Administrator’s Weekly Report
Governance
January 31 – February 6, 2004
HIGHLIGHTS
-- To date, 10 Provincial Councils have completed the refreshment process of becoming more
representative.
-- Local government progress includes the establishment of 78 city councils, 54 district
councils, 48 sub-district councils, and 138 neighborhood councils.
I.
Support Transition to Iraqi Sovereignty

More than half of the governorates in Iraq have Provincial Councils that have completed
the refreshment process to become more representative of their populations, in terms of
gender and ethnicity, than when originally chosen. The council refreshment process is
complete in 10 governorates and ongoing in the other governorates. Status of each is
contained in the following table (the three Northern governorates are not included):
REFRESHED
IN PROCESS
Qadisiyah
Babil
Wasit
Karbala
Muthanna
Najaf
Maysan
Dhi Qar
Basrah
Baghdad*
Diyala
Salah Ad Din
Ninawa
Tamim
Anbar
* Provincial Council is in the process of initial establishment.
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II.
Develop Civic Participation in Governance
Develop indigenous polling capacity; Provide women and youth with the skills necessary to
become important participants in the political process; Develop local civil society capacity to
conduct advocacy and participate in political life; Develop civic education programs promoting
electoral participation and democratic ideals; Build capacity for civil society conflict prevention
and mitigation

The design of the first public information materials promoting democratic themes is
complete. Coalition Forces (CF) and CPA, through the USAID Local Governance
Program (LGP), will disseminate this set of 1 million leaflets and 40,000 posters in all 18
governorates. In addition, five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have received
USAID Office of Transition Initiative grants to assist with distribution to critical
audiences in Baghdad and throughout the country.

The long-term plan for achieving indigenous polling capability is proceeding. Two
sustainable polling organizations are operating: the Iraqi Center for Research and
Strategic Studies (ICRSS) and the Independent Institute for Administration and Society.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz met with female Iraqi leaders in Baghdad on
February 1, for a discussion focused on the fair representation of women in emerging
democratic structures. They also discussed Resolution 137, which was put forward by
the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) stating that Islamic laws are to be applied to marriagerelated issues. The meeting included Songul Chappok and Dr Salama Khafaji (IGC
members), Maysoon al-Damluji, Deputy Minister for Culture, Mishkat Moumin of the
Iraq Foundation, Dr. Lina Abood of Iraqi Women’s League, and Shatha Hadi
Mohammed Alobiadi of the Baghdad Provincial Council Advisory Committee.

The Iraqi Women in Local Governance Group has been established in response to the
challenge of under-representation of women in political processes across Iraq. In January
2004, women in three governorates - Babil, Al Quadisiyah, and Baghdad - attended
women’s issues conferences, including a January 29, event featuring U.S. Secretary of
Labor Chao. A women’s conference is scheduled in Tamim governorate in midFebruary.

The Community Action Program (CAP) established 664 Community Action Groups in
16 governorates to enable and encourage Iraqis to address critical local needs. CPA
committed $44 million for 1,317 community projects across Iraq and provided $12
million in technical assistance. Participants have completed more than 666 projects.
Iraqi communities have contributed approximately 25 percent of total project funding.
By region, this progress includes:

North: 122 completed projects and 140 in development

South Central Region: 122 completed projects and 188 in development

Baghdad: 183 completed projects and 142 established community action
groups, with a special emphasis on income generation
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

South, 239 completed projects through 138 community action groups,
which include approximately 40 percent female membership
Three hundred and seventy youth have signed a pledge to join the Kirkuk Youth Forum
in Tamim Governorate, although the activities will not be limited to members only. The
multi-ethnic and non-political organization created in November 2003 focuses on youth
aged 12-20. Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen comprise the managing committee.
III.
Develop Framework and Capacity for Elections
Support creation of National Independent Electoral Commission; Promote Scopes of work and
Operational Linkages between national, regional, and local level election administration
authorities

Technical and resource planning continues for the implementation of caucuses or other
means, such as direct elections, to establish a Transitional National Assembly (TNA) by
July 1. CPA and the Coalition Joint Task Force (CJTF-7) discussed contingency
timelines to ensure appropriate allocation of logistical capacities, human resources and
security.
IV.
Support Development of Sustainable Political Parties / Associations
Support Development of Political Associations

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) awarded grants to the International
Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to develop a
political party building program. The NED will continue to develop their offices, design
training programs and plan for other assistance in promoting sustainable political
associations.
V.
Promote Respect for Human Rights
Educate on Human Rights Issues; Preserve documentation of past atrocities, raise awareness,
and promote reconciliation; Strengthen local capacity to investigate and address past atrocities;
Iraqi Special Tribunal (IST) for past atrocities and Iraq Property Claims Commission for
property disputes; Human Rights Incorporated into Laws; Develop Role of Independent Human
Rights NGOs and Media; Establish a Human Rights Ministry

CPA has collected over 700 summaries of past abuse and developed a database to catalog
these documents. CPA completed training for Ministry personnel on documentation and
conducting memorials. A documents stakeholder meeting is scheduled for mid-February.
CPA supported the IGC in drafting the IST statute and continues to assist in establishing
and launching IST. In addition, the Ministry received two proposals for mass grave
memorials.

The Iraqi Property Claims Commission (IPCC) for property disputes will open its first
office, in Baghdad, February 15.
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
The Human Rights Ministry has assisted in the development of approximately ten
indigenous human rights NGOs.
VI.
Develop More Accountable and Responsive Local Government
Support Organization of Citizens’ Advisory Councils per CPA models, with follow on training in
democratic practices, and/or support for interim representative bodies; Develop more
accountable and responsive local government; Work with civic groups to encourage
participation in local public affairs; Provide basic training for professional budget preparation
and transparent financial management;

The Local Governance Program (LGP) teamed with ICRSS to conduct a survey from
October-November 2003, to solicit Iraqi opinion on issues related to local governance.
Among the results in the local governance section is the relatively low percentage of
respondents who stated that there were neighborhood councils, district councils, subdistrict councils, and governorate councils (see chart below). This survey was conducted
to obtain a baseline of opinion in post-Ba’athist Iraq and to set targets for LGP
objectives.
Participatory Democratic Local Governance Process (P-IR-1 : P-IR-2)
Councils in your community
Efforts are being made to establish local governments in Iraq. As an initial step, a number of local advisory councils are being
setup across the country. Please answer the following questions, to the best of your knowledge, regarding the councils in your
community under new initiative.
Yes, 42.4
No, 32.7
Don't Know, 25.5
Is there a neighborhood council in your
community?
Yes, 39.6
No, 32.5
Don't Know, 27.9
Is there a district council in your district?
Yes, 48
No, 23.5
Don't Know, 28.5
Is there a city council in your city?
Yes, 59.7
No, 16.2
Is there a governorate council in your
governorate
Don't Know, 24.1
Yes, 67.3
No, 32.7
Do you know the name of your local
“mukhtar”?
Yes, 49.2
No, 60.8
Do you know the name of the local
governor/mayor?
0
10
20
30
40
50
Percent
60
70
80
90
100

LGP organized a workshop on “Management Accounting and Reporting for Efficient and
Effective Service Delivery” for 38 section service heads, accountants, and audit staff of
three Karbala municipalities and sewerage departments. The workshop leaders presented
practical examples of various reports and performance indicators that could be developed
and used by these departments.

Through the implementation of local governance activities in all 18 governorates, more
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than 19 million Iraqis are engaging in local policy discourse through local government
entities and civil society organizations. In addition, established local councils include 78
city councils, 54 district councils, 48 sub-district councils, and 138 neighborhood
councils.

The first in a series of LGP workshops on development and democracy was held on
January 25 in Najaf. Thirty-five representatives from local human rights associations
participated in the workshop titled "Constitutional Democracy: Rebuilding Society in a
Democratic Age." The participants were interested in learning about types of
government, especially those in the United States and United Kingdom, and in possible
political alternatives for Iraq.
VII. Promote Durable Solutions for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Facilitate the Return of Refugees and IDPs; Build Local and National Capacity to Protect and
assist Refugees and IDPs; Develop and Implement a Process to Resolve Property Disputes

Refugee returns continue. Returns from Iran average 600 persons per week as interest in
organized returns increases. Of the original 6,000 refugees in Saudi Arabia, 600 persons
remain in Saudi Arabia, but are expected to return by April.

Movements of people in the North have stabilized due to colder weather, but the IDP and
returnee population to Kirkuk is increasing. One estimate of the current Kirkuk IDP
population is 26,000, with new arrivals settling in a haphazard tent location on the
outskirts of the city. The most recent arrivals cite the capture of Saddam Hussein as their
reason for returning now.

The Iraq Property Claims Commission (IPCC) will continue to open offices in every
governorate in Iraq. A top priority is initiating public information campaigns to educate
and manage expectations. In the North where populations were asked to ‘stay put’ until a
property resolution mechanism is in place, expectations are that the IPCC will address a
broad range of compensation issues and not simply restitution of property illegally
expropriated by the former regime.

The Ministry of Displacement and Migration and the United Nations High Commission
on Refugees will co-host a planning meeting in Amman, Jordan on February 15-16. This
meeting will allow leaders in refugee and displaced persons issues in Iraq to create a
strategy to address the immediate and long-term issues for the Ministry.
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