USAID Iraq Administrative Reform Project Monthly Progressive Report, March 2014

The Minister of Trade signed a letter eliminating import/export licenses, as recommended by USAID-Tarabot. This move was a major accomplishment, and the Minister's order will be fast-tracked through the political process to ensure prompt implementation. Additionally, USAID-Tarabot met with first cycle ministries to finalize its first package of recommendations, aimed at ensuring a smooth transition through the political process and quick implementation. USAID-Tarabot also marked the completion of the input/output analysis framework for the Iraqi economy on March 3. This milestone achievement was made in collaboration with the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) under the Ministry of Planning (MoP). The launch conference was attended by Deputy Ministers of Planning, as well as over 100 participants, including government officials and practitioners in national accounts. The new system establishes the relationship between input resources into Iraq's economy, such as raw materials, manpower, and financial resources, to the economic outputs. It will assist decision makers in identifying the added value in the local economy. The input/output analysis framework is based on the UN's international standard and uses 2010 as the baseline, with updates depending on the availability of economic surveying at the CSO. This new framework aids the implementation of the National Development Plan (2017-2013) by aligning its forecast with this framework and detecting deviation. USAID-Tarabot's DCOP, Nael Shabaro, spoke at the event, and a presentation of the new framework was conducted by the CSO with the assistance of USAID-Tarabot's advisors. USAID-Tarabot also participated in a three-day conference held by the MoP to launch the 18 standard bidding documents (SBDs), which it has been assisting the Government of Iraq to adopt along with other procurement processes. The SBDs are integral to the public procurement process to ensure they are open, transparent, fair, and equitable. The adoption of the SBDs by the MoP signals a nation-wide initiative to further Iraq's use of public procurement processes that meet international standards, and will pave the way for Iraq to become a more competitive marketplace for local and international businesses. The Council of Ministers Secretariat (COMSEC) together with USAID-Tarabot held a conference on project management and its impact on Iraq's development at the Al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad on March 19. The conference was attended by a number of prominent Iraqi government figures, including Rahman Issa, the deputy secretary general of COMSEC, and USAID Mission Director Sarah Ann Lynch. USAID-Tarabot works in partnership with the Government of Iraq to achieve tangible effects in the planning and establishing of vital infrastructure as part of its larger administrative reform initiative. USAID-Tarabot reviewed the Excellence program with COMSEC during a two-day workshop in the last week of March. The Excellence program aims to promote a culture of excellence in the Iraqi government, and USAID-Tarabot is working to support its implementation. The program is designed to promote a culture of excellence in the Iraqi government, and USAID-Tarabot is working to support its implementation.