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Iraq
EXAMPLES OF OUR IMPACT
- More than 105,000 civil servants have registered for USAID-sponsored public administration courses.
- USAID-supported microfinance institutions have provided more than 270,000 loans totaling $627.5 million.
- Farmers and agribusinesses using modern processes demonstrated by USAID have sold $107 million in goods.
CONTACTS
Mission Director
Dr. Alexander Dickie
USAID/Iraq
APO AE 09870
Tel: (202) 216-6276
Director, Office of Iraq Reconstruction (Washington)
Sarah-Ann Lynch
Tel: (202) 712-4716
E-mail: slynch@usaid.gov
USAID has increased productivity in fish farming, one of the most profitable agribusinesses in Iraq. Since 2007, USAID's assistance in Babil Province alone has created 1,230 full- and 11,340 part-time or seasonal jobs. Profit margins in fish farming often exceed 250 percent. (Photo: USAID) Overview
Iraq is the beneficiary of one of the largest efforts to provide foreign assistance by the U.S. government since the Marshall Plan. Since March 2003, USAID has implemented more than $8.5 billion in activities designed to strengthen infrastructure, stabilize communities, foster economic and agricultural growth, and help the national, local, and provincial governments better represent and respond to the needs of the Iraqi people. The partnership between the Iraqis and USAID has been critical to stabilizing and fostering a self-reliant and prosperous Iraq.
Programs
Governing Justly and Democratically
USAID supports democratic governance by promoting citizen input in meeting local development needs. It has assisted the creation of community action groups, training more than 4,770 members since 2008 to identify and prioritize public needs. USAID also works with Iraqi provincial councils in 15 governorates to assist in the planning of their development strategies. Fulfilling a need expressed by the Iraqi government, USAID has trained more than 7,000 Iraqi officials since 2009 in such areas as project planning and women’s leadership.
At the national level, USAID works with key ministries and administrative offices to bolster the expertise of mid- and senior-level civil servants and to help the Iraqi government conduct its own capacity building activities. Anti-corruption measures are built into programs at ministerial and local levels. To date, more than 105,000 civil servants have been trained, with the Iraqi government now providing the majority of courses on its own.
USAID also works to improve the capacity of legislators. More than three-quarters of Iraq's new parliament signed up for training in budget analysis, governmental procedure, and e-governance.
USAID is working to ensure access to justice for Iraq’s vulnerable and disadvantaged populations through a program to help vulnerable Iraqis learn their rights, gain access to legal aid, and know which institutions are responsible for protecting their rights.
Economic Growth: Integration with the Global Economy
To encourage private sector development, USAID-supported small business development centers provide Iraqi entrepreneurs with training and referrals to USAID-supported microfinance institutions, which have disbursed more than $627 million in microloans in the country's 18 provinces. In addition, USAID helped establish the Iraqi Company for Bank Guarantees, which incentivizes private bank lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Sixteen member banks have approved and disbursed more than 2,130 loan guarantees totaling $28 million. USAID is developing the financial sector's infrastructure and is helping establish a credit bureau, training institute, payments system, and centralized data repository system.
USAID is improving agricultural methods and linking growers to sellers. By forging domestic and foreign partnerships, USAID enhances the competitiveness of Iraqi agribusinesses, develops agricultural markets, improves livelihoods, and energizes Iraq's largest source of employment and second-largest value sector.
Investing in People: Improving Health
USAID's health promotion program supported the Ministry of Health's design, implementation, and evaluation of effective behavior change communication programs. This included a multimedia campaign to teach Iraqi children the importance of good nutrition and exercise. A new project, designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will improve primary health care services by strengthening the management and delivery of services, mentoring practitioners, and fostering community participation.
Humanitarian Assistance
USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) works with non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq's most vulnerable populations. Through its implementing partners, USAID/OFDA helps the Iraqi government provide a safety net for individuals and groups facing displacement, disenfranchisement, extreme poverty, natural disasters, and other hardships.
In 2010, USAID/OFDA programs helped more than 530,000 vulnerable Iraqis, the majority of whom were internally displaced persons (IDPs). USAID/OFDA provided shelter, enhanced their economic recovery, and promoted the use of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. USAID/OFDA also helped the Government of Iraq's Ministry of Displacement and Migration provide assistance to IDPs and refugee returnees, and responded to a number of conflict-related emergencies.
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