Fact Sheet: USAID/Iraq Accomplishments Fiscal Year 2008

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Page 1 of 3 FACT SHEET USAID/Iraq Accomplishments Fiscal Year 2008 The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a major partner in the United States Government 9s reconstruction and development effort in Iraq. Since March 2003, USAID has invested approximately $6.6 billion on programs designed to stabilize communities; foster economic and agricultural growth; and build the capacity of the national, local, and provincial governments to represent and respond to the needs of the Iraqi people.

Focused Stabilization: the Community Stabilization Program (CSP), USAID/Iraq 9s most direct contribution to the United States Government 9s broader counterinsurgency effort, had noteworthy accomplishments in 2008. CSP expanded its operations into volatile areas throughout Iraq where the insurgency was active in order to support the U.S. military's surge, initiating programs in Baquba, Basra, North Babil, Tikrit, Habbaniyah, Haditha, and Hit.

CSP leveraged the military surge in the "hold" stage of the clear-hold-build strategy by expanding employment opportunities and engaging youth between the ages of 17- 35. Additionally, CSP increased youth engagement activities by more than 400%, involving nearly 170,000 Iraqi youth in soccer, the arts, and life skills programs. The Community Stabilization Program also provided more than 4.6 million days of employment to Iraqi nationals.

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Sector: USAID/Iraq has helped fill the microfinance gap and stimulate private sector growth in Iraq, playing a lead role in establishing a micro, small and medium scale enterprise sector in Iraq, which substantially benefits women. In 2008, several milestones were reached: $200 million in cumulative loans to over 95,000 beneficiaries, significant advances in the operational and financial sustainability of 20 microfinance and business development service organizations, and a geographical reach that now extends to all of Iraq 9s governorates. USAID helped instill entrepreneurial skills to Iraqis through its consolidation of five Small Business Development Centers and the opening of four additional ones which provided business skills training for 1,800 entrepreneurs. USAID expanded the range of related business services to provide business consulting services, training courses, and direct and indirect support to the local business communities through activities and programs designed to strengthen and upgrade business knowledge and relationships. October 23, 2008 FS2008-110 Press Office: 202.212-6276 x1064 Public Information: 202.212-6276 x1066 Email: RNaj@usaid.gov www.usaid.gov/iraq Page 2 of 3 Internally Displaced Persons and Humanitarian Assistance: The U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and USAID/Iraq have been instrumental in assisting the Government of Iraq 9s Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) to manage information related to internally displaced persons. In 2008, MoDM was given the additional responsibility and resources to provide essential assistance to return or resettle the Returnees. OFDA continues, through implementing partners to strengthen the Ministry 9s capacity to manage this important, but complex initiative. USAID OFDA programmed more than $75.3 million in emergency assistance through additional support to its five existing implementing partners, as well as new support to two United Nations agencies; UNICEF and OCHA. In order to facilitate the returnees, OFDA partners renovated vital infrastructure, such as schools and roads; improved health facilities; repaired water and sanitation networks; created jobs; and distributed non-food items to displaced and vulnerable Iraqis. Democracy & Governance: The Community Action Program 9s employment opportunities produced 45,000 short-term jobs and approximately 14,000 long-term jobs. The Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund assisted more than 625,000 victims of war through its projects. In 2008, USAID also successfully provided critical information and rapid assistance in Sadr City when the security environment was fragile - with USAID coordinating closely with Military and Embassy officials. The Local Governance Program (LGP) has worked closely with Iraqis in all 18 governorates, in coordination with Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), to improve planning capacity at the sub-national level by working with Provincial Councils to develop Provincial Development Strategies. With the support of the Iraqi Ministries of Finance and Planning, and the U.S. government 9s Office of Provincial Affairs, LGP initiated regional conferences to guide participants from each Iraqi province through the process of formulating a PDS. To date, 17 of Iraq 9s 18 provinces have completed the formulation process. These development strategies will allow for an integrated public investment program that includes the investment of the sectoral ministries, and is guided by the priorities each province identifies. LGP 9s national policy team and public finance advisors have been active in helping provincial leaders sharpen their skills to expend funds for the public 9s benefit. The provinces have substantially outperformed central ministries in executing capital investment projects. More than 15,000 Iraqi officials have been trained by LGP this year. Page 3 of 3 In addition, LGP has launched a Geographical Information System (GIS) Base Mapping program in all Iraqi provinces and trained 50 engineers to work in GIS base mapping centers stationed in each province. These engineers are training more than 500 additional municipal employees in how to effectively use this powerful tool. Capacity Building: USAID 9s National Capacity Development Program known as Tatweer (Arabic for development) continued to work closely with the Government of Iraq to strengthen public administration and management; it has now trained 25,000 civil servants from all 18 provinces. More than 200 USAID/Tatweer advisors succeeded in assisting their ministerial counterparts to quantify their budgetary needs as part of USAID 9s civilian surge. Ministry of Planning allocated $10 million in its 2009 budget for capacity building programs. Ministry of Agriculture 9s senior leadership showed its commitment to sustainability by including the cAgricultural Strategic Planning Center for Training and Capacity Building d in the 2009 budget and allocated $5.8 million for initial construction costs and $5.1 million in operating costs. USAID/Tatweer also facilitated the finalization of the Master Statistical Plan for the Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (COSIT). The plan helps COSIT produce critical improved statistical reports. Fiscal Year 2008 Program Support: USAID/Iraq negotiated and obligated nearly $600 million for new and extended programs, across all technical areas and mission support services.

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