USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 18, 3 March 2005

RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE March 3, 2005 The expansion and rehabilitation of the Sharkh Dijlah water treatment plant is helping to address a water shortage in Baghdad. Contents: Electricity ...........................................................2 Water and Sanitation.........................................3 Economic Governance ......................................4 Agriculture.........................................................5 Education .......................................................... 6 Health............................................................. 7 Transition Initiatives ....................................... 8 Local Governance.......................................... 9 Community Action Program ........................... 10 Completed Activities....................................... 11 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 of 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 each, but this capacity has been de- graded due to lack of maintenance. The station’s cooling systems are se- verely damaged, thus the generator turbines cannot operate at full-load with- out risk of damage from overheating. As a result, the plant is now operating far below its full- load rating of 640 MW. Re- cent average output has been in the range of 160-170 MW, with two units operating. This activity is refurbishing two steam turbine generation units at the power sta- tion. The control system for both units’ boilers and turbines is obso- lete and exten- Work is now 81% complete on the refurbishment of two units at a Baghdad power station. sive work is re- quired before the units can operate reliably at their design output. The activity covers rehabilitation of both turbines, replacement of boiler and turbine con- trols with a modern, sustainable system, and 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 ad- ditional 320 MW is projected to be available for Baghdad’s electrical grid. Recently, condenser tubes were completed and work continued on the Unit 6 High Pressure turbine rotor assembly. Control room loop checks are ongoing for Unit 5 and electrical testing is complete. Control room flooring was in- stalled last week and software changes are being implemented. Nine final inspection reports have been completed as equipment checklists become available. About 350 Iraqi workers are employed by this rehabilitation activity, which is now 81% finished and is scheduled for completion in the summer of this year. However this completion date is dependent on a separate Ministry of Electric- ity contract to rehabilitate the boilers. March 3, 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 942 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. • Most recently, USAID has initi- ated a project to rehabilitate 13 existing substations and con- struct 24 new substations in Baghdad. These 37 substations will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad resi- dents. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 2 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 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 The Baghdad Water Authority reports a 30% shortage of daily available potable water for the city. To increase water production, the water au- thority began rehabilitating a water treatment plant at Sharkh Dijlah, located on the Tigris River, north of the city. This existing water treatment plant was designed to process 120 million gallons per day (MGD); however, the actual operating capacity was as low as 36 MGD, due to inefficient equipment. USAID is rehabilitating portions of the existing Sharkh Dijlah plant under Phase II and is com- pleting a 50 MGD ex- pansion of the plant under Phase I. The Phase I expansion is expected to be com- plete in March 2005. Together, these two phases are expected to increase the supply of treated water by over 100 MGD. Recently, the design review of raw water intake expansion and intake pump stations was completed. Geo- technical tests and surveying have begun at the raw water intake and pump station. Bids have been opened for construction of the raw water intake. A light construction contract has been awarded, with work to begin next week. Hydro-testing of a wet well compartment in the existing plant is complete. Control panels in an existing generator building are complete. Work is continuing on the construction of a new water treatment plant that will serve the impoverished Sadr City neighborhood in Baghdad, an area that in the past was prone to conflict. Construction is in its beginning stages. To date, a chainlink security fence, electrical junction boxes, and se- curity lighting have been installed and surveying, geotechnical testing and mapping for the raw water pipeline have recently begun. The design and build contractor also mobilized to the site in mid-February. Concurrent with this project, the Baghdad Municipality is constructing and ex- panding water intake structures and a raw water pump station in the vicinity of the Sharkh Dijlah water treatment facilities. The Sharkh Dijlah pumping facil- ity, which is located near Sadr City, will supply raw water to the Sadr City treatment facilities from the Tigris River via a water supply trunk line. Exten- sive Operations and Maintenance training will be provided to the plant’s O&M staff as a part of this project. March 3, 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. The activity will add 100 MGD of capacity. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 3 March 3, 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 close cooperation with Iraqi counterparts, USAID’s Private Sector De- velopment II (PSD II) program is continuing work to promote the devel- opment of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME). Under the Baathist regime, it was often difficult for would-be entrepreneurs to access the resources they needed to start or build business enterprises. The PSD II focus on MSMEs will help ensure that new opportunities are extended to seg- ments of Iraq’s population that were previously excluded from economic re- sources. Recent activities to promote growth of MSMEs have included: Bank Lending. Assisting banks to develop the capacity to successfully lend to small and medium sized enterprises is essential to putting capital resources into the hands of entrepreneurs. In support of this objective, PSD II is con- ducting a training course in Amman, Jordan for Iraqi bank officers on MSME lending. The course will help the bankers to manage issues associated with MSME lending, such as risk assessment, collection, and other issues. Along with training activities, the PSD II team is supporting bank MSME lending by providing Arabic-language loan management software and by drafting rele- vant concept papers. Grants. PSD II staff are preparing a new grants activity to support the pro- gram’s objectives. A grants manual has been drafted and is awaiting final ap- proval. Staff, including a deputy grants manager, have recently been identi- fied and recruited in Baghdad. Work has been initiated on a grants database, operational partners have been identified for Arbil and Basrah grants offices, and resumes are being reviewed for candidates to staff the Basrah office. PSD II program advisors are collaborating with Iraqi government offi- cials and private sector representatives on a range of activities to build investment from domestic and foreign sources. One of the key elements in this endeavor is the creation of a new Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) to take a leading role within the Iraqi government in policy reform efforts. PSD II advisors have completed the IPA prospectus and are now working to build support for the new agency among Iraqi counterparts. The Ministry of Planning has accepted the idea, as have several private sector counterparts. The Minister of Planning agreed to draft a new law and create a mechanism for the formal establishment of the IPA. PSD II has also completed a presentation in support of the IPA that will be de- livered at an upcoming workshop. Furthermore, a set of standard operating procedures is being drafted for an IPA “One-Stop-Shop,” which will provide a place where potential investors can access all the information they need about investment rules, forms, clearances, and other issues. • 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. • 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. • 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 ● 4 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 Agricultural Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program is continuing its efforts to build the capacity of Iraqi veterinary clinics. The clinics play a key role in maintaining the health of livestock in rural areas. As part of this effort, ARDI began distributing “Vet-in-a-Box” kits in 2004 to veterinary clinics that were rehabilitated earlier by the program. Vet-in-a-Box is a veterinary clinic start-up kit that includes 48 items for reha- bilitated veterinary clinics including stethoscopes, thermometers, syringes, scalpels, suture material, dehorners, and other instruments and accessories. The Vet-in-a-Box initiative was implemented after ARDI technical staff ob- served that some clinics remained non-operational, even after rehabili- tation work was completed, due to a lack of supplies. Vet-in-a-Box meets this immedi- ate need. Once renovations are completed, the clinic receives the kit and quickly be- comes operational. ARDI, in coordina- tion with Civil Affairs Veterinarians and the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture, devel- oped the concept and the inventory. There are currently 10 veterinary clinics throughout Iraq that have been completely rehabilitated by ARDI and 11 with renovations in progress. The ARDI program and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) are developing a national program to support olive production. This month, ARDI re- ceived a MOA proposal to plant 30 demonstration olive orchards, including 21,000 trees, in 15 governorates. The proposed plan calls for each gover- norate to plant two orchards of ten dunums (2.5 hectares), requiring 700 trees per site. In the Northern governorates, olives with high oil content will be grown for processing. In the central governorates, table olives will be grown as they are better suited to the climate. Both types of olives will be planted in the southern regions. The MOA and ARDI will supervise the project while the individual demonstration sites will be managed by local extension center staff. Oil produced under this program and in existing orchards will be processed in four large, Ministry of Industry-built olive oil processing plants throughout the country. Although the oil and the fruit will be primarily sold in domestic mar- kets, future studies will assess potential for export. March 3, 2005 The Vet-in-a-Box kits provide essential supplies to Iraqi veteri- nary clinics. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 5 EDUCATION March 3, 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 the quality of primary and secondary education, ensure classrooms have sufficient supplies, facilitate community involvement, train teachers, implement accelerated learning pro- grams, and establish partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and uni- versities. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK As of February 17, 198,540 Secondary School Student Kits providing ba- sic supplies for learning have arrived at Directorate of Education (DOE) warehouses in 12 governorates. Iraq has 21 Directorates of Education, in- cluding four in Baghdad and one in every other governorate. Each DOE is now coordinating with local schools to arrange for kit distribution. The trans- port time from warehouse to school depends on the number of schools in the DOE and the local security environment. The remaining 326,460 student kits are currently in storage at Umm Qasr seaport and will soon be delivered to DOE warehouses. A USAID partner is facilitating the distribution as part of the second year of programming for the improvement of basic education in Iraq. By the end of the program, more than 525,000 students in 2,014 schools will receive kits. Sixteen students and faculty from two northern Iraqi universities re- cently completed a one-week workshop on statistics and experimental design. The workshop was held at a research center with expertise in the Middle East region’s agricultural sciences. Three participants were women. The workshop focused on using technology, mathematical models, and other techniques to make experimental research more robust. There were several opportunities during the active workshop for participants to practice new tech- niques using computer laboratories. The conference was supported by USAID’s Higher Education and Develop- ment (HEAD) partnership between the University of Hawaii and two northern Iraqi universities. The HEAD Agricultural Sciences partnership is helping Iraqi universities revitalize academic programs and rehabilitate research infrastruc- ture such as critical online resources. Three Iraqi universities are building capacity in public health and sanita- tion university education with support from HEAD. The program partner is the Mississippi Consortium for International Development (MCID), led by Jackson State University; recent accomplishments include: Restoring Libraries and Laboratories. Micropipettes have been delivered to a college of medicine, and a bacteria colony counter was delivered to an Envi- ronmental and Water Resource Center in northern Iraq. In addition, two resid- ual chlorine meters, an atomic absorption unit and three spectrophotometers arrived at two colleges of engineering. A flame photo meter and a water level meter are currently in route to Iraq. Supporting Faculty Training. Seventeen faculty members from colleges of medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy at an Iraqi university completed a workshop on “Writing Manuscripts for Medical Journals”, and 15 attended a second workshop on “Teaching the Preclinical Medical Student”, both given by the Chairman of the Pathology department at an MCID university. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 6 HEALTH March 3, 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 USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) is providing thousands of grants to support the activities of local government institutions and non- governmental organizations (NGOs). Recent ITI accomplishments in the area of health include: • An ITI grant supported the rehabilitation of a health clinic in central Iraq that will benefit 250,000 people. The work will also build the capacity of local medical practitioners and encourage political stability and moderation by demonstrating that positive change can take place in the new Iraq. • A $13,000 ITI grant supported the publication of a health care association journal in south-central Iraq. The magazine helps educate health care professionals and the general public on modern practices. Members of the association previously participated in democracy trainings organized by USAID’s Local Governance Program, and are now working to reestab- lish health care facilities and disseminate medical information. • A $57,481 ITI grant helped to renovate a primary health care clinic in south central Iraq, providing new windows and doors, roof repair, and the installation of sanitation and water systems. The grant also supported dis- cussions with diverse community groups who identified improved health care facilities as a community priority. • An ITI grant valued at $53,163 allowed a second primary health care clinic in south central Iraq to rehabilitate its facilities. The grant provided the la- bor and equipment needed to install new doors and windows, repair the roof, sanitize the water system and replace damaged tiles. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 7 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE • Awarded more than 2,926 small grants totaling more than $236.9 million for quick impact activities that support good gov- ernance, civil society, conflict management and mitigation, human rights and transitional justice. • Funded over 60 grants totaling $3 million that focus on women’s issues, including sup- porting the establishment of 14 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 Iraqi access to information and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) is providing thousands of grants to support the activities of local government institutions and non- governmental organizations (NGOs). Below are highlights of recent accom- plishments in the areas Education and Public Services. • The local government of a governorate in south central Iraq rehabilitated a boys’ primary school in collaboration with the local community and with the assistance of an ITI grant valued at over $180,000. The school had been damaged in the military conflict and received new floors, furnishings and other essential improvements. A second ITI grant installed new floors, win- dows, doors and essential equipment at another school. • An NGO in central Iraq organized seminars on community values and de- mocratic participation for college students through a $17,500 ITI grant. The NGO is one of three in the area that works with students to identify small development projects based on university community needs. As part of this initiative, university departments submit project proposals and students elect the highest-priority project to implement and monitor. • Two ITI grants valued at approximately $200,000 each supported the re- habilitation of a college in south central Iraq, providing for the installation of new floors, windows, doors, and other necessary improvements to classrooms, study halls, and bathrooms. • A municipality in northern Iraq removed trash and rubble from a neglected neighborhood with the assistance of an ITI grant valued at $109,272. The project created temporary employment for approximately 40 residents in this multi-ethnic district. A grant from USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) helped a district advi- sory council in south central Iraq repair its local water supply network. Local authorities consulted with citizens and determined that the health risks resulting from a highly contaminated water supply system necessitated a plan for improving the network in the village. ITI’s assistance, valued at $221,100, provided the labor and equipment needed to enact network renovations that allow for clean and potable water to be supplied to the village of approximately 3,500 residents. An ITI grant valued at $40,000 supported the refurbishment of five local government directorates in northern Iraq – Departments of Water, Water Resources (irrigation), Agriculture, Electricity and Sewage. The ITI grant will strengthen the capacity of these five local directorates to provide basic services to the community, increase public confidence in the local govern- ment, and improve the quality of life in this multi-ethnic, multi-religious district. March 3, 2005 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 8 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 Municipal solid waste specialists from USAID’s Local Governance Pro- gram (LGP) continued to work with the Baghdad Mayoralty on the devel- opment of a landfill in the city’s northeast. During the past week, geo-tech testing and survey fieldwork were completed and the Ministry of Defense signed a letter granting permission to proceed with the project. LGP is also conducting ongoing training for Mayoralty staff members on managing and designing effective systems for solid waste collection, transfer, and dumping. Training will provide an opportunity for Mayoralty staff involved in solid waste activities to interact, ask questions, and address issues related to solid waste management. Finally, 658 dumpsters have been received by the Mayoralty. LGP specialists recently concluded a computer training course for 20 engineers and administrative staff members from the Wasit Potable Wa- ter and Sewage Directorate and the Al Kut Municipality. Training focused on building skills in basic word processing and computer use. The next step will be providing these agencies with training in report, agenda and meeting- minutes writing. Staff from USAID’s Local Governance Program in northern Iraq recently completed a five-day Institutional Audit and Strategic Planning Session with the Ministry of Municipalities in Arbil governorate. The session as- sisted the Ministry in generating its five-year plan using data that was col- lected over the past several months surveying how staff perceived the Ministry and its functions. Survey questions focused on obtaining the staff’s perspec- tives on the major strengths and weaknesses of the Ministry, its mission, threats to its mission, and how they envisioned the general public’s perception of the Ministry. The individual 30-minute interviews allowed them to speak freely, confidentially, and without the influence of others. March 3, 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 ● 9 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM The Community Action Program (CAP) works in rural and urban communities across Iraq to promote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government rep- resentatives, USAID is creating representative, participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK As a result of the military operations in Fallujah, most of the city’s popu- lation fled to different cities and villages. Staff from USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP) recently conducted a survey of displaced Fallujah fami- lies in the areas outside of Baghdad city. This survey included tallying the numbers of the families, verifying this number according to the ration cards, and assessing their urgent needs. Based on the results, it was decided that the most urgent needs were in the villages because of their poor conditions and lack of resources. 1733 families benefited from emergency assistance, with a total cost of $145,045. The distributed items consisted of food, medi- cines and winterization items. The rehabilitation of a Girls’ Vocational School in Karbala Governorate was re- cently completed through a cooperative effort between the lo- cal community and CAP. The school, the only of its kind in the city, provides commer- cial vocational training to nearly 1,000 students in fields such as ac- counting and sewing. CAP is awarding grants ranging from $500 to $25,000 to individuals in CAP-supported communities who meet specific conditions and criteria related to the development of farm and small and medium enterprises. The program will provide seed funding, training and assistance to vulnerable persons who would otherwise not qualify for a small loan or grant program. Grants will only be in the form of equipment and materials. Approximately 112 SME grant applications had been screened as of early January. Of these, 32 were approved (valued at $133,169), 17 of which were contracted. It is antici- pated that these 32 approved projects will create 135 long-term jobs, including 69 jobs for females. CAP is implementing an overall program in northern Iraq to help youth establish organizations and activities with democratic structures, and to be a force in reconciliation and stability. There are high levels of trauma, isolation and anxiety among Iraqi youth. Helping them organize themselves and develop activities will work against youth alienation and reduce the pool of potential recruits for terrorist organizations. March 3, 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. Students work in a newly furnished and equipped UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 10 COMPLETED ACTIVITES March 3, 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 the Iraqi Republican Railway line connecting Basrah with the port of Umm Qasr including physical track con- struction, installing culverts, and repairing gatehouses. This work facilitates the shipment of bulk cargo from the port to Baghdad 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 ● 11 FINANCIAL SUMMARY March 3, 2005 FY 2003-2005* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation Reconstruction USAID/ANE Subtotal: $3,870,261,027 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $23,031,886 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Architecture and Engineering Services Countrywide $31,328,264 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 ● 12 FINANCIAL SUMMARY March 3, 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: $157,593,161 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $8,196,194 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 ● 13 FINANCIAL SUMMARY March 3, 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 $22,553,653 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............................................................$4,825,454,428 * Figures in funding sheet are subject to change and do not represent a final official accounting of USG obligations. ** For accounting purposes, funding for this activity has been obligated by OFDA under an existing interagency agreement. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ● IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE ● 14