Iraq Local Governance Program – Phase III Quarterly Report, January–March 2009

This law was passed in 2008 and became effective with the 2009 provincial elections. During the first quarter of 2009, significant effort was devoted to program start-up, including hiring personnel, establishing facilities, and coordinating with Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and other USAID programs. A major focus of LGP III is to provide capacity building to provincial officials, elected officials, and their staff. To achieve this, the program developed and launched its annual work plan, which was guided by the LGP III Task Order and the RTI technical proposal. The work plan development process involved several workshops, including a workshop in Hilla, a workshop in Karrada, and a cross-fertilization workshop in Basrah. The Hilla workshop, held from January 11 to 16, 2009, brought together expatriate subject matter advisors, the work plan development team, Iraqi subject matter professionals, and representatives from the provinces of Babil, Karbala, Najaf, and Wasit. The workshop was divided into five groups, each discussing one of the LGP III proposed elements. The Karrada workshop, held from January 18 to 23, 2009, was similar to the Hilla workshop and involved participants from the provinces of Baghdad, Diyala, and Salah ad Din. The cross-fertilization workshop, held from February 4 to 7, 2009, brought together 35 Iraqi and 10 international advisors from all provinces to discuss and merge each element of the project. The workshop resulted in the development of a national work plan, which was submitted to USAID on February 9, 2009. The provincial work plans were updated accordingly and submitted on February 12, 2009. The LGP III training plan was developed using an iterative methodology through exchange visits between international and Iraqi staff. The top priority is the orientation of newly elected provincial councilors and governors, which was developed using the same methodology. The training plan includes training on the PPA, provincial budget preparation and execution, quality of services delivery, GIS, GAPTIS, and training of trainers. The assessment and evaluation (A&E) senior advisors conducted field visits to LGP III regional hubs in Hilla and Baghdad to begin the process of collecting basic information from subject matter experts (SMEs) who can assist in developing assessment tools for assessing the PCs and governors' offices. The A&E representatives in Salah ad Din and Basrah conducted similar assessments, recommending that assessments begin once the newly elected officials are seated and a governor is chosen. The LGP III work plan was reviewed by LGP III management and RTI home office staff to produce a final version of the national work plan. The national work plan was submitted to USAID on February 9, 2009, and the provincial work plans were updated accordingly and submitted on February 12, 2009. USAID provided comments on the submitted versions, which were incorporated into amended versions submitted on March 17, 2009. The LGP III received USAID's approval on the same day. The LGP III program has made significant progress in developing its work plan and training plan, which will provide capacity building to provincial officials, elected officials, and their staff. The program has also begun the process of collecting basic information from SMEs to develop assessment tools for assessing the PCs and governors' offices.