USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 33, 26 May 2004

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF May 26, 2004 Weekly Update #33, Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 This fact sheet highlights overall accomplishments and some weekly activities from USAID’s reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information on USAID’s programs in Iraq please see: www.usaid.gov/iraq Program Overview: USAID assists Iraqis in reconstructing their country by working with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). USAID programs are implemented in coordination with the United Nations, coalition country partners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector partners. The USAID Mission in Iraq carries out programs in education, health care, food security, infrastructure reconstruction, airport and seaport management, economic growth, community development, local governance, and transition initiatives. The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas: 1. Restoring Essential Infrastructure 2. Supporting Essential Health and Education 3. Expanding Economic Opportunity 4. Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government Above: Baghdad International Airport Cargo Facility. Iraqi Airways cargo workers are in training for cargo handling techniques as the Baghdad airport experiences more traffic. Table of Contents Program Overview 1 Economic Growth 8 Electricity 2 Food Security 10 Airports 2 Agriculture 10 Bridges, Roads, and Railroads 3 Marshlands 11 Umm Qasr Seaport 4 Local Governance 11 Telecommunications 4 Transition Initiatives 13 Water and Sanitation 5 Community Action Program 14 Health 6 Financial Summary 17 Education 7 1 Program Descriptions and Accomplishments 1. Restore Essential Infrastructure Electricity -- Objectives include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power generation facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the CPA have been working since May of 2003 to restore capacity to Iraq’s power system, which was dilapidated from decades of neglect, mismanagement, and looting. Accomplishments to Date: • Generated 4,518 MW on October 6, 2003—surpassing the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Average production over the last seven days was 3,968 MW. • Generated 98,917 MW hours on February 14, 2004—the highest since reconstruction began. • Installing independent sources of power at Baghdad International Airport and Umm Qasr seaport. • Collaborating with Bechtel, CPA, and Task Force Restore Iraqi Electricity on projects to repair thermal units, replace and repair turbines, rehabilitate the transmission network, and install and restore generators. This collaboration is expected to produce 2,152 MW of additional capacity. o USAID is adding 827 MW of capacity through maintenance, rehabilitation, and new generation projects. o USAID’s portion of the work includes: o Rehabilitating units 5 and 6 at Doura thermal power plant. o Rehabilitating units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 at Bayji thermal power plant. o Continuing reconstruction of the country’s 400-kv transmission network by rebuilding 205 kilometers of Khor Az Zubayr-Nasiriyah 400-kv line. o Installing new generating capacity at Kirkuk and South Baghdad power plants. Highlights this Week: • The fin fan coolers for Shuaibah Generating Station in southern Iraq are being installed. This equipment is necessary to cool the steam produced in the electrical generation process and is required for proper power generation. This work is part of a project by USAID to replace and repair the heat exchangers at the Hartha, Shuaibah, Najibiyah, and Khor az Zubayr Generating Stations. o At the Hartha station, the contractor is designing the water treatment rehabilitation work, which will allow the water used in this steam unit to be free of impurities. Fin fan coolers on site at Shuaibah o At Najibiyah, installation of the heat exchangers is complete and the contractor for the water treatment rehabilitation is continuing to work on the unit’s design. The control room heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work continues and is approximately 60 percent complete. Airports -- Objectives include: providing material and personnel for the timely repair of damaged airport facilities, rehabilitating airport terminals, facilitating humanitarian and commercial flights, and preparing for the eventual handover of airport operations to the Iraqi Airport Commission Authority. Accomplishments to Date: • Processing an average of 20 non-military arrivals and departures a day at Baghdad International Airport. o More than 5,000 military and NGO flights have arrived and departed at Baghdad International Airport since July 2003. 2 • Completed infrastructure work to prepare Baghdad International Airport for commercial air operations. o Repaired Terminal C and administration offices. o Installed three X-ray machines. o Installed small terminal for VSAT communication systems and new diesel powered generators, allowing Iraqi airport control centers to communicate. o Rehabilitated Iraqi customs office in the arrival hall. • Rehabilitated Baghdad International Airport’s East Fire Station; airport fire protection training for a team of more than 80 Iraqis is ongoing. • Preparing Al Basrah International Airport for commercial operations. Ongoing projects include: o Repairing runway, taxiway, and apron striping. o Installing two baggage X-ray units. o Repairing passenger support facilities. o Installing VSAT satellite communications. o Installed security fence. o Repairing airport water and sewage treatment plants. • Completed evaluation of reconstruction requirements at Mosul Airport. Highlights this Week: • Iraqi Airways cargo workers are receiving training on proper cargo handling techniques to ensure they will be prepared to manage the increased flow of cargo that is expected as the Baghdad airport continues to experience more traffic. Currently, more than 30 cargo handlers are receiving on-the job training and are unloading up to 45 tons of cargo each day, including humanitarian goods and reconstruction equipment. The training was facilitated by USAID. • Reconstruction of power generation units and the air traffic control tower at Baghdad International Airport continue in preparation for commercial operations. This work is expected to be complete by August 2004. Baghdad International Airport cargo facility • Emergency electrical generators are being installed and refurbished to increase generation capacity to 24 MW to meet the electrical demands of the airport. Three new 1-MW generation sets have also been installed and additional sets are expected to arrive soon. These generators will become the emergency power supply for the airport once it is reconnected to the national grid. The electrical generation project is expected to be complete in August 2004. • The rehabilitation of the air traffic control center is also continuing. The contractor is nearly complete with ceiling tile replacement, floor cleaning, and wall cleaning. Work will soon begin on air conditioners and elevators. The reconstruction of this four story facility, which is critical to airfield operations, is expected to be complete in July 2004. The projects are being implemented by USAID and Iraqi sub- contractors. Accomplishments to Date: Bridges: • Demolished irreparable sections of three key bridges (Khazir, Tikrit, and Al Mat) and started reconstruction. o Al Mat Bridge: A key link on Highway 10 that carries over 3,000 trucks daily on the main route between Baghdad and Jordan. • Work was completed, and the four-lane bridge was reopened to two-way traffic on March 3, 2004. 3 o Khazir Bridge: Critical to the flow of fuel and agricultural products to the north. • Repairs to this bridge were completed on May 1, 2004. o Tikrit Bridge: An important link for passengers and commerce over the Tigris River between Tikrit and Tuz Khurmatu. • On the upstream side of Pier 7, steel beams have been erected and dowels are installed. Work is expected to be complete in August 2004. • Repaired a floating bridge on the Tigris River in Al Kut, improving traffic for approximately 50,000 travelers a day. Railroads: • Iraqi Republican Railways contributes equipment and labor, while USAID contributes project management, material, and parts. Work on the railways includes: o Repairing 16 km of track at the port of Umm Qasr and 56 km of track between the port and Shuiaba Junction near Basrah to facilitate cargo shipments, including foodstocks, from the seaport to main rail line. o Completed explosive ordinance disposal at all 53 sites of the rail line project near Shuiaba Junction (Al Basrah Governorate) in preparation for installation of new track. Umm Qasr Seaport -- Objectives include: managing port administration, coordinating transport from the seaport, and facilitating cargo-handling services such as warehousing, shipment tracking, and storage. Accomplishments to Date: • Reopened to commercial traffic June 2003; completed first passenger vessel test in July 2003. • Offloading cargo from more than 40 cargo ships per month. • Dredged the port to an average depth of 12.5 meters. Previously, the port was 9-10 meters deep, and limited cargo could arrive only during high tide. o An Iraqi dredger, which has been rehabilitated by USAID, is assisting with maintenance dredging. • Renovated grain-receiving facility, which can process up to 600 metric tons of grain an hour. • Instituted port tariffs, which provide a revenue stream for financially sustainable port operations. • Installed generators, energizing all three 11-kv ring mains which distribute electricity throughout the port. • Completed security fencing at the old and new ports and grain facility. • Completed the renovation of the administration building, passenger terminal and customs hall building and continuing the renovation of the electrical substations. Telecommunications -- Objectives include: install switches to restore service to 240,000 telephone lines in Baghdad area, and repair the nation’s fiber optic network from north of Mosul through Baghdad and Nasiriyah to Umm Qasr. Accomplishments to Date: • Handed over the Al Mamoun Telecommunications site to the Ministry of Communications in February 2004. Twelve new telephone switches and an International Satellite Gateway have been integrated with fourteen Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company (ITPC) switches. • Purchased tools, equipment, and parts to enable Iraqi engineers to restore the network. o Repairing the national fiber optic network from Mosul to Umm Qasr, connecting 20 cities to Baghdad. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines of capacity. Installed new switches and main distribution frames at 12 sites. o Baghdad’s largest exchange, Al Mamoun, opened in December 2003. More than 186,000 individual subscriber lines are now active; work to allow final activation for all subscribers is underway. o Completed installation of a satellite gateway system at Al Mamoun and restored international calling service to Iraq on December 30, 2003. o Al Mamoun was handed over to the Ministry of Communications on February 26, 2004. 4 • Training Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company operators and engineers at Al Mamoun on telecommunications site operations, maintenance, and repairs. Water and Sanitation -- Objectives include: rehabilitate and repair essential water infrastructure to provide potable water and sanitation to communities and improve irrigation. Accomplishments to Date: • Nationwide: Rehabilitating sewage and water treatment plants that currently by-pass untreated sewage generated by millions of people into the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. o Repairing and rehabilitating water systems throughout Iraq. o Repaired hundreds of breaks in Iraq’s critical and long neglected water network, significantly increasing water flow. • Baghdad: Expanding one water plant and rehabilitating three sewage plants. o Rehabilitating and adding 45 percent capacity to Baghdad’s Sharkh Dijlah water plant (previously named Saba Nissan water plant), adding an additional 225,000 cubic meters a day to the water supply by August 2004, mostly in the overpopulated eastern sections. o Installing back-up electrical generators at 41 Baghdad water facilities and pumping stations to ensure continuous water supply. o Rehabilitating Baghdad’s sewage treatment plants—Rustimiyah North, Rustimiyah South, and Kerkh to benefit 3.8 million people by October 2004. o Rehabilitated 70 of Baghdad’s non-functioning waste lift and pumping stations. • South Central: Rehabilitating two water plants and four sewage plants. o Rehabilitating An Najaf and Karbala’ water treatment plants. The projects will be complete in August 2004 and November 2004, respectively. o Rehabilitating Ad Diwaniyah and Karbala ́ sewage treatment plants, which serve 200,000 residents and currently discharge untreated waste into the Euphrates River. These projects are expected to be complete by August 2004 and November 2004, respectively. o Rehabilitating An Najaf and Al Hillah sewage treatment plants to serve 194,000 residents. These projects are expected to be complete by December 2004 and August 2004, respectively. • South: Rehabilitating the entire Sweet Water Canal system, including the canal and its reservoir, 14 water treatment plants and pumping stations, and the Safwan water system. o The system provides drinking water to 1.75 million residents of Basrah City. o Rehabilitated both the east and west reservoirs of the canal in early April, allowing it to be re-filled with clean water. o Began work on Basrah’s 14 water treatment plants in January 2004. By summer 2004, water quality and volume will surpass prewar levels. o Completed the restoration of the Safwan water system. All 40,000 residents now have access to potable drinking water. • North: Rehabilitating two water plants and one sewage plant. An Najaf wastewater treatment plant o Rehabilitating Kirkuk, Mosul and Al Dujayl water treatment facilities and Al Dujayl sewage plant. o Procuring reconstruction materials for the Ninawa’ Sewer and Water Directorate. This Directorate will repair projects in Mosul and the surrounding areas. o Constructing potable water sources for towns and villages of less than 1,000 residents. Highlights this Week: 5 • In An Najaf wastewater treatment plant, rehabilitation of sewage processing and treatment capabilities will be restored to 141,000 people by December 2004. • At An Najaf water treatment plant, the installation of 15 new filter beds is producing high quality drinking water. A total of 40 new beds will be installed. The Al Zarga water treatment plant at Najaf will benefit all of An Najaf city’s 563,000 residents when it is completed in August 2004. • The design for a new rural water program is completed and has been accepted by the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works. This design process is the first major milestone in a project which will improve potable water supply to rural communities with a population of less than 5,000 in all of Iraq’s governorates with the exception of Al Anbar. The completed designs include information on the number of people to be served; access to and quality of ground and surface water; construction schedules; sustainability; operations and maintenance cost estimates; and potential for employing the local population. 2. Support Essential Health and Education Health -- Objectives include: supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health, delivering essential health services, funding vaccines and high protein biscuits for pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children, providing basic primary 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. Accomplishments to Date: • Procured more than 30 million doses of vaccines since July 2003 with support from the Ministry of Health and UNICEF. • Immunization services were the first national health program re-started after the war. USAID provided vaccines for all of the 4.2 million Iraqi children under five years of age. Since June 2003, over 3 million of these children have been vaccinated; ongoing monthly vaccine days will reach the rest. In addition, 700,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated for tetanus. • The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization has successfully completed a nation-wide immunization campaign for measles, mumps, and rubella, covering over 5 million children ages 6 to 12. • Awarded $1.3 million in small grants to support Iraqi NGO healthcare efforts throughout Iraq. • Developed a hospital and clinic facility database for the Ministry of Health on facility type, location, service distribution, cost information, and building condition. • Renovating 52 primary health care clinics and re-equipping over 600 to provide essential primary healthcare services. • Training healthcare trainers who will reach more than 2,000 primary healthcare providers throughout Iraq. • Distributed high-protein supplementary food rations to more than 240,000 pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children. • Evaluated 18 national and regional public health laboratories for equipment needs. • Rehabilitated the National Polio Laboratory. • Training more than 1,000 health workers and volunteers to identify, treat and monitor the growth of acutely malnourished children. • Working with the Iraqi Ministry of Health to develop a five year strategic plan. Goals include increasing the level of preventative care available to Completed primary health care kit. the Iraqi people by addressing public health, health care delivery, health information systems, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, health care finance, education and training, human resources, legislation and regulation, and licensing and accreditation. 6 • Distributing 1.4 million liters of clean water each day to people in the cities of Al Basrah, Al Muthanna’, Kirkuk, and Mosul. Highlights this Week: • The Ministry of Health is collaborating with the Iraqi media to promote critical health improvement issues throughout Iraq with support from USAID partner UNICEF. These initiatives teach basic preventive measures for good health. The Ministry is also promoting behavioral changes in the areas of hygiene, breastfeeding, immunization, and nutrition. • Primary health care kits for approximately 40 health centers are ready for delivery by the Ministry of Health with support from USAID. An additional 80 will be delivered to Iraq. These kits are part of a USAID program which is equipping 600 primary health care centers. Each kit contains approximately 60 items for the improved provision of health care in Iraq, and complements a training program for 700 health care providers throughout Iraq. The kits include basic medical equipment, office furniture and laboratory equipment. • Two Iraqi non-governmental organizations (NGO), are promoting infection control at 44 primary health care centers and one hospital by installing brick incinerators for waste disposal at each of these facilities. More than 1.8 million individuals, who are served by these health facilities, will benefit from this project. These projects are being implemented with the support of the Iraq Health System Strengthening project which is managed by USAID partner Abt Associates and coordinated with the Ministry of Health. • A health clinic in Baghdad’s Sadr City, has been re-equipped with support from USAID partner International Relief and Development (IRD). This project is helping to raise the level of health care in one of Baghdad's poorest areas. Education -- Objectives include: increasing enrollment and improving the quality of primary and secondary education, ensuring that classrooms have sufficient materials, facilitating community involvement, training teachers, implementing accelerated learning programs, and establishing partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities. Accomplishments to Date: • Immediately After the Conflict o Provided technical assistance for the resumption of Ministry of Education functions and salaries. o Funded 5.5 million examinations for transitional grades, which ensured the smooth continuation of education. • Facilities and Supplies o Awarded 627 grants worth more than $6 million to rehabilitate schools and equip Directorates General. o Rehabilitated 2,358 schools countrywide for the first term of the 2003/04 school year. o Provided materials, equipment and supplies: o Distributed nearly 1.5 million secondary school kits that include pens, pencils, paper, math supplies, and other essentials. o Distributed 159,005 student desks, 26,437 teacher desks, 59,940 teacher chairs, 26,050 metal cabinets, 61,500 chalkboards, and 58,500 teacher kits. o Delivered 808,000 primary student kits. o Delivered 81,735 primary teacher kits. o In consultation with the Iraqi Ministry of Education, reviewed 48 math and science textbooks for grades 1 through 12. o Printed and distributed 8,759,260 textbooks throughout Iraq. • Institutional Strengthening o Trained 860 secondary school Teacher Trainers during September 2003 to January 2004 nationwide. o Trained 31,772 secondary school teachers and administration staff. 7 o Conducting an accelerated learning program in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Ad Diwaniyah, Karbala’, and Arbil. More than 600 students are participating in the program. In February 2004, the students completed mid-term exams. • Higher Education o USAID participated in the bi-national Fulbright scholarship review committee. The Fulbright Scholarship Program returned to Iraq after a 14-year absence. The program awarded at least 25 scholarships for Iraqis to study in the United States in 2004. o Launched the Higher Education and Development Program. Awarded five grants worth an estimated $20.7 million for U.S.-Iraqi university partnerships: o A consortium led by Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Stony Brook is partnering with Baghdad University, Al Mustansiriyah University/Baghdad, Basrah University, and Mosul University in archeology and environmental health. o The University of Hawaii College of Agriculture and Human Resources is partnering with the University of Mosul Hamam Al-Alil and University of Dahuk for strengthening academic, research, and extension programs. o The Human Rights Institute at DePaul University College of Law and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (Italy) is partnering with Universities of Baghdad, Basrah, and Sulaimanyah on legal education reform. o Jackson State University/MCID is partnering with University of Mosul, University of Dahuk, and the Nursing Institute (Dahuk) for public health and sanitation. o The University of Oklahoma and consortia is partnering with the Technology University/Baghdad, Al Anbar University, Basrah University, University of Babil, and the University of Salah ad Din in higher education initiatives. Highlights this week: • The moot court being developed at Baghdad University as part of the Legal Education Reform in Iraq program is nearly complete and ready for use. Third year law students will use the courts weekly as part of their 2004 summer program. The development of these courts is part of the clinical education component of the Legal Education Reform program, which enables students to gain practical knowledge and experience in the practice of law. • The University of Kirkuk has received two grants from USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative program which will provide equipment and furniture for the College of Law as well as refurbish the The new moot court established at Baghdad University. university dormitories. As a result of this assistance the College of Law will be able to increase the number of students. The improvements to the dormitories will provide a safe, healthy environment suitable for student life. The university suffered extensive looting and damage after the conflict and has not been able to resume its former standard of services. 3. Expand Economic Opportunity Economic Growth – Substantive areas include: currency conversion, development of economic statistics, rationalizing small business credit, drafting commercial legislation, supporting a national employment program, strengthening micro-finance programs, creating a bank-to-bank payment system, implementing a computerized financial management information system, developing a tax policy and administration, budget planning, insurance reform, telecommunications reform, and electricity reform. Accomplishments to Date: • With the Ministry of Finance, introduced the new national currency, the Iraqi dinar. 8 o The currency exchange began on October 15, 2003, and was completed on January 15, 2004. o An estimated 6.36 trillion new Iraqi dinars are now in Iraq, and 4.62 trillion Iraqi dinars are circulating—106 percent of the original demand estimate of 4.36 trillion. • Conducting regular currency auctions for banks to exchange dinars and dollars. • Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Employment Program. • Provided technical assistance on the implementation of a bank-to-bank payment system that allows 80 banks to send and receive payment instructions. • In support of the Iraqi Treasury’s goal to improve Iraq’s commercial banking system, USAID is working with the CPA to reconcile and close the year-end 2003 financial statements of Iraq’s two largest banks— the state-owned Rasheed and Rafidain—to ensure that the statements are consistent with international accounting standards. • Assisting in developing, installing, and training staff to use the Financial Management Information System, a new accounting and reporting system that will eventually be used by all Iraqi ministries. • Assisted CPA in managing a $21-million micro-credit program. • Evaluating and updating commercial laws pertaining to private sector and foreign investment; assisted in the development of the new company law. • Assisted in developing the reconstruction levy in collaboration with the CPA and the UK Customs Service; this levy imposes a five percent tariff on imports to Iraq. Highlights this Week: • More than 200 Ministry of Electricity staff has learned business governance and internal control. To date, 14 training sessions have been conducted on the implementation and adoption of the new chart of accounts, adoption of the new code of ethics, internal control procedures, public relations campaign strategies, tariffs, budget development, and the proposed regulatory commission. These courses were conducted by USAID partner BearingPoint. • Iraqi businesses continue to develop loan proposals under USAID’s firm level assistance program. Proposals totaling approximately $50 million have been reviewed by the state-owned banks. Due diligence reviews, which include technical assistance for the development of business plans and financial models, are being performed for three companies whose credit requests total more than $7 million. • The strategy for a government-wide information technology (IT) system within the national ministries is complete and ready for implementation. In the short term, the IT strategy will improve the provision of essential services through the use of computer systems; in the long term, government processes will be streamlined through the integration of information management systems. The IT assessment and implementation strategy was developed by USAID partner BearingPoint and is being coordinated by the Ministry of Communications. • More than $2.7 million has been collected through the reconstruction levy, which was implemented on April 15 and charges a 5 percent tariff on all imports to Iraq. USAID partner BearingPoint installed computer equipment and software for the Ministry of Interior’s Customs Service at 10 of 21 entry points into the country where the levy is collected. Revenue from the reconstruction levy is becoming a significant source of non-oil income for the national government and has been deposited with the Ministry of Finance for incorporation into Iraq’s overall budget. The reconstruction levy was developed through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Finance, the CPA, the UK Customs Service, and USAID partner BearingPoint. • The Director General of the Iraqi Tax Commission has reviewed and accepted the functional organizational structure that decentralizes the Commission’s structure and revises the chain of command and reporting avenues for more than 3,000 employees. Under the new structure, transparency will increase and the organization will benefit from the increased efficiency of specialization and separation of duties. • Staff members from the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) as well as Iraq’s major state-owned banks and private sector banks are participating in training to improve their skills. This week, 13 bankers at the CBI were trained in monetary data collection and another nine were trained in monetary policy issues. These 9 sessions were part of a process which is teaching Iraqi staff to develop monetary/financial, fiscal, real sector and external sector data according to the format required by the International Monetary Fund. • Capacity building activities being conducted at the Ministry of Electricity Oil for Food (OFF) project by USAID have been completed. The OFF Electricity project is a critical source of supplies and materials for Iraq’s electrical grid. A team of eight Ministry personnel has been fully trained to transparently manage the contracts and inventory handed over from the United Nations under the OFF Electricity project. Food Security -- Objectives include: providing oversight support for the countrywide Public Distribution System, which provides basic food and non-food commodities to an estimated 25 million Iraqis, participating in the design of a monetary assistance program to replace the commodity-based distribution system to support local production and free-market infrastructure, and promoting comprehensive agriculture reform to optimize private participation in production and wholesale markets. Accomplishments to Date: • Worked with the UN World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish Iraq’s Public Distribution System (PDS) in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and maintaining food security. • Contributed cash and food aid totaling $425 million to WFP’s emergency operations immediately following the conflict, making the United States the foremost contributor to WFP emergency operations in Iraq. • Placed food specialists in Baghdad, Al Basrah, Al Hillah, and Arbil to support food operations immediately after the conflict. • Provided ongoing support and technical assistance to WFP and local Iraqi authorities in the Ministry of Trade and the Kurdish Food Departments to ensure the smooth transition of PDS management tasks to the Iraqi government. Special attention was given to the transition phase in the northern governorates of Dahuk, As Sulaymaniyah, and Arbil. The initial handover of responsibilities occurred on November 21, 2003, without significant problems. • Played a role in negotiating a memorandum of understanding between the CPA, the Ministry of Trade, and the WFP that details areas of responsibility including: capacity building and training, procurement of food commodities, renegotiation of food contracts, shipment and overland transport of food commodities, and pipeline management. The WFP will continue to support the public distribution system through June 2004 and will begin work immediately to assure continuation of food deliveries. • Currently providing food aid expertise to CPA and Ministry of Trade in Baghdad and assisting WFP, CPA and the Ministry continue to distribute food to all Iraqis. Agriculture -- Objectives include: expanding agricultural productivity, restoring the capacity of agroenterprises to produce, process, and market agricultural goods and services, nurturing access to rural financial services, and improving land and water resource management. Accomplishments to Date: Since October 2003, USAID partner DAI has been implementing the Agricultural Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) to formulate a long-term vision for the sector, while designing activities for quick impact including: • Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: On 334 hectares in 15 governorates, 128 farm families are establishing plots with new crop varieties for extension field days. • Kirkuk Veterinary Hospital Renovation: The renovation of this hospital was completed in early April 2003 under a $96,000 ARDI grant; the hospital serves more than 100,000 livestock in the area. • Taza and Rashad Veterinary Clinic Rehabilitation: This project was completed in early April 2003 through a $50,000 grant which was matched by supplies and equipment from the Ministry of Agriculture. These rural clinics are the two principal sources of vaccines and medicines for animals in 125 local communities. 10 • Internet Connectivity and Repairs to a Student Union Building: The Baghdad University School of Agriculture will receive a $75,000 grant that will benefit 4,509 students. • Seven grants, totaling $394,000, were approved in February 2004 to build the capacity of Iraq’s agriculture sector. The grants’ emphasis on veterinary programs allows an immediate, highly visible response to the challenges that face herders and farmers in the North and Central regions. • The Ministry of Agriculture is establishing 18 date palm nurseries throughout Iraq in support of its goal to reestablish Iraq's dominant position in the international date market, a position it lost under the former regime. Dates are a national treasure for Iraq with both symbolic and economic significance. This project, which receives support and technical assistance from USAID, will ensure the preservation of Iraq’s 621 varieties of date palm. • Developed a transition plan for the Iraq Ministry of Agriculture to move the agricultural sector from a command and control production and marketing system to one which is market-driven. Marshlands -- Objectives include: construct environmental, social and economic baselines for the remaining and former marshlands, assist marsh dwellers by creating economic opportunities and viable social institutions, improve the management of marshlands, and expand restoration activities. Accomplishments to Date: • Operating at both national and regional levels, the Marshlands Restoration Program developed an integrated strategy for wetland restoration and management and providing social and economic assistance to Marsh Arabs. • The first date palm nursery was established with 1,000 mother trees of different varieties in Al-Medinah. The trees will produce 10,000 off-shoots, of which about 7,000 will survive. • The Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Public Works has selected a first site to build a constructed wetlands for treating domestic wastewater. The service area is the largest settlement in the marshlands, Al-Chibayish town, and will serve roughly 5,000 people. • Demonstrations of alfalfa cultivation to improve livestock nutrition and dairy production in five locations in between Al-Chibayish and Al-Medina are ongoing. • The program will re-establish a water and soil laboratory in the Ministry of Water Resources headquarters in Baghdad. A proposed list of equipment has been developed and is being reviewed by the Ministry staff for immediate procurement and training in their use. • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ministry of Water Resources are jointly developing a hydrologic model of the Tigris and Euphrates basin. • Work began on setting up demonstration plots for field crops and horticulture in eight locations in the marshlands. Plans are underway to do soil and water analyses at possible demonstration sites. The program is recruiting staff to implement the establishment of date palm nurseries for growing and distributing off-shoots. Local Governance -- Objectives include: promoting diverse and representative citizen participation in provincial, municipal and local councils; strengthening the management skills of city and provincial administrations, local interim representative bodies, and civic institutions to improve the delivery of essential municipal services; promoting effective advocacy and participation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serving as a recruiting tool for future leaders. Accomplishments to Date: • Implementing local governance activities in 18 governorates. More than 20 million Iraqis engage in policy discourse through local government entities and civil society organizations to: o Enhance transparency and participation in local decision-making processes. o Restore basic services. 11 o Improve the effectiveness of local service delivery. o Establish, develop, and expand the number of civil society organizations that can interact with local government entities. • Established 16 governorate councils, 91 district councils, 194 city or subdistrict councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Awarded $16.7 million to government agencies and civil society organizations to enable municipal authorities to deliver core municipal services. • Committed $2.4 million to support the CPA’s nationwide Civic Education Campaign, which facilitates dialogue and increases democracy awareness. • Supporting preparation of 2004 city council budgets in Mosul, Al Hillah, Babil, and An Najaf. • To date, USAID’s Local Governance Program has conducted a total of 8,932 democracy dialogue activities throughout Iraq. Highlights this Week: • As part of the UN-sponsored process to nominate prospective members for the Independent Election Commission of Iraq (IECI), USAID provided logistical support for Commission nominations in Baghdad Governorate. Applications were turned over to the UN in a sealed collection container on May 15. This collection point was one of many regional and governorate collection points throughout Iraq, which are being supported by the CPA and the UN. Candidates were also able to submit electronic applications at www.electionsiraq.org. • On May 11, more than 60 Kirkuk citizens attended a town hall meeting on the transition to sovereignty and the Transitional Administrative Law. The speakers First IEC submission at USAID collection point included the Governorate Council Chairman, a representative from a conflict resolution organization and an Iraqi lawyer. The discussion centered on the local government powers order, the rights of people in Iraq, the role of civil society in local government, internally displaced persons, and the jurisdiction of Kirkuk’s City Council. • Computer equipment has been installed at the Arbil Youth Development and Activity Center (AYDAC). The AYDAC is a youth organization established in 2003 to build the confidence and skills of young people. The organization has more than 500 members, most of whom are unemployed and disadvantaged youth between 14 and 22 years of age. The AYDAC received a grant from USAID’s Local Governance Program. • A Women’s Center in Arbil is developing a Women’s Radio Station to increase its outreach to community women, generate income through advertisement revenues and provide a venue for women to inform themselves on current events and political issues. This radio station is being supported by an LGP rapid response grant. • Basrah University representatives are working with Democracy Dialogue facilitators to prepare for a national conference on the role of academics in a democratic Iraq, which will be held at the end of May. The National Agenda Conference for Academics is one in a series of ten conferences being conducted as part of the Civic Education Program. This program, which is supported by both CPA and USAID’s Local Governance Program, is educating Iraqis on the country’s evolving political processes as well as facilitating dialogues on democracy. Agenda conferences for youth, health care professionals, and the disabled have already been conducted. • The city of Kirkuk is purchasing garbage disposal trucks and equipment with support from an LGP rapid response grant. The city currently has 15 pieces of garbage disposal equipment and cannot cope with the 429 tons of solid waste generated daily in the city. LGP is also helping the city to organize a schedule for solid waste pick up. 12 • The Baghdad Amanat is working to revise the governorate’s Water Law, which governs the residential and commercial use of water throughout the governorate. This week, the articles relating to penalties for noncompliance were reviewed and revised to improve the clarity and definition of the regulations. Penalties are related to water pollution, extraction of water exceeding permitted levels, failure to comply with water standards, and a variety of other conditions related to degradation of water quality and construction of structures affecting water resources. This work is part of an LGP project to develop a comprehensive water law which maintains high standards for water resource development and the delivery of quality water to end users. Transition Initiatives -- Objectives include: building and sustaining Iraqi confidence in the transition to a participatory, stable, and democratic Iraq and working closely with the CPA, USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative assists Iraqi NGOs, national government institutions, and local governments to increase Iraqi support for the transition to sovereignty through quick-dispersing, high impact small grants. Accomplishments to Date: • Awarded 808 small grants totaling more than $53 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and mitigation, and human rights and transitional justice. • Supporting initiatives crucial to the democratic transition, including civic education, civil society and media development, increased women’s participation, conflict mitigation, and transitional justice. Groups targeted for assistance include women’s and youth groups, professional associations, and human rights organizations. • Met critical needs during and immediately after the conflict by providing short-term employment, restoring basic government and community services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. • Funded over 55 grants totaling $3 million that focus on women’s issues, including the establishment of 14 women’s centers in Iraq. Rehabilitated over 130 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Supporting 23 Iraqi groups in documenting human rights abuses of the Ba’athist regime and promoting peace, tolerance, and reconciliation. Highlights this Week: • An association for defending displaced and prejudiced Iraqis is supporting communities of internally displaced people in northern Iraq. The association will host meetings to discuss the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy and engage the internally displaced persons community in building the new Iraq. These activities are being conducted as part of the Civic Education Campaign, which is supported by USAID and the CPA. The association received a USAID Iraq Transition Initiative grant for furniture and equipment. • A new women’s program in Baghdad is educating women about their rights, offering training in leadership skills and providing vocational skills training. Currently, 350 women are enrolled in the program in Baghdad, with an additional 300 in Hillah and Karbala’. WWII aims to expand the program to reach over 1,000 women in the coming year. USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative Program is assisting the Iraqi NGO with office equipment, supplies and furniture. • A Women’s Committee in Salah ad Din received office furniture, equipment, and supplies from the Iraq Transition Initiative program, Front Cover of Sawra Magazine enabling them to open their office at the Tikrit Teaching Hospital. The Committee is made up of 50 professional women from Tikrit and the surrounding area who are working together to address women’s needs in Salah ad Din Governorate. During planning meetings, 13 members identified future priorities, which included driving lessons, media projects, work with disabled children, language and computer classes, and the establishment of a fitness center for women. • A council for peace and solidarity in Salah ad Din Governorate is fostering communication between various ethnic and religious groups through a variety of programs. The council is planning a conference for this summer that will bring together different groups from the governorate to discuss a peaceful future for the governorate and for Iraq. They also intend to sponsor public outreach campaigns and initiate civic dialogue activities. A grant from ITI provided basic supplies, office equipment, and furniture. • An Iraqi NGO has published the latest edition of Sawra, a magazine for children written in the Assyrian language. With few educational opportunities, the Assyrian community is at risk of losing its language. The award from USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative program provided furniture and equipment for the organization’s offices and supports the printing costs for three editions of the magazine. • The ITI program is addressing community needs in the Garmyan area south of Sulaymaniyah through small grants to local organizations. ITI has provided grants to a local non-governmental organization that offers vocational education courses to women and leads human rights workshops, an association that uses mobile teams to reach children in collective towns and provides materials to conduct child abuse awareness and prevention training through drama and art activities, and a center which offers literacy courses for women. Community Action Program -- Objectives include: promoting diverse, representative citizen participation in and among communities to identify, prioritize, and satisfy critical community needs, while utilizing local resources. CAP is implemented by five U.S. NGOs with offices in nine major Iraqi cities. Each concentrates on one region in Iraq: ACDI/VOCA (North), International Relief and Development-- IRD (Baghdad), Cooperative Housing Foundation International--CHF (Southwest Central), Mercy Corps (Southeast Central), and Save the Children (South). Accomplishments to Date: • Established more than 650 Community Action Groups in 17 governorates. The projects undertaken by these groups are part of a campaign targeting grassroots democratic development. • CAP has committed $51 million for 1,397 community projects across Iraq; 976 projects have already been completed. • Iraqi communities have contributed more than 25 percent of the value of the community projects. Contributions have included labor, land, buildings, and other in-kind assistance. • ACDI/VOCA focuses on areas of Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. Their work has resulted in 193 completed projects and another 94 in development. These include establishing a youth center in Hawija and developing a new local water supply in Tikrit. • CHF has established a strong presence in the communities of the Shi’i holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, as well as Hillah by facilitating very active community associations. A strong emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has provided these communities with results such as sewage and water rehabilitation, school repairs, swamp clean-up, and repairs to vital social infrastructure. They have completed 111 projects. Khadamiyah Bridge before reconstruction • IRD has completed 256 projects in working with 142 community action groups. Income generation is an important emphasis. A marketplace for over 700 vendors is being constructed, and crews are cleaning up medical waste dumps and educating medical personnel on proper disposal methods. • Mercy Corps has completed 118 projects and 65 more are in development. In the Shi’i heartland, these projects are addressing needs resulting from decades of governmental neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilitation. 14 • Save the Children has completed 298 projects through 138 community action groups which average 33 percent women’s participation. Projects have focused primarily on immediate community needs such as sewage clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. Highlights this Week: • The Al Shu’la and Dowanim communities in Baghdad’s Khadamiyah district have completed the construction of a bridge connecting the two neighborhoods. Previously, a drainage stream made it difficult for people to cross from one side to another. Community members had been using the bed of an old truck as a makeshift bridge, causing bottlenecks and accidents. Community Action Program partner IRD met with the community who identified this project as a priority. • More than 40 women, mainly from southern Salah ad Din Governorate, attended a May 13 workshop for women interested in establishing small businesses in the city of Tikrit. The meeting focused on the micro- lending program being conducted by ACDI/VOCA, a non-governmental organization which is implementing CPA’s private sector development program in northern Iraq. • An Iraqi NGO is conducting a campaign to educate citizens throughout As Sulaymaniyah Governorate on democratic principles. • Mosul community members have completed the construction of a kitchen for an elder care center located in the center of the city. A new dining hall was built in the center of the residence’s garden and was equipped with tables and chairs, refrigerators, stoves, a water cooler, and a TV and satellite receiver. The senior citizens are now able to enjoy their meals together. This project was supported by USAID Community Action Program partner ACDI/VOCA. • A new income generation project to restore a bee- keeping cooperative in the city of Hawija (At’ Tamim Governorate) has been completed to provide a source of sustainable income for some of the city’s residents. Community members provided land and built a roof over the bee-keeping area. Bees New kitchen at the elderly care center in Mosul were provided by USAID partner ACDI/VOCA. Local farmers are now producing honey, wax, and new bees for sale. In 2004, the co-op is expected to produce two tons of honey for sale and plans to produce four to six tons next year. • More than 900 wheelchairs have been distributed to persons with disabilities in Qadisiyah Governorate. This project first began in February and the last shipment of 350 wheelchairs was distributed through the local councils in 30 communities of Ad Diwaniyah, the capital of Qadisiyah, at the end of April. The Iraqi local government officials and NGO partners identified the beneficiaries who needed wheelchairs; transported and distributed the chairs; and monitored the process to ensure the chairs were received and used properly. • USAID Community Action Program partner IRD has completed the rehabilitation of a technical school in Baghdad. This technical school for boys provides technical training in mechanics and Bee-keeping cooperative in Hawija electricity, and provides important vocational 15 training and future employment opportunities for young Iraqis. The school suffered from poor maintenance and was not conducive to learning, but was rehabilitated and supplied with computers, photocopying machines and training equipment. Nearly 700 students and teachers will benefit from this rehabilitation in the first year. 16 USAID Iraq Reconstruction Financial Summary Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003-2004* RECONSTRUCTION USAID/ANE ..................................................................................... Subtotal: $2,801,270,170 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $20,995,000 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Architecture and Engineering services Countrywide $17,000,000 BearingPoint Economic Governance Countrywide $76,050,000 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 sanitation Countrywide $955,512,198 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $120,080,000 DAI Marshlands Dhi Qar Al Basrah Maysan $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $9,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $163,572 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $29,087,094 RTI Local Governance Countrywide $236,911,000 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 UNICEF Health, Water, and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing and Distribution: Math and Science Countrywide $10,000,000 WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 SSA Port Management Umm Qasr $14,318,985 SkyLink Airport Management Baghdad Al Basrah Mosul $27,200,000 MSI Monitoring and Evaluation Countrywide $5,500,000 University Partners Consortium led by the Research Foundation of the State University of Baghdad University, Al Mustansiriyah $20,730,000 17 New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook which includes Columbia University, Boston University and Oxford University (England), University of Hawaii, DePaul University College of Law and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences in Siracusa, Italy; and Jackson State University and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development; and Oklahoma State University. University in Baghdad, Mosul University, Mosul University’s College of Agriculture and Forestry in Hamam al-Alil, Basrah University, Al- Anbar University, and University of Salahaddin. Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/DCHA/OFDA ...............................................................................................$101,122,485 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $7,389,004 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 ARC Capacity building, Disaster support Al Basrah $537,746 The Cuny Center Research studies Countrywide $40,260 GOAL Coordination, Nutrition Al Muthanna’ $1,507,900 International Dispensary Association Health Countrywide $1,318,437 InterAction Coordination Kuwait City $92,860 IOM IDP programs Countrywide $5,545,780 Logistics Commodities and DART support Countrywide $20,901,947 UNICEF Health, nutrition, water/sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 UN OCHA Coordination and Information Countrywide $1,200,000 USAID Amman Support for emergency water activities Countrywide $500,000 WFP Logistics and pre-positioning of food Countrywide $5,000,000 IMC Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Water/Sanitation, Capacity building Countrywide $13,702,900 IRC Health, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $6,198,685 Mercy Corps Health, Non-Food Items, Shelter, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $7,000,000 SCF/US Food Security, Health, Shelter, Nutrition, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation, NGO Consortium Countrywide $6,883,131 World Vision Health, Logistics, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $4,993,959 CARE Quick-impact projects, Water/Sanitation, Health, Blankets Countrywide $9,000,000 USAID/DCHA/FFP .................................................................................................$425,571,000 WFP Operations Countrywide $45,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust – 81,500 MT Countrywide $40,337,000 WFP P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities – 163,820 MT Countrywide $140,234,000 WFP Regional Purchase – 330,000 MT Countrywide $200,000,000 USAID/DCHA/OTI.................................................................................................. $161,502,682 18 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $3,520,174 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $7,087,595 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $139,900,000 Internews Media Countrywide $160,359 Radio SAWA Media Countrywide $400,000 NDI/IRI National Governance Countrywide $650,000 IFES National Governance Countrywide $1,042,315 ICNL Civil Society Countrywide $39,238 Spa War** Inter-Ministry Communications Countrywide $8,703,001 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003/2004 .............................................$3,489,863,121 * 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. 19