USAID Support to the Iraq Election Process
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-105
November 18, 2004
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announces support to the Iraqi election process through a cooperative agreement to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process (CEPPS), a consortium of three U.S. non-governmental organizations, and a $40 million grant to the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) to support the Independent Election Commission of Iraq (IECI).
The CEPPS consortium consists of the International Republican Institute (IRI), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and IFES and is supporting civic involvement in the upcoming Iraq elections scheduled for late January 2005. Specific areas of support are (1) voter education, which includes educating voters on broad issues of democracy, participation, and elections, (2) providing Iraq election monitors, and (3) conflict prevention.
The separate IFES grant is providing technical and operational elections assistance to the IECI. The grant is assisting IECI in establishing an election administration body and preparing for a series of transitional election operations. The grant also supports the IECI in establishing facilities; procuring election supplies and goods; security for storage and transport of election materials; and recruitment and training of thousands of permanent and temporary staff. USAID support to the IECI is coordinated with the UN Election Assistance Mission in Iraq.
The grant and the cooperative agreement are part of the U.S. government's reconstruction assistance to the Iraqi people aimed at improving stability, ensuring the delivery of essential services, and facilitating economic recovery. Since the start of the reconstruction period, USAID has obligated over $4.2 billion. For more information on USAID's humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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