Iraq Local Governance Program – Phase III Quarterly Report, October–December 2009

The program aimed to deliver neutral technical assistance to support decentralization and service delivery in 14 provinces. Despite initial enthusiasm for decentralization, the year ended with doubts about its realization due to increasing violence and challenges to the authority of the central government. The program's efforts were focused on delivering technical assistance to support the Provincial Powers Act (PPA), which granted authority to provincial councils to issue legislation. However, the central government's control over state responsibilities other than security led to a trend of recentralization. The program continued to provide support to subnational government, despite the complicated political environment. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the program assisted elected provincial officials in conducting service delivery pilots in 14 provinces. Anbar province chose to measure performance through pilots focused on sewage facilities throughout the province. In Ramadi municipality, program staff explained the importance of removing solid waste from the streets to Provincial Council members. The demonstration of hands-on opportunities to make a difference in the community helped raise the visibility of local officials and increased citizen recognition and positive reaction. Babil province focused on fiscal decentralization, with efforts to establish a more transparent and accountable system for local revenue generation. The program provided technical assistance to support the development of a provincial budget and the implementation of a public finance management system. In Baghdad, collaboration between the governor's office and the Provincial Council led to improved monitoring and oversight of service delivery. The program supported the development of a service delivery performance measurement system and provided training to provincial officials on its use. Basrah province continued to prioritize local revenue generation, with a focus on increasing tax collection and improving the efficiency of public services. The program provided technical assistance to support the development of a provincial development strategy and the implementation of a public-private partnership framework. In Diyala province, the program supported the organization of a civilian surge, with a focus on building the capacity of local security forces and improving service delivery. Salah ad Din province focused on community outreach and engagement, with efforts to increase the legitimacy of local government. The program provided technical assistance to support the development of a provincial development plan and the implementation of a public finance management system. The program also supported the establishment of a geographic information system to improve the planning and delivery of public services. The program's work element activities included provincial council and governor orientation, capital investment planning and budgeting, oversight and accountability of services delivery, organizational development and systems, and supporting sustainable national institutions. The GAPTIS 2.0 rollout continued, with a focus on improving the tracking and monitoring of provincial development projects. The program also supported the development of a high commission for coordination of the provinces, which aimed to improve coordination and cooperation between provinces. Financial data for the quarter showed a total expenditure of $X million, with a breakdown by cost category. The program's estimates for the next quarter included a total expenditure of $Y million, with a focus on supporting the implementation of provincial development plans and the delivery of public services. The program's policy briefs, annexed to this report, provided a summary of key findings and recommendations for the next quarter.