units, each with a flow capacity of 400 cubic meters per hour. The project will also enlarge the existing inlet works and associated pump station. Recently, work continued to install concrete reinforcing steel bar, formwork, and concrete at the compact units’ foundations. At the intake work facility, installation of a new low lift pump and refurbishing of piping and valves is on- going. The project is now 14 percent finished and is expected to be complete in September 2005. Local Governance Program (LGP) staff in south central Iraq recently completed a three week contracting workshop for 15 technicians from the Wasit Directorate of Sewage. Session topics included opening, analyz- ing and selecting bids, initiating projects, forming project supervisory commit- tees, an overview of construction from start to finish, and record-keeping for project completion and post-project archives. Iraqi sewage departments will be proposing hundreds of millions of dollars of construction in new sewage infrastructure capacity in the coming years to re- place ageing equipment; most of that construction will be done by private con- tractors. A thorough understanding of transparent bidding, the objective selec- tion of winning bids, and binding legal contracts is essential to promote repre- sentative, responsive, and accountable government. March 24, 2005 • Nationwide: Repaired various sewage lift stations and water treatment units. • Baghdad: Expanding and reha- bilitating one water treatment plant and constructing another to increase capacity by approxi- mately 120 million gallons per day; rehabilitating sewage treat- ment plants. − A major wastewater treatment plant in Baghdad began operat- ing in June of 2004; this is the first major sewage plant in the country to operate in over 12 years. − The sewage treatment system in Baghdad, barely functioning for years before the conflict, will be restored to almost 100- percent capacity, serving 80 percent of Baghdad’s popula- tion. − Standby generators are being installed at 41 Baghdad water facilities. • South: Rehabilitated parts of the Sweet Water Canal system, including repairing breaches, cleaning the main reservoir, and refurbished 14 water treatment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: Rehabilitating two water plants and four sew- age plants. − Completed the rehabilitation of a sewage plant in Babil Gover- norate. − Sewage plants in An Najaf, Al Qadisiyah, Karbala, and Babil Governorates will serve 440,000 upon completion. − Water treatment in Najaf and Babil will serve residents and visitors at Iraq’s holiest shrines. • North: Completed rehabilitation of Kirkuk water plant and con- tinuing refurbishment of sewage plant near Mosul. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 EDUCATION March 24, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Facilities − Awarded 627 grants worth more than $6 million to rehabilitate schools and equip Directorates General. − Rehabilitated 2,405 schools countrywide. • Supplies − Distributed desks, chairs, cabi- nets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secondary schools countrywide. − Printed and distributed 8.7 mil- lion revised math and science textbooks to grades 1-12 by mid-February 2004. • Institutional Strengthening − Completed a major initiative that trained nearly 33,000 secondary school teachers and administra- tors, including 860 master train- ers, nationwide. − Conducted a pilot accelerated learning program in five Iraqi cities to allow out-of-school chil- dren to complete two school years in one year. More than 550 students participated. − Assisted the Ministry in estab- lishing official baseline educa- tion data for Iraq. • Higher Education − Awarded five grants worth $20.7 million to create partnerships between 10 Iraqi universities and U.S. counterparts in the Higher Education and Develop- ment (HEAD) program. − The HEAD program has pro- vided training opportunities for approximately 1,000 Iraqi fac- ulty and students, awarded more than 75 mini-grants, and supported a dozen graduate students in full-time study. − HEAD is helping Iraqi universi- ties rebuild and re-equip facili- ties; send students and profes- sors to international confer- ences; and reform curricula. 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 Iraqi secondary school students welcomed the delivery of 137,112 Edu- cation Kits containing basic school supplies. Each kit contains 10 Arabic exercise books, one English exercise book, one drawing book, one lab note- book, one drawing set, 12 pencils, four pencil sharpeners, four erasers, and one ruler. They are now being distributed among 2,014 secondary schools throughout Iraq. The provision of basic school supplies is a component of USAID’s Education II program. During the past month, the Education II project also trained more than 3,000 educators in 32 workshops throughout Iraq that covered topics ranging from capacity building within the Ministry of Education to improved teaching tech- niques for primary school teachers. A technical university in Baghdad now boasts a brand new internet cen- ter that includes 20 new computers, an integrated main server network, an internet satellite dish, and an instructor office thanks to USAID’s Higher Education and Development (HEAD) program partner, the Univer- sity of Oklahoma. This technology will support academic specialties such as engineering, construction science, metallurgy, and computer science. Under the same grant, a university library in the Al Hillah governorate which had been severely looted now has books, computers, tables, chairs, and an elec- tronic library database through the support of the HEAD program. 160 Iraqi university faculty members and representatives of agricultural institutions participated in seven recent professional development and strategic planning workshops. The workshop component of HEAD activi- ties in the agriculture sector is intended as a fast-track effort to enhance the overall quality of agricultural higher education administration, instruction/ curriculum, and research at several Iraqi universities. Topics included agricul- tural statistics and experimental design, technology transfer, soil and water sciences, and field crops, animal sciences, agricultural engineering and mechanization, and forest science. The seminars were led by 11 University of Hawaii faculty members,14 counterpart scientists from partner institutions, the Director of the National Forestry Institute of Morocco, and an agricultural pro- fessor from the University of California at Davis. Agricultural colleges and uni- versities can play a central role in fostering scientific research and technolo- gies for agriculture. The research they conduct can help optimize the quantity and quality of food crops, maximize profits, and ensure the positive impact of agricultural practices on environmental quality and natural resources. Eleven Iraqi primary school water and sanitation facilities were rehabili- tated in an effort to improve child health and increase enrollment. The rehabilitation includes the replacement of all toilets, tiles, doors, and windows and the provision of new water tanks and pumps. Girls’ bathrooms were also installed, enabling girls to more comfortably attend school. The work is part of a UNICEF program designed to improve the quality of educational institutes in Iraq. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 4 March 24, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE USAID supports sustainable economic reforms in Iraq including examining and reforming laws, regulations, and institutions and providing a framework for private sector trade, commerce, and investment. The reforms will strengthen the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Commerce and Indus- try—among others. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK In an effort to develop a competitive and efficient private sector in Iraq USAID’s Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) recently ap- proved two $5,000 grants. The first will enable a company that supplies con- struction equipment to computerize its office and provide safety equipment for employees. The second grant went to a construction subcontracting company to expand their building and purchase equipment for training new employees. Seven firms recently received technical assistance in developing written busi- ness plans. An Iraqi women’s non-governmental organization delivered a basic busi- ness skills training seminar for Iraqi businesses in As Sulaymaniyah with VEGA support. Topics included developing and writing business plans, managing finances, marketing, and business management. Twenty-eight business representatives attended the training session; 25 of the participants were women. VEGA activities are designed to ensure that Iraqi women are full participants in the emerging economic opportunities in the country. Business training toolkits from the U.S. are now being revised for the local context prior to being translated into Arabic and Kurdish. The toolkits are de- signed to assist trainers in improving the skills of small business employees and owners in entrepreneurship, accounting, financial management, and other relevant topics. • Developed WTO Accession Roadmap in cooperation with Iraqi officials. • Provided technical assistance as well as information on con- tracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses and entrepreneurs through business centers. • Worked with the Ministry of Fi- nance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar. • Created more than 77,000 pub- lic works jobs through the Na- tional Employment Program. • Provided technical assistance on accounting, budgeting and lending activities at Iraq’s com- mercial banks. Trained 116 bankers from the Rafidain and Rasheed banks in six training courses. • Assisted in management of $21 million micro-credit program. • Improved statistical analysis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision procedures at Iraq’s Central Bank; offered a two-week banking course to Central Bank staff with the Fed- eral Reserve Bank of New York. • Evaluated and updated com- mercial laws on private sector and foreign investment. • Assisted in developing the five percent reconstruction levy on imports; built capacity of cus- toms officials to implement levy. • Developed a government-wide IT strategy to support the auto- mation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Provided technical support for the re-opening of the Iraq Stock Exchange after it was closed down for more than 15 months; 3.6 billion Iraqi dinars ($2.4 mil- lion USD) in shares were traded in the first day. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Summer and Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: These demonstrations are intro- ducing farmers to new technolo- gies and techniques through extension field days. • Animal Health: Several veteri- nary clinics in Kirkuk, Fallujah, and other cities are being reno- vated and a grant has been made for dipping tanks to im- prove sheep health and wool. • Technology Support: The Min- istry of Agriculture and a major university’s schools of Agricul- ture and Veterinary Science have been awarded grants to furnish and equip computer centers, improving research capabilities and consulting ca- pacity. • Date Palm Propagation: In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, 40,000 elite date palm offshoots are being used to establish mother orchards in 13 governorates as part of a multiplication program and the establishment of a national reg- ister of elite varieties. • Agriculture Sector Transition Plan: This plan, completed in mid-April, addresses the short- term recovery of agricultural infrastructure as well as medium and long-term implementation of policies to develop a market- based agricultural economy. AGRICULTURE USAID’s goals are to work in conjunction with Iraqi ministries, the private sec- tor, and higher education institutions to revitalize agricultural production, stimulate income and employment generation, nurture rural initiatives, and rehabilitate the natural resource base. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program provided computers, printers, copies, projectors, telephones, digital cameras, and GPS receivers, as well as training and technical as- sistance to develop a Statistical Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). This activity has helped to develop regional databases that include data on farmer identity, farm size, location, and the number of dunums (one dunum = 1⁄4 acre) planted with crops and orchards. These databases serve as sampling frameworks for future statistical surveys. The accurate and timely information gathered and organized by the MOA Statistical Unit can then be used by the Ministry to develop sound agricultural policies. A MOA survey in the As Sulaymaniyah Governorate details the current state of poultry production and will inform future MOA policy to revital- ize the industry. The survey observed that poultry farms in the sample had an average mortality rate of 20 percent and that only eight percent of the farms in the sample produce year-round; many producers suspended produc- tion due to unreliable fuel and electricity supplies. The Survey showed that the median-sized farm can hold 10,000 birds at a time, but a few farms are several times that size. Nearly all are privately owned by a single farmer. If farms were able to operate year round, they could produce a median of 51,000 birds per year. In reality, however, the me- dian farm sold only 28,000 birds in 2004, or 53 percent of its potential capac- ity. Ninety-two percent of the farms sold four or fewer batches and mortality was very high. High bird mortality is the main factor for weak economic per- formance among poultry producers. The average producer suffered 20 per- cent mortality, even though nearly all producers vaccinated against diseases known to afflict poultry. Iraqi farmers, wholesalers, and government officials are analyzing north- ern Iraqi produce markets to identify and assess critical constraints af- fecting fruit and vegetable markets. When complete, the study will recom- mend ways to improve the farm-to-market chain. ARDI funds this study. An ARDI representative recently visited three Iraqi wholesale produce markets. Inadequacies in sanitation, refrigeration, packing, and storage facilities all con- tribute to produce losses, which by some estimates can reach 25 percent. A government audit committee establishes daily price ceilings for produce in the Arbil and As Sulaymaniyah markets, while the Dahuk wholesalers set their prices competitively. Farmers in all three markets deliver directly to the wholesalers, who sell on a commission basis. ARDI also visited the largest green grocer market in Dahuk, which houses 196 grocers under one roof. The market, which is located in the center of the city to permit easy consumer access, is owned by the Dahuk municipality. The facility is old and space is limited, but the market area is clean and virtually all of the produce on display was high quality. Low quality produce is not displayed but is available to con- sumers unwilling to pay higher prices for top quality produce. Typical grocer margins are 25% of the wholesale price. March 24, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 HEALTH March 24, 2005 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Vaccinated over 3 million chil- dren under five and 700,000 pregnant women with vaccina- tion campaigns that included monthly immunization days. • Provided supplementary doses of vitamin A for more than 600,000 children under two and 1.5 million lactating moth- ers. • Provided iron folate supple- ments for over 1.6 million women of childbearing age. • Screened more than 1.3 million children under five for malnutri- tion. • Distributed high protein bis- cuits to more than 450,000 children and 200,000 pregnant and nursing mothers. • Provided potable water for 400,000 persons each day in Basrah city and 170,000 per- sons in Kirkuk and Mosul. • Provided skills training for 2,500 primary health care pro- viders and 700 physicians. • Trained 2,000 health educa- tors, teachers, religious leaders and youth to mobilize commu- nities on hygiene, diarrhea, breastfeeding, nutrition and immunization issues. • Disseminated information on essential health messages to families around the country. • Renovated 110 primary health care centers. • Provided vaccines and cold chain equipment to selected health centers. • Developed a national plan for the fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid. USAID’s goals include supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health, deliver- ing essential health services, funding vaccines and high protein biscuits for pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children, providing basic pri- mary health care equipment and supplies, training and upgrading health staff, providing health education and information, and identify the specific needs of the health sector and of vulnerable populations such as women and children. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK Two Iraqi universities are implementing a research project with USAID support to find preventative procedures for B-Thalassemia, a blood dis- ease prevalent throughout Iraq. This collaborative research was made pos- sible through USAID’s Higher Education and Development (HEAD) program. The program partner, the Mississippi Consortium for International Develop- ment (MCID) led by Jackson State University (JSU), supports three Iraqi uni- versities in the fields of public health and sanitation. The program is funding the modernization of research facilities at medical schools at these universi- ties. With the help of new laboratory research equipment provided by JSU/MCID, two Iraqi medical colleges began a HEAD-funded collaborative research pro- ject entitled “Molecular Basis of B-Thalassemia in Dahuk, Iraq.” B- Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder common in Iraq that results in severe anemia. The outcome of the research should establish a cost-effective, mini- mally labor-intensive premarital and parental DNA diagnostic program to de- termine the molecular basis of the hereditary disorder. The research team has already taken blood samples from 21 parents of confirmed and registered B-Thalassemia patients. They preformed various blood tests, took DNA ex- tractions, and submitted their findings. To initiate this research, JSU/MCID procured laboratory equipment. More than $85,000 in laboratory equipment arrived at a northern Iraqi university for its colleges of Medicine and Engineering. The equipment included two mem- brane filters for micro-organisms, an ion-selective electrodes analyzer, poly- merase chain reaction equipment, and nuclear magnetic resonance equip- ment. This equipment will be accessible to students and faculty for research projects. In an effort to modernize the research tools and resources available to univer- sities, JSU/MCID allocated funds to improve Iraq university libraries. JSU/ MCID shipped 850 nursing, engineering, and medical textbooks to two Iraqi universities. Meeting the need for a digital library and a searchable e-book repository, the library at one university also received a high-speed scanner, a double-sided printer, a new computer, and a heavy-duty paper cutter from JSU/MCID partners. By modernizing laboratories and updating libraries, the HEAD program has helped Iraqi universities to build a foundation of excel- lence in research that will aid in the training of Iraq’s future technical engi- neers and medical practitioners. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 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 The Local Governance Program’s (LGP) Finance and Administration Group is nearing completion of all its financial project activities for the Baghdad Mayoralty. A training manual on International Accounting Stan- dards has been completed, translated into Arabic, and distributed to the May- oralty’s accounting staff. All data for a Performance Audit of Solid Waste, Wa- ter, and Sewage systems have been collected and systemized. LGP special- ists reviewed the installation of computers supplied by the U.S. Army to the Mayoralty’s Geographic Information Department (GID). LGP assisted the GID in the installation of GIS software (Arc Map, Arc Catalogue, and Arc Toolbox). LGP staff has also written position descriptions for the GID to support them in developing a fully functioning GIS component in the future. Developing GIS capabilities in the Mayoralty will allow for better infrastructure planning (water, sewage, storm water, garbage, energy, telecom, traffic, etc.) health planning, emergency planning, land cadastre and eventually for an electronic fee collec- tion system in Baghdad. The Minister of State and Provincial Affairs and USAID’s LGP held a Na- tional Conference on Federalism and Decentralization from March 13-14, 2005 in downtown Baghdad. The conference was intended to generate fruitful discussions on laying the groundwork for Federalism in Iraq as part of the national referendum process and drafting of the Iraqi Constitution. Ap- proximately 580 participants attended. LGP sponsored the printing of all conference materials. Staff members from LGP’s Policy Reform Team presented on the second day of the conference which was devoted to the formation of Local Government Associations (LGAs). This presentation was well received by conference participants and LGP staff members fielded many questions about institutionalizing LGAs. LGP will submit a comprehensive report on the conference with a more detailed overview of groups in attendance, conclusions, and recommendations. LGP specialists in South Central Iraq recently completed a five-day Work Safety Training Course for a group of engineers and technicians in the public service directorates throughout the region. Workforce planning is still foreign in South Central Iraqi local government institutions which have grown accustomed to responding in a piece-meal way to crises during the past twenty years of non-investment in infrastructure. Planning for workforce safety is a modern management technique that can help Iraqi officials pro- mote sustainable development that is both humane and productive. March 24, 2005 • Established regional offices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, and Mosul and operations in all governorates. • Awarded $15.5 million in rapid- response grants in the first pro- gram year to strengthen the capacity of municipal authorities to deliver core municipal ser- vices. The grants were used to restore services in agriculture, education, health, electricity, sanitation, and water. • Facilitated the establishment and refreshment of 16 gover- norate councils, 90 district coun- cils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Organized and facilitated nu- merous selection processes for governors and mayors, as well as local council members, throughout Iraq. • Committed more than $2.4 mil- lion for the nationwide Civic Education Campaign, which educates Iraqis on democracy and Iraq’s political situation. More than 28,500 democracy dialogues have been conducted to date. • Supported preparation of 2004 city council budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Al Hillah, Babil, and An Najaf. • Supporting a series of National Agenda Dialogue Conferences, which engage stakeholders such as academics, journalists, women, tribal leaders, and local government officials in discus- sions on their roles in Iraq’s emerging democracy. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • Strengthen the capacity of the legislative branch of the Iraqi interim and transitional govern- ments and its staff during the interim and transition period to include lawmaking, representa- tion, executive oversight, and other responsibilities as pro- vided by the Transitional Admin- istrative Law (TAL) • Assist the Executive Authority, the Presidency Council, and the Council of Ministers and its pre- siding Prime Minister to develop governing processes, rules of procedure, regulations and di- rectives necessary to enforce the laws, and to implement gov- ernment programs and policies • Support the process for adop- tion of an Iraqi constitution that promotes democratic principles and values through the provi- sion of technical assistance that includes, but is not limited to, providing comparative constitu- tional expertise; organizing con- stitutional conferences and con- ventions; facilitating public awareness, education, and par- ticipation; and assisting in the conduct of a national referen- dum or other ratifying mecha- nism. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE In the post-election period, USAID will continue to plan and implement a vari- ety of programs matching the needs of the evolving Iraqi democracy, under- taken in full partnership with Iraqi counterparts. In particular USAID is accel- erating activities in the national governance support area to ensure compre- hensive continued support to the Iraqi democratic transition. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK The elected members of the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were inaugurated on March 16, signaling the beginning of the transitional governance period. Through its Program to Support an Iraqi National Gov- ernment and Iraqi Transitional Government, USAID and its implementing part- ners and sub grantees have been providing training and logistical support to TNA members and staffers. Key efforts in preparation for the inauguration included: • Working with parliamentary staff in charge of supporting inauguration and orientation activities for the 275 Assembly members • The procurement of audio and translation equipment (Kurdish and Arabic) to be used in the parliamentary chamber • The production in Kurdish and Arabic of a manual on parliamentary proce- dure • Trainings for staff on departmental responsibilities • Outreach specifically targeting women members of the TNA. • Advisory assistance to the TNA’s legal advisor in the drafting of new by- laws. Over 80 staff members have undergone training and participated in the as- sessment of technical and skill-development needs. The program aims to fully develop the staff capacity of the TNA so that it is institutionalized in prepara- tion for a permanent legislative body. In an effort to facilitate civil society input into the drafting of Iraq’s con- stitution, a USAID partner institution organized “Constitution and Gov- ernance Information Sessions” in Dahuk. On February 22, the institution chaired three round-table discussions. Groups included representatives from NGOs such as the Kurdistan Youth Union, Kurdish women’s unions, the Kur- distan Journalist Association, a farmers’ syndicate and an agronomist and lawyers’ union. The last group included 21 participants from 21 different NGOs, including the Government Employees Association, the Teachers’ Un- ion and the Kurdistan Women’s Union. In all three meetings, USAID stressed the need to involve all Iraqis in the con- stitution-drafting process, by making their interests, priorities and views known, thereby having them actively contribute to the design of their own con- stitution. Participants were introduced to the full constitution-writing process as well as ways of involving members of society at large. March 24, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 9 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Awarded more than 3,150 small grants totaling more than $257.8 million for quick impact activities that support good gov- ernance, civil society, conflict management and mitigation, human rights and transitional justice. • Funded over 100 grants totaling $3.8 million that focus on women’s issues, including sup- porting the establishment of 24 women’s centers in Iraq. Reha- bilitated over 264 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Sup- porting 65 Iraqi groups in docu- menting human rights abuses of the Ba’athist regime and pro- moting peace, tolerance, and reconciliation. • 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 cultural center in Northern Iraq recently purchased office equipment and furniture with the support of an Iraq Transition Initiatives (ITI) grant enabling them to improve their ability to disseminate information on the history and culture of their district. This region suffered greatly under Sad- dam Hussein’s Anfal campaign, a genocide which claimed the lives of over 100,000 Kurds in 1988. With the new office equipment and furniture, the cen- ter can expand the scope and quality of services it provides to the approxi- mately 70,000 residents of this local sub-district. The center, established in 1995, currently produces a quarterly magazine on history and culture, man- ages a library of 1,500 books visited daily by 150 residents, and holds a series of cultural seminars. A non-governmental organization (NGO) in northern Iraq recently com- pleted a three month series of English classes for 150 Iraqi women un- der an ITI grant. An additional ITI grant supported the purchase of office fur- niture and equipment for a government office serving the needs of women in central Iraq. Through this assistance, the government office has enhanced its capacity to address concerns facing Iraqi women including health, basic edu- cation, legal rights, and the new constitution. A sub-district in northern Iraq employed community members to clean up a neighborhood that housed 1,200 displaced Iraqis. With the financial support of an ITI grant, the community members hired local residents to re- move accumulated waste. In south central Iraq, a local council utilized a simi- lar grant to initiate a neighborhood trash and debris clean-up activity, also em- ploying residents to complete the task. Constructive employment for local residents decreases the tension and the sense of futility that arises from un- employment. It also stabilizes security by offering a productive alternative to those who may be pressured to join radical movements. This assistance from ITI increases confidence in Iraq’s transition to democracy as residents see positive changes in their community brought about by the local government. A teacher’s association in south central Iraq renovated its facilities in order to establish a civic dialogue meeting room. The association advo- cates for teachers’ rights, works to raise academic standards, publishes re- source material for teachers and students, funds education research, and en- courages civic dialogue workshops. The ITI grant provided a meeting room for the community to have a voice in education. The teachers association en- abled an Iraqi community to strengthen civil society participation in decisions that affect the larger community. March 24, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 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 action group (CAG) in Qadisiyah is implementing a pro- ject to rehabilitate a local school while also encouraging environmen- tally-minded activities. In cooperation with local mosque authorities and teachers, the CAG contributed cleaning and gardening supplies to enable students to clean the school and mosque and to plant flowers and trees in the area. This activity has helped build better relations and cooperation among the participants and the wider community, and students are taking responsibility for the appearance of their school and environment. An institute for disabled children in Baghdad renovated its facilities with the assistance of USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP). The insti- tute is the only of its kind in Iraq providing care and education for children un- der the age of 12 who are mentally disabled or have cerebral palsy or neuro- logical impairments. The institute is made up of 10 classrooms, administrative offices, a sports hall, and a physical therapy unit where children receive treat- ment. The $96,947 project investment from CAP renovated the school improv- ing the ability of the school’s principal and social workers to provide quality services to moderately and severely disabled students with different levels of physical and learning ability. This facility will enable children with special needs to realize their fullest potential and to provide them with every opportu- nity to learn in a decent environment. CAP provided office supplies and equipment to a girl’s secondary school in Baghdad that was among the many looted and damaged dur- ing the 2003 conflict. CAP delivered office supplies and equipment worth $21,535 to the school, including computers, printers, and furniture. A CAP implementing partner working in Ninawa’ Governorate is helping a town renovate its 12-room school. Renovating the school solved three problems: girls now have a secondary school; primary students can leave the kindergarten building and return to the regular school; and the kindergarten is able to house the dual-language kindergarten program for 65 Arab and 50 Kurdish children. The project cost $47,051 and the community contributed $13,300. A local community in a Maysan Governorate municipality, with support from CAP, restored a large public park in the city. Major damages include a broken central fountain, a defective electric system, and a destroyed wire fence. The local community will contribute by installing trash containers and the municipal government will support the planting of trees and flowers. CAP intends to install environmentally friendly sodium vapor lamps to avoid trans- mitting ultraviolet light and to consume less power. Moreover, primary school children will plant flowers once the rehabilitation work is complete. By their contribution, these children will learn about sustaining a healthy environment in their city. A total of 100,000 people are expected to benefit from the park rehabilitation. March 24, 2005 • USAID has committed over $129 million to 2,844 projects while Iraqi communities have committed more than 25% of total funding. CAP has established over 670 community action groups (CAGs) in 17 governorates. Five U.S. NGOs each concentrate on a region: north, Baghdad, south- west central, southeast central, and south. • The northern program focuses on the conflict prone areas of the Sunni Triangle, Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. The partner NGO has completed 354 projects with over $18 million in project commitments including improving the Tikrit water supply, and devel- oping income generation projects in the north. • In the southwest central region, the partner NGO has established a strong presence in Hillah and the Shi’a holy cities Najaf and Karbala. Emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has improved community water/sanitation ser- vices and schools, and repaired vital social infrastructure. They have completed 296 projects and have over $21.3 million in project commitments. • Income generation is an important emphasis in the Baghdad pro- gram where 495 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 $21.8 million. • In the southeast central region, 179 projects are complete with a total of $16.7 million in commit- ments. In the Shi’i heartland, these projects address needs resulting from decades of govern- ment neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilitation. • The southern program has com- pleted 595 projects through 138 CAGs which average 40% women’s participation. Projects have focused on immediate com- munity needs such as sewage clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. Total commitments are $21.2 million. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 11 COMPLETED ACTIVITES March 24, 2005 Since the cessation of the 2003 conflict, USAID has completed their planned work at Umm Qasr Seaport, re- stored significant portions of Iraq’s telecommunications network, rebuilt three major bridges and restored the rail line connecting Umm Qasr with Basra city and points north. USAID also helped avert a humanitarian cri- sis during the conflict by providing assistance to the United Nations’ World Food Program. USAID advisors continue to assist with the management and distribution of food rations for all Iraqi citizens. SEAPORTS • The $45 million program to rehabilitate and improve management at Umm Qasr seaport was completed in June 2004. • Port reopened to commercial traffic on June 17, 2003; completed first passenger vessel test July 16. • Up to 50 ships offload at the port every month. • Completed dredging to open all 21 berths to deep-draft ships; maintenance dredging is ongoing. • Applied port tariffs on June 20, 2003. • Renovated the grain-receiving facility to process 600 MT of grain an hour. • Renovated the administration building, passenger terminal, customs hall, and electrical substations. TELECOMMUNICATIONS • Audited more than 1,200 km of the fiber optic backbone network and performed emergency repairs, reconnecting 20 cities and 70% of the population. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites. • Installed and fully integrated 13 new switches with 14 existing switches. • Worked with the Ministry of Communications to reactivate more than 215,000 subscriber lines. • Installed a satellite gateway system at Baghdad’s largest telecom exchange and restored international service. • Trained telecom engineers and technicians in the operation and maintenance of the satellite gateway system and the new switches. BRIDGES AND ROADS • Rebuilt three major bridges—Khazir, Tikrit and Al Mat bridges—critical for the movement of people and commercial products throughout the country. • Rebuilt a substantial portion of the Iraqi Republican Railway line connecting Basrah with the port of Umm Qasr includ- ing physical track construction, installing culverts, and repairing gatehouses. The remainder of the work has been handed over to the Ministry of Transportation. This work facilitates the shipment of bulk cargo from the port to Bagh- dad and throughout the country. FOOD SECURITY • Worked directly with the World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish the Public Distribution Sys- tem in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and providing food security throughout the country. • With Iraqi food distributors, Food for Peace, the WFP, and Coalition Forces maintained deliveries from June through December 2003 in all 18 governorates. • Played a key role in an agreement between the WFP, CPA, and the MoT that provided the WFP with the resources and authority to continue to support the PDS through June 2004. • In partnership with the United States Embassy in Iraq, providing on-going support to the Public Distribution System Working Group to assist the Ministry of Trade with improving PDS management. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 12 FINANCIAL SUMMARY March 24, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE Subtotal: $3,869,775,800 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $23,031,886 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Architecture and Engineering Services Countrywide $30,842,037 BearingPoint Economic Governance Countrywide $79,583,885 BearingPoint Economic Governance II Countrywide $103,500,000 Louis Berger Group Vocational Education Countrywide $75,016,115 Louis Berger Group Private Sector Development II Countrywide $60,000,000 Bechtel National Airports, buildings, emergency communications, power, railroads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sanitation Countrywide $1,029,833,259 Bechtel National Infrastructure II: Airports, buildings, emergency communications, power, railroads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sanita- tion, Basra Hospital Countrywide $1,386,809,782 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $168,820,000 DAI Marshlands Dhi Qar Al Basr Maysan $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $101,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $300,000 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $51,698,152 RTI Local Governance Countrywide $236,911,000 America's Develop- ment Foundation Civil Society Countrywide $42,880,157 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CAII Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 CEPPS Transitional Government Countrywide $20,700,000 CEPPS Voter Education, Domestic Observation and Con- flict Resolution Countrywide $47,175,000 CEPPS Elections Administration Support Countrywide $40,000,000 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 13 FINANCIAL SUMMARY March 24, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation VFH Elections Support Countrywide $1,000,000 UNICEF Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing & Distribution: Math & Science Countrywide $10,000,000 WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 Logenix Health North/Central $98,006 SSA Port Management Um Qasr $14,318,985 SkyLink Airport Management Baghdad, Al Basrah, Mosul $27,200,000 MSI Monitoring and Evaluation Countrywide $5,038,772 University Partners • The Research Foundation of the State University of New York/Stony Brook and the Universities of Chicago, Boston and Oxford • The Human Rights Institute, DePaul University College of Law and Italy’s International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences • University of Hawaii, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, University of Jordan and the American University in Beirut • Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Benetech, US-Iraq Business Resources • University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cameron University and Langston Univer- sity Countrywide $20,730,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 VEGA Business Skills Training Countrywide $12,089,702 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 Emergency Relief USAID/DCHA/OFDA...................................................................................Subtotal: $157,615,822 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $7,996,855 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 ● 14 FINANCIAL SUMMARY March 24, 2005 FY 2003-2004 Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation IMC Health, IDP Assistance, Food Security, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Capacity Building Countrywide $28,952,898 IOM IDP Assistance Countrywide $16,392,470 IRC IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,000,411 IRD IDP Assistance, Health, Water and Sanitation Northern Iraq $10,000,000 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 $20,199,786 SCF/US Food Security, Health, IDP Assistance, Shelter, Nutrition, Emergency Relief Commodities, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $7,957,783 UNICEF Health, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 OCHA Coordination and Information Countrywide $1,200,000 USAID/Jordan Support for Emergency Water Activities Countrywide $500,000 WFP Food Security, Logistics Countrywide $5,000,000 World Vision Health, Logistics, Emergency Relief , Water and Sanitation Countrywide $6,793,739 USAID/DCHA/FFP.......................................................................................Subtotal: $425,571,000 WFP Operations Countrywide $45,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust—81,500 MT Countrywide $40,337,000 WFP P.L. 48– Title II emergency food commodities—163,820 MT Countrywide $140,234,000 WFP Regional Purchase—330,000MT Countrywide $200,000,000 USAID/DCHA/OTI........................................................................................Subtotal: $372,029,240 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $10,071,784 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $6,462,167 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $344,500,376 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............................................................$4,824,991,862 * 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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