World Bank Approves $335m Road Fund

The World Health Organization estimates fatalities at double that amount. Iraq has one of the highest fatality rates in the world and the second in the region with 32 fatalities per 100,000 population in 2010.

Road safety is expected to worsen even further and impose a heavy burden on the government’s ability to manage transport costs, medical care expenses, disabilities and reduced labor force participation.

The project focuses on building the capacity of national institutions to enable Iraqi staff to plan, manage implement and maintain infrastructure projects. In particular, they will be exposed to modern techniques in road management, international procurement and financial management procedures and environmental and social safeguards.

A Citizens’ Roadway Reporting System will be established whereby people in neighbouring communities will be able to provide feedback on the quality of roads and service areas. Ducts for fiber optic cables will be put in place to strengthen broadband access and people will be able to report excessive speeding and reckless driving, traffic accidents, potholes, missing guardrails, pollution, etc.

This will mean real time accurate information on travel delays, road conditions and temporary road works will be available. It will also enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of road management including communication and surveillance for traffic safety monitoring and axle-load limit enforcement.

With the high number of female-headed households, women will have priority to employment opportunities at the call centers that will be established at the road agencies. Iraqi women will benefit from government-sponsored training and have access to performance-related career development opportunities. Temporary employment will be generated targeting low skilled laborers in the bottom 40 percent of the population in Iraq.