USAID-Tarabot Monthly Progress Report August 2014

The project's focus remained on transferring and anchoring systems and knowledge within its partnering entities. The Iraq Solutions for Regulatory and Administrative Reform (ISRAR) initiative made significant strides in August. ISRAR met with the Prime Minister's Advisory Council to discuss the details of their recently signed cost share agreement with Management Systems International. All procedures and necessary documentation required to begin moving cost share funds have been finalized, and the transfer of these funds from the Government of Iraq to USAID-Tarabot will represent a significant step toward ownership of the ISRAR initiative by the Iraqi government. Six pilot initiatives have been developed for the implementation of the Iraqi Industrial Strategy by the Ministry of Industry and Minerals with the support of USAID-Tarabot. These initiatives aim to create a better business-enabling environment and include support for public-private dialogues, training young entrepreneurs, and producing a market intervention guide for the government. Additionally, Tarabot has been working steadily with the Ministries of Migration and Displaced, Human Rights, Environment, and Labor and Social Affairs to design implementation plans for their respective public policies, and to set targets, milestones, and performance indicators to gauge progress. The Governorate of Babil awarded a US $10 million dollar contract to an American consulting firm, Mantid International LLC, for the development of the governorate's five-year investment strategy and the implementation of their 2014 capital investment plan after months of technical support from USAID-Tarabot. Tarabot provided support in the development of a request for proposals, its announcement on dgMarket, the preparation of a short list, and guiding the bid analysis process. Tarabot continues to provide follow-up and technical assistance in contract implementation for the governorate. Tarabot worked closely with the Ministry of Planning this month to implement the Ministry's agreed-upon program of workshops regarding standard bidding documents. As part of this program, workshops were held for the Ministries of Interior, Defense, Construction and Housing, and Education, as well as the Governorates of Babil and Karbala. On-the-job trainings and workshops are key elements of Tarabot's support to the Ministry of Planning to build national capacity in procurement. Conducted jointly with Ministry of Planning staff, these activities also provide important opportunities for government staff to garner knowledge and experience regarding procurement and training, which will be crucial to sustaining Tarabot's work in procurement reform. Tarabot is working in partnership with the Kurdistan Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to establish a One-Stop-Shop in Dahuk, which will offer Social Safety Net services. Early this month, Tarabot senior management held a meeting with the contractor for the renovation of the center and to discuss implementation and the terms of the contract; soon thereafter, work commenced under the supervision of Tarabot to ensure necessary progress. Throughout August, USAID-Tarabot teams held 105 events (workshops and formal meetings) in 13 provinces. These events included formal assessment meetings, action planning, or implementation workshops. Tarabot Components, including the National Policy Management component, the Administrative Decentralization component, and the Kurdistan Regional Government, carried out a total of 105 events. The ISRAR Central Unit continued with its regulatory reviews, completing 1,163 reviews by the end of August. The ministries have completed 1,163 reviews, and ISRAR is reviewing feedback from the Al Shura Council regarding Tarabot's recommendations on various issues, including import-export reform, the ISRAR law, the construction nidham, and the One-Stop-Shop for company registrations. ISRAR will formulate a response to address the council's recommendations.