Economic Governance
USAID works with Iraqi institutions to establish the enabling environment for sustainable economic growth. Assistance empowers policy makers to formulate and execute decisions based on economic data, and to implement modern best practices in economic governance. USAID projects provide a framework for private sector trade, commerce, and investment throughout Iraq.
Highlights this week
Twenty-six members of Iraqi economic journalist associations recently attended a USAID training on privatization. The journalists, representing one-third of the business reporters in the country, learned about the significance of privatization and explored its development and implementation in other countries.
With a strengthened understanding of privatization, these journalists can better communicate their expectations and insights regarding privatization to business leaders and the public. As a result of the training, the journalists can identify which countries have successfully undergone privatization and better convey its long-term advantages, including business growth and long-term job creation. USAID also plans to help the economic journalist associations increase awareness about key private sector growth strategies such as strengthening trade, investment promotion, capital markets, business management training, private bank lending, and microfinance programs.
The Iraq Financial Management Information System (FMIS) is online, with 41 of the 54 units in the Ministry of Finance able to access the system. FMIS is an automated networked accounting and budget execution system, allowing online access and a real-time centralized database for all Iraqi spending agencies. Already, 35 agencies have used the system to enter previous expense and revenue data, and have reconciled these with the Certified Trail Balances. Recommendations have already been developed for expanding the system to all remaining 128 spending agencies in the Ministry of Finance by the end of the year.
The Ministry of Finance Budget Committee, working with USAID representatives, has completed the first draft of the Expenditure Chart of Accounts for 2006. This is an essential step in budgetary reform, allowing the Ministry of Finance to accurately track and predict expenditures. Work has already begun on the Revenue Chart of Accounts in coordination with budget experts from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development.
Agriculture
USAID's goals are to work in conjunction with Iraqi ministries, the private sector, 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 learned valuable lessons from a corn breeding test program. The inbred maize program, begun last year in cooperation with U.S. universities, is the first step in establishing hybrid maize production in Iraq. Inbred lines are cultivated for specific characteristics, such as drought resistance, yet are relatively weak. When cross-pollinated, the resulting hybrid exhibits the desired characteristics.
From these trials, ARDI staff discovered that spring planting for inbred maize in Iraq is not optimal because the plants flower in late June, when the very hot temperatures interfere with pollination. Summer planting is preferable, because the plants will flower in early October's cooler temperatures and better pollination conditions.
Fourteen Ministry of Agriculture officials began training this week on the installation and operation of hose-move sprinkler systems. The hands-on, practical training will prepare the officials from 10 governorates to set up demonstration areas and provide training to farmers in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems. This training is the first in a series that will train 48 Ministry officials to operate and maintain a variety of irrigation systems. This irrigation equipment has actually been stored in warehouses in Iraq for several years, but the Ministry has lacked the practical knowledge to install and use it.
Many farmers depend on irrigation, particularly those in the southern arid regions and those throughout the country who grow high-cash value crops like vegetables. These farmers will benefit from access to the highly efficient irrigation systems. They'll also increase the amount of land they are able to fully irrigate, agricultural production, and annual income.
USAID has coupled regular agricultural checkups with training sessions in safe handling and disposal techniques of pesticides and herbicides to minimize the safety risks. Farmers received protective gear and modern pesticide application equipment, in addition to the proper types of chemicals to use on different pests and crops, appropriate measurements, and pesticide application procedures. USAID is also training pesticide dealers who are often a farmer's only source of information about chemical pest and weed control. The program emphasizes correct storage and labeling methods, in addition to other topics such as safe transport and use of pesticides, first aid, and minimizing the effect of pesticides and herbicides on the ecosystem.
National Governance
In the post-election period, USAID will continue to plan and implement a variety of programs, undertaken in full partnership with Iraqi counterparts, matching the needs of the evolving Iraqi democracy. In particular, USAID is accelerating support to the Iraq National Assembly and the Constitutional Drafting Committee.
Highlights this week
Over the past few weeks, a USAID supported International Advisory Group of 40 constitutional and legal experts worked with members of the Constitutional Committee. Visiting experts continue to meet with the Committee to offer technical advice and produce papers, upon request, on federalism, reconstruction and economic development, and options regarding outstanding issues of disagreement. Other experts have offered on-line advice on the constitutional drafting process.
The Constitutional Dialogue program launched in early July has reached 93,494 Iraqis through some 3,610 dialogues. The program will now transition to the Constitutional Education Program that will ensure Iraqis are aware of the content of the document and the meaning of key legal concepts and issues prior to the national referendum. The program will continue to offer technical training and financial support to the regional coordinating NGOs who supervise activities. NGOs and implementing partners have begun preparing training materials to help interpret and explain the draft constitution. Particular attention will be paid to Sunni areas where fewer Iraqis participated in the January 2005 elections.
USAID representatives recently recruited 180 election monitors for the Voter Registration Observer Program which will monitor the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq's (IECI) new voter registration process until the end of August. Stationed at nearly 550 voter registration centers throughout Iraq, they will report daily on new registrations and voter correction activities in rotating locations. Monitors were selected based on the recommendations of the Constitutional Dialogue Program and on specific criteria, including non-partisanship and a university education with a preference for law degrees.
To keep NGOs informed on the latest developments in the upcoming electoral cycle, implementing partners have also issued a civil society newsletter focusing on expected monitoring activities during the referendum and the subsequent elections. The newsletter contains information on the voter registration process, including how to find voter registration centers and how to register.
USAID hosted the "Women in the Constitution Conference" earlier this month which brought together 456 women from all 18 governorates to discuss the inclusion of women's rights in the constitution. The conference provided representatives of civil society and political parties with focus group research highlighting what women from across Iraq want to see in their constitution. Discussions were arranged for attendees with the Iraqi National Assembly's multi-party women's caucus, and a member of the Constitutional Committee who agreed to communicate recommendations from the day's discussions. Overall the conference was a good opportunity for women leaders to find advocacy partners in their efforts to secure rights in the Iraqi Constitution.
Three women's organizations, supported by a USAID grant program, are educating Iraqis on issues related to women and the constitution. For the past six weeks, the organizations have developed an extensive series of newsletters, activities, and seminars. While additional workshops will continue through August, preliminary numbers show that the three groups have reached over 1,500 individuals from most of the Iraqi governorates.
Local Governance
USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP) goals include promoting representative citizen participation in governance; strengthening the management skills of city and provincial administrations and civic institutions; promoting advocacy and participation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serving as a recruiting tool for future leaders.
Highlights this week
USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP) participated in a meeting with the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC) and elements of the Baghdad Provincial Council (PC). The PRDCs were organized to direct development projects specific to their particular governorate and are staffed by local government representatives with a limited USAID advisor presence. Each PRDC has been provided with a budget of $10 million to develop a portfolio of development projects. During the meeting, the Baghdad PRDC, which was represented by the majority of its members including senior executives from Baghdad Governorate and the city of Baghdad, submitted its list of proposed projects. The committee's efforts were acknowledged by the PC, USAID and Coalition Forces.
LGP advisors are also advising and improving Baghdad local governance by assisting the Baghdad PC and its committees to develop the professional administrative skills necessary for the efficient and transparent management of the governorate. This will help the PC deliver essential services to its residents.
- LGP offered guidance to the Economic
and Financial Committee toward the development of an accounting system
for the Baghdad Mayoralty. The system will be uniform in all the related
departments and will link the other 11 municipalities across the city of
Baghdad. LGP also provided guidance in developing financial records for
fixed assets including all PC furniture, vehicles and other properties.
- LGP is helping the Cleaning and Environment
Committee establish communications with the municipal and local councils
to solicit input and updates on the cleaning status in each neighborhood.
Garbage collection remains a serious problem in Baghdad. LGP advisors attended
a meeting of the Baghdad Service Commission to help the Committee develop
an action plan to address the issues surrounding the shortage of drinking
water. To this end, the PC sent an official letter to the Baghdad Water
Department requesting a complete inventory and status of vehicles and drinking
water tankers granted to the departments.
- LGP continued to assist the Legal Committee in writing the PC bylaws. The PC voted and adopted almost all the items of the new and revised bylaws and will amend any of the adopted items as the need emerges.
Community Action Program
The Community Action Program works in rural and urban communities to promote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government representatives, USAID is creating representative participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs.
Highlights this week
The Community Action Program (CAP) completed a project that provided support to the marshland communities north of Basrah through the revitalization of a boat repairing workshop which produces small fishing boats for use in the marshlands canals. Marshland residents depend on fishing and agriculture as their main sources of livelihoods. Such projects are extremely important to support the basic livelihoods and economies of these communities.
The Community Action Program (CAP) distributed school uniform kits to 1,025 students in a Baghdad primary school. Each kit contained trousers, a pair of running shoes, and a white school shirt.
Education
USAID's goals are to increase enrollment, improve primary and secondary education, ensure classrooms have sufficient supplies, facilitate community involvement, train teachers, implement accelerated learning programs, and establish partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities.
Highlights this week
With the assistance of USAID's Economic Governance program, the Basic Education program presented a capacity building training program for 59 Ministry of Education (MOE) finance managers, including the Directors General of Finance from the MOE and the Kurdistan Regional Government's MOE; the MOE's Directors of Finance, Budget and Accounting; and Assistant Directors from the Central and Governorate MOEs. Lecture topics included public finance, team leadership and management, performance measures, strategic planning, fiscal management, centralization vs. decentralization of authority, Education Information Management, and transparency. The training used a case study approach to introduce the participants to modern public finance concepts and exercises that represented real issues in financial management and administration. A key initiative of the Basic Education program is to improve MOE management and administrative processes.
The Higher Education and Development (HEAD) program is planning a conference on environmental health to be held in mid-September. A total of 214 people have registered for the conference, including 176 Iraqis from universities and the private sector, and 38 participants from the Iraqi government and the international community. Seventy-nine abstracts have been submitted by officials, medical professionals and scientists covering a wide range of topics. The abstracts have been reviewed by the program scientific committee and the list of presenters has been finalized. A booklet designed to communicate the objectives of the upcoming conference is in the final phases of development. The conference is supported by the HEAD partnership between the State University of New York at Stony Brook and several Iraqi universities to build capacity for teaching and research in environmental health.
The five Iraqi academics conducting research at the University of Hawaii (UH) have made substantial gains in their research. One academic has progressed rapidly in his research on plant pathology and disease. Another continues research on integrated pest management programs that minimize impact on the environment. A third is finalizing a proposal for research activities in documenting species composition and identifying native tree species. All of the academics recently attended a Watershed Hydrology course for teachers - during which they learned how to measure forest species diversity, gauge stream flow rates and other skills critical to applied hydrology and watershed management - and a seminar detailing ecological restoration and the establishment of pest-free sanctuaries. The UH HEAD partnership is strengthening agricultural research and education in Iraq.
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