Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Department for International Development, following the
IDC visit to Iraq, February 2005
1. US AID STRUCTURES
FOR IRAQ
Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF)
The Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF)
comprises $2.48 billion for humanitarian and reconstruction work
approved in April 2003, plus the Supplemental Appropriation of
$18.4 billion approved in November 2003. The latter was allocated
primarily to: electricity ($5.6 billion), water resources and
sanitation ($4.3 billion), security and law enforcement ($3.2
billion), justice and civil society ($1.5 billion), oil infrastructure
$1.7 billion), health and education ($1.1 billion) and other infrastructure
($0.8 billion). In September 2004, primarily in response to the
security situation, about $3 billion was reallocated from longer
term investments, mainly in power and water, to more immediate
impact projects in the security and employment sectors. The US
Department of State reports quarterly to Congress on IRRF progress.
Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO)
The Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO)
is part of the US Embassy in Baghdad. It leads on policy and priority
setting for the reconstruction effort, and provides support and
policy guidance to the Iraqi Government through US advisers attached
to Iraqi ministries.
Iraq Project and Contracting Office (PCO)
The Project and Contracting Office (PCO) is
the main implementation body for IRRF, providing for the oversight,
management and execution of infrastructure reconstruction projects.
Most day-to-day programme management is undertaken by contractors.
USAID
USAID implements a number of IRRF financed projects,
including in infrastructure ($2.4 billion), local governance ($237
million), economic governance (US$183 million), community action
($166 million) and education ($108 million). USAID has also committed
$950 million in emergency relief by way of food aid and support
to UN agencies and NGOs, and provided the US contribution of $10
million to the United Nations and World Bank trust funds.
US Army Corps of Engineers
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages
reconstruction contracts from IRRF in a number of sectors, including
oil and gas.
Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP)
CERP provides finance for the US military to
undertake the equivalent of the UK military's Quick Impact Projects:
small scale local activities such as renovating health clinics,
digging wells and painting schools. By October 2004, 34,512 projects
had been completed and $578 million disbursed. Funds are drawn
from the Iraqi budget and US Department for Defense. Some CERP
money has been made available to UK forces. In October 2004 an
additional fund, Commanders Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction
Projects (CHHRP) was established to focus on small scale projects
in areas of high instability such as Samarra, Ramadi and North
Babil. $86 million was allocated from US funds, which is being
matched by the Iraqi government.
2. FREE PRISONERS
ASSOCIATION (FPA) GRANT
APPLICATION
There are several reasons why the managers of
the Political Participation Fund decided not to grant funding
to FPA following the FPA's recent project proposal:
— The project cost of over half a million
US dollars would have been by far the largest single grant disbursed
by the PPF. There was concern that the FPA did not have the capacity
to manage such a large project effectively.
— It was apparent from the FPA proposal
that a large proportion of the grant would go to FPA infrastructure
and equipment rather than capacity building or networking.
— There are several reports—unsubstantiated,
but impossible to ignore —which raised questions over the
reputation of the FPA in terms of financial management of funds
previously given by other donors.
The British Council's suggested course of action
now, with which DFID concurs, is for the FPA to submit a new proposal
for between $20-$80,000 with more achievable aims to the Civil
Society Fund. The team will also keep Ms Clwyd's office informed
of any further developments.
3. UPDATE ON
CIVIL SOCIETY
FUND AND
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
FUND
Civil Society Fund and Political Participation
Fund
NB It has become clear that linkages between
Iraqi organisations and DFID or the UK Government could inhibit
the work of Iraqi NGOs and potentially threaten their security.
Names of Iraqi NGOs and locations have therefore not been provided
in the tables below.
CIVIL SOCIETY FUND
| Civil Society Fund (CSF)
| | | |
| 2004 to 2006 | AIM: Strengthen capacity of Iraqi Civil Society Organisations to better address the needs of the most vulnerable groups.
| Mechanism to support the development of small and medium civil society organisations (CSOs) across Iraq. 80% of funds provided in the form of block grants to international NGOs to enable them to foster long-term partnerships with Iraqi NGOs and build local capacity. The other 20% will go direct to Iraqi CSOs.
| £5 million |
| | |
As at 24/2/05 £4.1 million committed |
| | |
|
APPROVED PROJECTS
| Organisation | Title of Project
|
| Funds Requested | Description
|
| |
| |
| Christian Aid in partnership with a Kurdish NGO
| Civil Society Development Programme |
| |
| £813,670 | Proposal to develop CSOs in Northern governorates.
|
| International Centre for Trade Union Rights in partnership with Iraqi trade union groups
| Trade Union work |
| |
| £94,390 | Training, and providing services to Iraqi unions and to influence labour law and policy.
|
| UNISON in partnership with Iraqi trade union unions
| Training for Iraqi |
| trade union leaders | |
| |
| £228,600 | Build the capacity of democratic Iraqi Trade Unions by training a new generation of union leaders.
|
| Women for Women | Building Women's Leadership Capacity
|
| |
| £515,000 | The project has 3 components:
|
| — | rights awareness and leadership training for women;
|
| — | building the capacity of women-focused NGOs by building a cadre of local trainers; and
|
| Salvation Army | Inter-agency training
|
| in delivery of humanitarian relief activities
| |
| |
| £240,000 | Proposal to train NGOs and ministry officials in delivery of emergency humanitarian relief activities. This project will work with local NGOs to build capacity to manage humanitarian work.
|
| Women's National Commission | WNC Internship Programme
|
| |
| £350,000 | The WNC proposes to provide 4 placements for interns to learn about the experience of the WNC in UK, and to build their capacity to engage with national policy-making processes on gender-related issues in Iraq.
|
| Mines Action Group | De-mining and mine safety education
|
| |
| £1.25 million | Mine clearance and education. Project will develop the capacity of civil society to reduce the impact of mines and unexploded ordnance.
|
| Save the Children UK | Partnerships for Development: Child Rights-based capacity building for Civil Society Organisations in Iraq
|
| |
| £559,722 | Two year country strategy plan, with three priorities:
|
| — | child rights based capacity building of CSOs;
|
| — | primary education for out of school 6-12 year olds; and
|
| |
PROPOSALS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
| War Child | Civil Society Capacity Building
| |
| | |
| £661,178 | Establishment of four local NGOs (one in each of the four southern governorates) to empower marginalised groups through the development of an association of NGOs, serving the needs of the most vulnerable.
| |
| | |
| | |
| Prince's Trust | Capacity building NGOs for Youth Development
| Building on previous DFID funded work (South Iraq Employment and Services Programme), with AMAR as a local partner to provide local linkages with 4 Iraqi organisations across the south.
|
| HelpAge | £700,000 |
Support to community outreach services in health and social welfare and refresher training for health and social workers possibly in collaboration with British academic institutions.
|
| TUC | Grassroots Iraq: building a grassroots leadership
| |
| | |
| £355,320 (may be expanded) | Work on a non-sectarian unemployed, women and disabled people's political involvement programme,teaching skills such as organising, negotiations, public speaking, web and radio based communication strategies, conflict resolution.
| |
| Norwegian Church Aid & Iraqi NGOs |
| |
| International Legal Assistance Consortium |
| Plans to develop the capacity of the Iraqi Bar Association.
|
| Serene Communications | ICT training and capacity building for women in Iraq
| Development of ICT skills to improve employment opportunities for women, using Community Development methods.
|
| AMAR | None as yet |
|
| Iraqi NGO protecting women victims of violence
| Protect Women Victims of violence £63,720 (or possibly £33,000)
| The project aims to care for women victims of violence, and to influence public and political opinion concerning the rights of women.
|
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION FUND
| Political Participation Fund (PPF) |
| | |
| | |
|
| 2004 to 2006 | AIM: to support the development of legitimate and inclusive political institutions in Iraq, to promote political and social cohesion
| Initiatives across Iraq to improve processes of policy-making or advocacy, the provision of public information and promotion of dialogue, voter or civic education. Funds will be provided to both international and local organisations.
| £5 million |
| | |
As at 24/2/05 £1.24 million committed |
| | |
|
| | |
|
APPROVED PROJECTS
| Organisation | Description of project
| Agreed funding |
| | |
| | |
| Arab Gulf Studies Centre | Political Awareness Research Project
| |
| 1 year | $59,000 |
|
| Iraqi centre for civic education | Rapid Voter Education and Domestic Election Monitoring
| |
| 1 month | $100,000 |
|
| Institute for War and Peace Reporting | Election Coverage Training for Iraqi Journalists
| |
| 1 month | $147,200 |
|
| Iraqi elections group | Domestic Election Monitoring and Co-ordination.
| |
| 1 year | $100,000 |
|
| Iraqi NGO | Rapid Voter Education
| |
| 1 month | $35,000 |
|
| Iraqi confederation | Iraqi Women's Voter Education
| |
| 1 month | $45,000.00 |
|
| Iraqi Centre | Elections Project in Maysan
| |
| 8 months | $59,100 |
|
| Iraqi democracy centre | Political Participation for Rural and Urban Dispossessed
| |
| 3 months | $41,500 |
|
| Iraqi group promoting civil society | Voter Education through Media
| |
| 1 month | $25,000 |
|
| Iraqi NGO | Political Awareness and Information Campaign.
| |
| 1 year | $50,000 |
|
| Iraqi Foundation | Voter Education "Give your voice, get your rights."
| |
| 1 month | $23,200 |
|
| Iraqi NGO | Women's Political Participation project
| |
| 2 month project | $28,000 |
|
| Iraqi women's NGO | Voter Education
| |
| 1 month | $12,820 |
|
| Iraqi women's NGO | Cultural Symposium on Democracy
| |
| 1 month | $3,850 |
|
| Iraqi NGO promoting advancement of women |
Women's Electoral Participation Workshop |
|
| 1 month | $22,000 |
|
| Iraqi women's union | Voter Education
| |
| 1 month | $20,800 |
|
| AMAR | Marsh Arab Political Participation Project
| $330,000 |
| Iraqi Centre | "Women Have a Right to Vote" Electoral Education Seminars
| |
| 1 month | $31,000 |
|
| Iraqi organisation supporting refugees |
Civic Education, Election Training & Civil Society Network project
| |
| To March 2006 | $300,000 |
|
| Iraqi Radio station | "Voices for Elections" radio programming
| |
| 1 month | $52,000 |
|
| Iraqi student coalition | The student coalition continues to distribute voter education posters and brochures.
| |
| NGO supporting Marsh Arabs in the political process
| Approved provided the length of the project matches the timeline of the PPF (up to March 2006).
| $580,000 |
| Ministry of Human Rights | Human Rights festival—completed. The British Council has disbursed all committed funds to the Ministry.
| $67,200 |
| Social Development Direct | Completed. 23 participants from 15 Iraqi Women's Organisations attended two five-day workshops on campaigning on women's rights and the political process presented by Social Development Direct in Amman, from 21 November to 2 December 2004.
| $260,000 |
| Human Rights NGO Conference | Representatives from 25 Iraqi Human Rights Organisations and a further 15 regional and international representatives attended a four day Human Rights conference in Amman from 10 to 14 December 2004.
| $265,000 |
| Iraqi women's NGO | The group has completed its media campaign encouraging Iraqi voters, particularly women, to ensure that they were correctly registered to vote by the 15 December deadline.
| $150,000 |
Proposals being developed
— Iraqi NGO promoting democracy: Political Participation
for the Rural and Urban Dispossessed (1 month $41,000 with a subsequent
$31,000 proposal for post election activity to be submitted).
— Iraqi Human Rights NGO: Southern Citizen's Empowerment
Project (4 months $92,500).
— Danish Institute for Human Rights: Civil Society
Electoral Participation Project (1 month $174,000).
— Basra Women's Political Participation Project
(£55,000 x 4 months).
— Iraqi NGO: female voter education.
— Iraqi NGO: female voter education.
— Kurdish NGO: voter education.
— Iraqi NGO: Street Children Conference.
4. WHY THE
BRITISH COUNCIL
IS MANAGING
CSF/PPF
DFID contracted the British Council to manage the funds under
the Governance Framework Agreement. This Agreement allows DFID
to set up a project quickly without having to go through a tender
process. The contract was awarded to the British Council based
on the quality of the consortium the Council put forward, and
because of the Council's proven experience of running similar
trust funds. The British Council has also been contracted to manage
a number of DFID-funded Small Grants Scheme country programmes,
for example in the Maldives.
The DFID Iraq team did initially consider CARE for the management
of PPF and CSF. However, with the worsening security situation
CARE decided that it did not have the capacity to manage a programme
in Iraq with national coverage. No other NGOs came forward to
be considered under the Framework Agreement.
5. DFID SUPPORT TO
AMAR
| Agency | Purpose
| Action to date and in progress |
DFID Contribution |
| | |
|
| | |
|
| AMAR | | |
|
| | |
|
| 2003 to 2004 | Provide medical and sanitary support to refugees in Iran.
| AMAR are providing basic medical care, water and sanitation and education to Iraqis living in refugee camps in Iran.
| |
| | Project completed
| £792,135 |
| | |
|
| AMAR | | |
|
| | |
|
| November 2004 -March 2006 | Marsh Arab Political Participation Programme, Southern Iraq
| Funding provided under the Political Participation Fund
| |
| | Project ongoing
| £315,217 |
| | |
|
AMAR has also expressed an interest in securing funding from
the Civil Society Fund (CSF), which will require a change in focus
from basic service delivery role to the new area of building capacity.
No formal project proposal has been submitted to the CSF by AMAR
as yet.
6. BREAKDOWN OF
£544 MILLION UK MADRID
PLEDGE
The £544 million pledged by the UK for humanitarian
and reconstruction work in Iraq 2003-2006 comprises:
— DFID (including our contribution of £38 million
to EC spending, 2003 and 2004): £422.5 million.
— Foreign and Commonwealth Office (mostly for CPA
secondments): £61.5 million.
— Ministry of Defence (Quick Impact Projects): £30
million.
— Global Conflict Prevention Pool: £30 million.
7. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ASIL AND ADAM
SMITH INSTITUTE
The Adam Smith Institute is a free market think-tank which
is concerned with trying to influence UK domestic policy. Adam
Smith International Ltd is not part of the institute but an independent
development consultancy which advises governments around the world
on various aspects of government and economic reform. It has contracts
with development agencies such as the World Bank, the Asian Development
Bank, the African Development Bank, and bilateral donors such
as DFID, DANIDA and SIDA, as well as governments in the developing
world.
Why DFID is employing ASIL in Iraq
DFID ran an open and fair competition, in line with EU procurement
regulations, inviting companies to tender for work to be carried
out in Iraq; Adam Smith International subsequently won this competition.
8. UNEMPLOYMENT
The Iraq Multiple Indicator Rapid Assessment survey carried
out in Spring 2004 by Iraq's Central Organisation for Statistics
and Information Technology (COSIT) in collaboration with Norwegian
research institute Fafo reports the overall unemployment level
in Iraq as 10.5%. This survey was national in coverage
and used the ILO's international standard measure of employment
as "having worked a minimum of 1 hour" in the previous
week.
An alternative definition of employment used by COSIT in
other surveys is: "having worked a minimum of 15 hours"
in the previous week. If this definition is used to interpret
the Fafo/COSIT data, the figure is 22.5%.
These two estimates can be interpreted as: while "unemployment"
by a strict definition may be 10.5%, "unemployment and underemployment"
is 22.5%.
These calculations do not take into consideration the low
labour force participation rate in Iraq. Whilst "unemployment"
may be only 10.5%, Iraq's labour force comprises only 41% of Iraq's
working age population. This may reflect cultural norms, for example,
women's participation in the labour force is only 13%. It may
also reflect large numbers of long-term unemployed who no longer
consider themselves to be part of the labour force. Since there
are no unemployment benefits, long-term unemployed have little
reason to define themselves as members of the labour force (unlike
in OECD countries).
March 2005
|
