Iraq Success Stories - Meet the Beneficiaries
February 2006
Contents:
Radio Gives Women a Voice
Unfettered by political parties or governing powers, the women who work at Iraq’s first independent radio station redefine their community's understanding of freedom as they broadcast music and talk shows championing the rights of women. The Community Action Program provided a grant to purchase furniture and equipment to establish the station. This is one of 3,871 community development programs USAID has implemented countrywide.
USAID revitalizes an outdoor market in Kirkuk
USAID worked with a Kirkuk community to revitalize a local market. The market had degenerated and grown unsanitary. Now the market serves as an economic and cultural exchange with freshly paved roads and drainage system.
Entrepreneur Tastes Sweet Success
A USAID grant helped the Hasarat Sweet Shop expand its business to outlying regions and create steady local employment. USAID has awarded 323 grants to Iraqi small and medium sized businesses over the last fifteen months. This is part of a program to develop a competitive and efficient free market economy in Iraq.
By the People, For the People
The three day “Incorporating Human Rights into the Constitution” national convention fostered debate and dialogue about human rights issues within the constitution and resulted in eleven recommendations being incorporated into the final draft of the constitution. Through the Iraqi Civil Society Program, USAID provided the forum for Iraqis to instill their voice within the pages of the constitution.
A Social Safety Net Strategy for Iraq
In December 2005, the Government of Iraq (GOI) passed legislation to establish a social safety net targeting Iraq’s most poor and vulnerable. The social safety net initiative is an essential step in reforming national subsidies fuel, food, and electricity as required by the standby agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Currently, these subsidy programs cost Iraq over $12 billion a year.
Former Refugee Lays Foundation for Iraq
Abu Yahya used a USAID business development grant to purchase a stone crusher and generator. USAID has distributed 323 such grants throughout Iraq worth over $2.7 million.
Freedom of the Press
The first Iraqi National Media Pool celebrated its successful instillation on September 29, 2005. The pool represents over twenty five Iraqi press bureaus and grants Iraqi reporters access to high profile stories and instills higher standards of objectivity and professionalism in reporting. “This is a real development for media in Iraq it enables us to get first hand information, which before was inaccessible.”
Jobs for the Jobless
USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP) supports a non-profit carpentry workshop that employs twelve men and has trained thirty-five others, all of whom have since found employment as carpenters. This is one of nearly 4,000 small community development programs USAID supports throughout Iraq.
Art Rallies Constitutional Support
USAID’s Iraq Civil Society Program sponsored a constitutional art exhibit which toured Iraq a week prior to the referendum, en-couraging people to vote. The exhibit also showcased other ICSP programs including anti-corruption, women’s rights, and human rights educational and advocacy programs.
War Victim Becomes Entrepreneur
to help Iraqis who were injured by Coalition Forces during the 2003 conflict. The Marla Ruzicka War Victim’s Assistance Program has helped over 350,000 Iraqis reclaim their lives after loosing their homes, livelihoods and loved ones to the conflict. Using a small USAID grant, Nawfal built a shop outside of his home which generates income for his family and helps him re-integrate into the community.
Sewing Shop Provides New Opportunities
The USAID Iraq Community Action Program (CAP) works at the grassroots level throughout every governorate to foster citizen involvement in meeting local development needs. Coordinating with Iraqi communities, CAP assists local groups identify needs, developing and implementing responsive projects. The program works to mitigate violence, providing citizens with an opportunity to participate in decision-making and local development initiatives that affect their everyday lives. Iraqi youths and others benefiting from the employment and development
Independent Media in Iraq
USAID’s Iraq Civil Society and Media Support Program (ICSP) helped develop the National Iraqi News Agency, Iraq’s first independent news agency. USAID equipped their Baghdad headquarters with cutting edge technology and trained their journalists in editing and international reporting standards. Amid a sea of noise and deception, NINA strives to be a voice of fair, honest, reliable reporting for Iraq.
“Our Own Constitution”
As Iraq voted on the October 2005 constitutional referendum, a glimpse of Iraqi unity resounded throughout the country. USAID supported the vote by training tens of thousands of election monitors. It also funded a national constitutional education campaigns by distributing hundreds of thousands of posters, pamphlets, and sponsoring TV programs and community discussions.
Iraqi Communities Fight Corruption
USAID launched a national anti-corruption campaign under its Iraq Civil Society Program. The program resulted in fifteen recommendations from Iraqi civil society organizations being incorporated into the constitution, a public education campaign, and public surveys to determine the extent of corruption in an organization.
Training Iraq’s Future Leaders
USAID’s recently completed HEAD program created partnerships between five American and 10 Iraqi universities to aid the reestablishment of academic excellence in Iraq’s higher education system. Since January 2004, more than 1,500 Iraqi faculty and students participated in workshops, trainings, conferences, and courses in Iraq, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
Iraq Increases Non-Oil Revenue
The Economic Governance II program continues reforms in tax, fiscal, legal, institutional, and regulatory frameworks. In coordination with the Ministry of Finance, USAID helps policy makers formulate and implement policy decisions based on international best practices. Capacity building efforts at the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) are helping expand the ability of the CBI to develop and monitor an effective monetary policy, strengthen its supervisory role, and modernize banking operations.
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