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On Wednesday, October 17, 2012, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement to provide adequate protection and assistance to displaced persons and help the Ministry provide improved services to internally displaced persons and refugees.

The MOU formalizes the relationship between the U.S. government and the Ministry in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement, and calls for USAID to assist the Ministry improve its organizational structure, reform the procurement process, enhance customer service, and promote public accountability.

The MOU signing ceremony was attended by USAID Mission Director Thomas Staal and Minister of Migration and Displacement Dindar Najman. “The signing of this MOU reinforces our continued commitment to helping protect the rights of vulnerable communities in Iraq and assisting in their reintegration into society,” said Staal, while Minister Najman said that “This MOU is aimed at reforming the administrative sector, Iraq needs this project to help move it into a new era in which it is capable of managing its own resources."

USAID will provide support to the Ministry through the “Tarabot” administrative reform program, a 4-year, $156 million project to provide the Government of Iraq with broad support to strengthen public management institutions and improve service delivery processes through better governance and improved management of human and fiscal resources.

(Source: USAID)

A new report jointly compiled by the Iraq Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission and the U.S. Agency for International Development warns that over dependence on oil revenues has the potential of creating significant economic and market distortions.

According to the report, released at an October 4 conference in Baghdad’s Al-Rashid Hotel, rapid expansion of oil wealth, together with the other ingredients of an undeveloped market system and the legacy of decades of a planned economy are “a recipe for political and economic chaos” should a power struggle develop for the control of the government that dominates the economy and disburses billions of dollars in salaries and subsidies.

The Revision of Iraq’s Economic Priorities Conference was co-hosted by PMAC and the USAID-Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Program and brought together Iraqi leaders from the executive branch, the Council of Representatives, businesses, labor unions, and academia.

Thamir Ghadhban, chairman of PMAC, stressed the need for a clear vision for economic policy and a timeframe for the execution of its goals, pointing out that: "the transition from totalitarian regimes to pluralism, accompanied by the transformation of the state-controlled economic system to a market economy, is difficult and lengthy.”

On October 4, 2012, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission co-hosted an economic conference to discuss a new assessment report evaluating Iraq’s economic priorities.

The report was released by USAID’s provincial economic growth project, Tijara, and was commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission and USAID.

According to the report, Iraq’s economy grew 9.6% in 2011, but cautions that “Iraq’s over-reliance on oil revenues may jeopardize the development of a diverse private sector economy.” Today, more than 90% of Iraq’s revenue comes from the sale of oil and gas.

Among its recommendations, the report suggests a need to develop Iraq’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors, two areas that could provide employment opportunities for Iraq’s future generations.

“This is an exciting time to be in Iraq. There is no shortage of economic and institutional challenges. But the political leaders have in their hands the opportunity to make effective long-term changes that could bring prosperity and stability to Iraq and its citizens.” said Douglas Silliman, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

The purpose of the USAID-Tijara provincial economic growth program is to provide business development and financial services to Iraqi beneficiaries throughout all 18 provinces in order to grow the Iraqi economy and create employment opportunities. The program also supports the expansion of commercial lending though microfinance institutions and banks.

(Source: US Embassy)

The USAID-Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Program in cooperation with Iraq’s 12 microfinance institutions and Iraqi Microfinance Network will hold an Inclusive Financial Services Stakeholders Conference at Hotel Rotana, Erbil, on October 23 and 24, 2012.

The theme of this year’s conference will be “Iraqi Microfinance - The Path to Economic and Social Advancement”.

The conference will bring together leaders from 12 microfinance institutions (MFIs) that provide financial services throughout Iraq. The forum will also include Iraqi policy makers, donors, commercial bankers, regional network, international resource organizations and representatives from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Since 2003, Iraq’s microfinance industry has made 403,765 microloans with a total disbursed value of over $959.3 million as of June 30, 2012. Iraq’s microfinance industry at that date had 93,627 clients, 21% of whom were women, with an outstanding loan portfolio of $143.9 million.

Many borrowers operate subsistence businesses, farms, or cottage industries. Small companies create jobs which contribute to greater stability, economic diversification and prosperity in Iraq.

Participants at the forum will discuss opportunities for making financial services even more inclusive by discussing ways MFIs and the Iraqi microfinance industry as a whole can provide micro loans to larger numbers of the poor.

The forum will discuss the current Iraqi Microfinance legal and regulatory environment, review and plan for growth to the next level of microfinance in the next decade and beyond, reflect on key components such as good governance, social performance, diversified funding sources etc. to better serve the poor including vulnerable groups such as youth and women by developing new, demand-driven products that serve their needs.

UNDP, SANAD Funds, CGAP, Sanabel, Grameen-Jameel from the region along with the NGOs Directorate and Central Bank of Iraq will be among those participating.

For more information visit the Iraqi Microfinance Knowledge Portal at www.imfi.org or contact: [email protected].

(Source: USAID)

By John Lee.

On October 4, 2012, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iraq’s Council of Representatives (COR) to launch a joint program to improve access to the Iraqi legal system for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.

The signing ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Council’s Human Rights Committee Dr. Saleem Abdullah Al-Jabouri, and USAID Mission Director Thomas Staal.

“This MOU is another positive step taken by the COR to improve the lives of Iraqi citizens, including those who are most vulnerable” says Thomas Staal, USAID/Iraq Mission Director.

The agreement is part of USAID’s Access to Justice Project that seeks to raise public awareness of the legal protections available to Iraq’s vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, widows, orphans, and children; develop laws and regulations to protect these groups; and engage non-governmental organizations, civil society and Iraqi citizens in the legislative process.

(Source: US Embassy)

On September 25, the U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kurdish Regional Government's (KRG) of Iraq Ministries of Health and Planning supporting the KRG's efforts to improve primary health care, as called for under the U.S. - Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement. The MOU was signed by the KRG Minister of Health, Dr. Rekawt Hama Rasheed, KRG Minister of Planning, Dr. Ali Sindi, and the USAID Mission Director, Thomas Staal.

USAID is partnering with the KRG Ministry of Health to strengthen the delivery of primary health care services and ensure the availability of high quality healthcare to all of Iraq's citizens. The MOU highlights the commitment of both parties to improve Iraq's health care system through a collaborative working relationship and project co-financing.

The USAID Primary Health Care Project in Iraq operates in all of Iraq's 18 provinces, and is working to strengthen the management of the health care system, improve compliance with clinical service guidelines, and strengthen community participation in service delivery.

(Source: US State Department)

On September 20, the U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iraq’s Ministry of Education, outlining a partnership to support Iraqi efforts to improve primary education, as called for under the U.S. – Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.

The MOU was signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Mohamed Ali Tameem, and the USAID Mission Director, Thomas Staal.

The U.S. Government is partnering with the Ministry of Education on several projects to advance the education reform agenda of the Government of Iraq (GOI). The GOI’s Partnership Committee approved funding to support these development activities with USAID earlier this year.

The MOU formalizes the collaborative working relationship between USAID and the Ministry of Education to co-finance projects that enhance the quality of primary education, strengthen school management, and improve teacher training.

(Source: US State Department)

By John Lee.

The large format banner printer was the last piece of equipment to arrive, completing the first round of printer purchases for the Karbala Printing and Marketing Service Center, culminating many months of planning and hard work by the staff of the Karbala Business Development Center (KBDC).

Thanks to funding from the KBDC and a Performance Grant from the USAID Tijara Provincial Economic Growth program, customers from private businesses, universities, government and individuals can find design and printing services in Karbala for their business cards, menus, flyers, reports and banners without having to leave the city.

Ahmed Addulabbas Al-Waili, Executive Director of the KBDC formally opened the Center on 12 July with customers, staff of the KBDC and executives from the Karbala Provincial Council, Chamber of Commerce, Iraqi Businessmen’s Union and local NGOs in attendance.

Director Al-Walili said:

“The Printing and Marketing Service Center compliments our other consulting and training services for government and private business. We have a great design and production staff who will help develop marketing and advertising programs for our clients and do the printing here. It is a great addition to the Business Center!”

The Center has black and white and color printers which are used for many jobs from reports and business plans to business cards and menus. The large format printer produces vinyl banners and signs for use by businesses in retail stores, universities for backdrops for ceremonies, political parties for campaigning, trade shows and cultural events.

The staff of the Center will advise businesses on how advertising can aid in reaching more customers and in increasing their sales. The revenue from the Printing and Advertising Center will further support the financial sustainability of the SBDC to assist local businesses in Karbala.

On July 18, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Office of the Prime Minister of Iraq outlining American support for Iraqi efforts to reduce regulatory obstacles in Iraq’s private sector, as outlined in the Strategic Framework Agreement. The MOU was signed by USAID Mission Director Alex Dickie and the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minster, Dr. Hamid Ahmed.

The signing event officially launches USAID’s participation in the Iraq Solution for Regulatory and Administrative Reform (ISRAR) project. ISRAR will review and eliminate unnecessary regulations that hinder business and private investment. ISRAR working groups, drawn from both the Government of Iraq and the private sector, will produce reform recommendations to make it easier to start a new business, obtain construction permits, and facilitate trade with regional neighbors and the world. These recommendations will help significantly improve the Iraqi private sector, and Iraq’s ranking in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, which will assist efforts to expand investment in the economy.

Implementation of these reforms will send a clear message to the international business community that Iraq is rapidly creating a new economic foundation.

ISRAR is just one of a number of projects supported by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, under auspices of the Strategic Framework Agreement, to support efforts by the Government of Iraq (GOI) to improve the private sector.

By John Lee.

Out of tragedy has come triumph for the Khirbit family and the Hameediyah Mushroom Farm, once one of the largest mushroom farms in the middle east.

The family revived their business after receiving a grant and technical assistance from the USAID-Inma Agribusiness Program.

(Source: USAID-Inma)