GOVERNANCE STRENGTHENING PROJECT (GSP/TAQADUM)

Transcription

1 GOVERNANCE STRENGTHENING PROJECT (GSP/TAQADUM) QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT (Y5Q2) JANUARY 1, 2016 MARCH 31, 2016 April 30, 2016

2 GOVERNANCE STRENGTHENING PROJECT (GSP/TAQADUM) QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT (Y5Q1) JANUARY 1, 2016 MARCH 31, 2016 SUBMITTED BY CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL April 30, 2016 Contract No. AID-267-C Deliverable No. D DISCLAIMER This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of Chemonics International, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

3 CONTENTS ACRONYMS... III A. OVERVIEW... 1 BACKGROUND...1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES...2 Major Elements...2 B. SUMMARY OF KEY ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS... 4 POST-CONFLICT: SPECIAL UPDATE...4 JANUARY A NEW YEAR BEGINS...8 GSP/TAQADUM S e-communication AND e-tracking WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS WASIT S e-governance SUCCESSES SOON TO BE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT IRAQ...8 SPECIAL EVENT...13 FEBRUARY MARCH C. FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES / ELEMENTS...37 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (C3)...37 (C3.1) Building Capacity in the Performance of Transferred Functions/Services (C3.2) Process Mapping of Citizen Related Functions and Services in 12 Provinces GSP/TAQADUM-INITIATED PROCESS MAPPING AND STREAMLINING OF SERVICES PAVING THE WAY TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK (C4)...42 Defining Terms Nuts and Bolts WASIT S FAD FULLY OPERATIONAL THANKS TO GSP/TAQADUM S SUPPORT DHI QAR S AN-NASIRIYAH PARK REHABILITATION GENERATES JOY AND MUCH-NEEDED LOCAL REVENUE LEGAL FRAMEWORK (C5)...49 (C5.1) Resolve Legal and Regulatory Issues Related to Decentralization (C5.2) Assist Governor s Offices (GOs) to Define and Develop Management Roles, Responsibilities, Authorities, and Relations between the GO and the Directorates (5.3) Coordinate among the Provincial Councils and Governors to Define their Legal Authorities and Roles in Monitoring and Oversight, in Accordance with Law SERVICE DELIVERY (S1, S2)...54 Achievements (Five Southern Provinces): Next Steps (Five Southern Provinces: ): Achievements (Seven Targeted Provinces: Babil, Baghdad, Diyala, Diwaniyah, Kirkuk, Najaf, and Wasit): 55 Next Steps (Seven Targeted Provinces): GSP/TAQADUM SUPPORTS BUILDING TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST VIA TWO-WAY e- COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS: GOVERNMENT-TO-CITIZEN AND CITIZEN-TO- GOVERNMENT SDIP-INITIATED PARENT COUNCIL DONATES TIME AND FUNDS TO REPAIR AL-FARAQED PRIMARY SCHOOL PAVING ROADS TO SECURITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND IMPROVED GOVERNANCE 61 BABIL EDUCATORS AND PARENTS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND REFURBISH SCHOOL IN THE FACE OF BUDGET GAP D. LETTERS...65 GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 i

4 E. GSP/TAQADUM IN THE MEDIA...74 F. LOOKING FORWARD...80 G. SECURITY REVIEW JANUARY 1 MARCH 31, MILITARY OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE TERRORISTS...82 MOSUL DAM UPDATE...83 POLITICAL FRONT...83 REPORT ANNEXES...84 ANNEX A: STATUS OF GSP/TAQADUM ACTIVITIES...84 ANNEX B: PERFORMANCE INDICATORS...91 ANNEX C: STAFFING LONG TERM SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF ANNEX D: COMPLETED AND ONGOING PROCUREMENT ANNEX E: COST SHARING GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 ii

5 ACRONYMS ARDP BM CG COM COMSEC COP COR CORRPC CSD CSO CSS DMAP ESDO FAD FMIS FTT GAF GAT GO GOI GSP GSP/Taqadum HCCP HCCPSEC HCAR HR ICIP IDP IDS ILA IOG IOM ISF IS ISIL Accelerated Reconstruction Development Plan Benchmark Consul General Council of Ministers Council of Ministers Secretariat Chief of Party Council of Representatives Council of Representatives Regions and Provinces Committee Citizen Services Desk Civil Society Organization Citizen Satisfaction Survey Decentralization Mapping and Analysis Plan Essential Service Delivery Oversight Financial Affairs Directorate Financial Management Information System Field Technical Team Gap Analysis Form Gap Analysis Template Governor s Office Government of Iraq Governance Strengthening Project Governance Strengthening Project/Taqadum High Commission for Coordination between Provinces High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat High Commission for Administrative Reform Human Resources Intergovernmental Coordination Implementation Plan Internally Displaced Person Iraq Development and Sustainability Implementer s Letter of Agreement Institute on Governance (Canadian-funded) International Organization of Migration Iraqi Security Forces Islamic State The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 iii

6 IT ITRS KRG Law 21 LOP LDF LRC LRU LT LTTA M&E MOA MOCHPM M&O MOE MOF MOH MOHE MOLSA MOP MOSGA MOU MOYS MMPW NDP NGO OCHA OD OSF PC PM PMAC PMP PM&E PPDC PPL PMO Information Technology Issue Tracking and Reporting System Kurdistan Regional Government Provincial Powers Act (2008) or Transfer of Functions Law, calling for decentralization of the government and the transfer of suitable ministerial functions to the provincial governments Life of Project Local Development Fund Legal Reform Committee Local Revenue Unit Long-term Long-term Technical Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities Monitoring and Oversight Ministry of Education Ministry of Finance Ministry of Health Ministry of Health and Environment Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Ministry of Planning Ministry of State for Governorates Affairs Memorandum of Understanding Ministry of Youth and Sports Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works National Development Plan Non-Governmental Organization Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Organizational Development Organization System Form Provincial Council Prime Minister Prime Minister s Advisory Commission Performance Monitoring Plan or PMP Performance Management Plan Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Provincial Planning and Development Councils Provincial Powers Law Project Management Office GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 iv

7 SAB SC SCADA SD SDC SDI SDIP SDIPIC SDIPDC SDPS SDSR SLIT SMART SOPs SOW SP SPMS SS ST STTA SWOT TA Taqadum TD TCMS TTF TOT TSI USAID USG VPTR WR Supreme Audit Board Sectoral Subcommittee Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Service Delivery Service Delivery Committee Service Delivery Improvement Service Delivery Improvement Plan Service Delivery Improvement Plan Implementation Committee Service Delivery Improvement Plan Development Committee Service Delivery Performance Standards Service Delivery Status Report Sub-legislation Implementation Tracking Specific-Measureable-Achievable-Realistic-Timebound Standard Operating Procedures Scope of Work Strategic Plan Standard Performance Management System Success Story Short-term Short-term Technical Assistant Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats Technical Assistance Arabic for moving forward Treasury Department Trash Collection Management System Technical Task Force Training of Trainers Technical Support to Iraq (Program) United States Agency for International Development United States Government Volatile Provinces Tracking Room Weekly Report GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 v

8 A. OVERVIEW Per Section F.7A (a) of Contract AID-267-C this Quarterly Performance Report summarizes the activities and accomplishments of the Governance Strengthening Project (GSP/Taqadum) for the second quarter of FY2016, from January 1 to March 31, democratic decentralization, involving the transfer of administrative, fiscal, and political power, is necessary for decentralization to be successful and for sustainability to be a reality. Democratic decentralization is significantly strengthened when mechanisms are created at the local level to facilitate the local level planning process, linking government staff to civil society. Such partnership often necessitates a change in the mind-set of its members as well as resources devoted to strengthening the capacities and skills necessary for effective facilitation of such processes Experiences from India, extracted from UNDP, Draft Report on Global Workshop on UNDP/MIT Decentralized Governance Research Project, Amman, Jordan, June 14-16, 1998, p. 3 BACKGROUND Since its inception in 2011, USAID/Iraq s GSP/Taqadum Project has engaged with provincial leaders to increase accountability and transparency in local governance and improve provincial-level service delivery. The key element throughout the project has been building the capacity of the local government to better provide services to its citizens. We have made advances in building the capacity of provincial governments to plan and deliver services with the participation of their constituents. Designed to transfer knowledge and strategies through innovative standardized systems and effective methodologies, GSP/Taqadum has worked side-by-side with provincial leaders and their staff and developed a unique and wide-ranging set of tools. The transfer of these tools, processes, and methodologies to local governments ensures replication and will sustain Iraq s provincial government organizational structure far into the future, thus benefitting citizens for generations to come. Leveraging technical expertise, decades of shared experience, and a deep commitment to support Iraq s decentralization process in ways that are best for the country and its citizens, our overall goal has been and remains, to prepare plans whereby Article 45 of Law 21, as amended, (also known as the Provincial Powers Act (2008) or Transfer of Functions Law), is implemented. In doing this, GSP/Taqadum has been guided by the following six main steps: 1. Forming and training of provincial task forces and sectoral committees. 2. Identifying and diagnosing the as is situations related to the functions, roles, relationships, laws, regulations, and instructions within the local directorates and their relationships with the targeted ministries, the Governors Offices (GOs), and provinces. 3. Defining, analyzing, categorizing, and assigning ministerial functions to the appropriate level of governments based on comprehensive criteria and elements. 4. Developing financial, administrative, and legal frameworks for the transfer of functions. 5. Discussion and agreement on the functions mapped and those to be transferred between central and provincial governments. 6. Building the capacity of the provincial directorates and GOs to receive and perform the functions transferred efficiently and effectively. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 1

9 Law 21 was amended for the second time in June Passage of this second amendment mandates that governance will be decentralized by delineating certain powers to provincial levels of government, enabling them to enact provincial legislation, regulations, and procedures; and transferring suitable technical, legal, and administrative powers or ministerial functions of eight ministries to provincial governments of provinces not incorporated into a region. The passage of this amendment presented a unique window of opportunity for the U.S. Government to sustain and deepen its investment in local governance and provincial service delivery. At the same time, it represented an urgent challenge for USAID to maximize provincial capacity building over an admittedly short timeframe and when corruption and gaps in capacity still pervade provincial-level legal, financial, and human resource systems. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES MAJOR ELEMENTS GSP/Taqadum has worked with 15 targeted provinces (Anbar, Babil, Baghdad, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Diyala Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, Muthanna, Najaf, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, and Wasit) and three targeted ministries (Municipalities and Public Works, Health, and Education) to develop and implement plans for administrative decentralization, based on Law 21, as amended, consisting of two major components: 1. Transfer of Functions develop/implement an Intergovernmental Coordination Implementation Plan (ICIP) by way of consensus, which identifies tasks, services, and competencies to be gradually transferred from the federal to provincial levels of government, based on Article 45 of Law 21, as amended and supported by legal, administrative, and financial frameworks. GSP/Taqadum works in cooperation with the various levels of government to apply these plans and frameworks, as well as build their capacity and system to successfully and sustainably complete the transfer process. 2. Delivery of Citizen-centered Community Services develop/implement Service Delivery Improvement Plans (SDIPs). GSP/Taqadum works in cooperation with local government entities to complete and apply plans that will delivery citizen-centered services (municipality, sewer, water, primary education and primary health care) in the provincial communities to actually improve the lives of the Iraqi people. These two elements combined the transfer of functions and the delivery of citizen-centered community services are agents of stability and security that will help to foster the sustainable peaceful coexistence of all Iraqis. During this quarter, GSP/Taqadum continued moving forward toward fulfilling its Phase III project objectives: Reach consensus among the eight added provinces on the previously developed ICIP already agreed to by the originally targeted seven provinces Implement the ICIP to facilitate the actual transfer of functions from ministerial to local governments Enhance provincial budgeting, financial management, and internal control systems Develop/implement a systemized, provincial process for service delivery improvement Draft new and amend existing laws and regulations to harmonize them in support of decentralization Process map and streamline citizen-related functions/services using the as is process chart; GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 2

10 and followed with a communications and outreach program aimed at informing citizens as to the steps they need to follow in order to get the services they need Build the capacity of local government staff on local revenue generation and collection Build the capacity of local government to perform devolved functions GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 3

11 B. SUMMARY OF KEY ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS This quarter began and ended with continued political uncertainty regarding the status of Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Al-Abadi s proposed reforms and revisions of those reforms. The economic crisis continued unabated and by the end of the quarter, things were as murky as they were at the start, yet at the same time the issues were evolving, pushed by citizens taking action. As Prime Minister Al-Abadi s reforms stalled and were delayed, demonstrations grew across the central and southern provinces as thousands took to the streets demanding their immediate implementation. [Note: See the Security Review on PG 83 for a more in depth recap of this situation.] Throughout all, GSP/Taqadum stayed on track, steadily working in coordination with local government entities, moving proactively when asked or when the need arose, remaining focused on creating sustainable tools and systems to improve delivery of services to Iraq s citizens that will long out last our presence. Indeed, having begun to lay the groundwork in April 2015 at the request of the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works (MMPW), the project continued its initiative to support post-conflict recovery in Anbar, Ninawa, and Salah ah Din and the restoration of stability once the three provinces were liberated. It is here we begin this quarter s review of our activities and achievements, first recapping our post-conflict successes, before providing a summary of our many other activities and successes. POST-CONFLICT: SPECIAL UPDATE The recapture of Ramadi offered GSP/Taqadum its first opportunity to truly apply the project s postconflict initiative. Springing into action, GSP/Taqadum launched its provincial post-conflict support system, previously prepared in cooperation with Anbar government officials. On December 25, GSP/Taqadum met with five (male) GO officials, including Governor, Mr. Suhaib Mahmood, who had just arrived from visiting Ramadi. Assuring all that some areas would soon be ready to receive returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Governor Mahmood stressed the need to follow the stability restoration plan developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. Governor Mahmood immediately held a series of meetings with stakeholders and entrusted the post-conflict Field Technical Teams to conduct damage assessments using the forms developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum and Directorate experts. To understand more clearly the actions taken by Anbar s provincial government, and follow up on the post-liberation work of the FTTs in Ramadi, on January 13, 2016, GSP/Taqadum hosted a meeting with a delegation from Anbar s Governor s Office. Participants included USAID/Iraq Contracting Officer Representative, Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim; GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party (COP), Mr. Cameron Berkuti; Regional Manager, Mr. Wisam Al-Dujaili; and Anbar Provincial Coordinator, Mr. Abdul Basit Hamadi; and Anbar representatives Governor Technical Advisor and member of Local High Committee for Restoring Stability (LHCRS), Mr. Jasim Abdullah; Governor Engineering staff and FTT member, Mr. Anas Wahab; and Municipal Engineer and FTT member, Mr. Abdulqadir Nassar. According to the Anbar delegation, following Prime Minister (PM), Dr. Haider Al-Abadi s January 3, 2016 visit to Ramadi, the PM issued an order establishing the National High Committee for Restoring Stability (NHCRS), to be chaired by Governor Mahmood and consist of 15 Deputy Ministers, each with the authority of their respective to take required actions. The following tasks were assigned to the NHCRS: 1) clear explosives from Ramadi; 2) provide basic services; 3) provide GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 4

12 stability for returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); 4) work with the Construction Fund to begin the post-conflict reconstruction phase, and 5) support the LHCRS. Briefing participants on the current security situation in the province, security achievements made on the ground, and the positive impact of these achievements on the morale of the people of Anbar, as well as the pressure to return IDPs to their homes, the Anbar delegation stressed that the FTT has not been able to begin its work because the military had not yet given it clearance to enter Ramadi because of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Anbar Governor Technical Advisor and a member of the LHRS, Governor Advisor Abdullah, announced that coordination efforts were underway with ministries to mobilize necessary human resources, vehicles, and equipment from other provinces to commence the restoration of services within Ramadi; and that only once Ramadi was reconstructed, and service delivery to citizens restored, would provincial Directorates begin to provide the needed assistance to other districts and sub-districts. The capacity building provided by GSP/Taqadum changed our frame of mind and approach, said Mr. Abdullah praising the project s efforts. If we did not have such intervention, we would have approached post-conflict efforts without coordination, organization, action plans, and uniform assessment tools. GSP/Taqadum allowed us to share lessons learned from other provinces such as Salah ad Din. Without this knowledge, we would have never thought of setting up Returnee reception Centers to ensure the safe return of IDPs. According to Mr. Abdullah, in his own words, GSP/Taqadum provided the following technical assistance: GSP/Taqadum gave Anbar the confidence to rise to the post-conflict challenge by providing tools, action plans, insight, and organizational structure. It paved the way for us to form the FTT and LHCRS. Now, we know what to do, and how, and when to do it. The project also provided contacts to all the international organizations we need to work with. With GSP/Taqadum s assistance, Anbar developed its own post-conflict stability restoration plan, one that is aligned with the project-developed service restoration item checklist and guide. GSP/Taqadum presented Anbar with the opportunity to learn lessons from other provinces such as Salah ad Din, with the goal to avoid difficulties and overcome hardships. Following GSP/Taqadum s advice (also a lesson learned from Salah ad Din), Anbar managed to form three Returnee Reception Centers in Amiryia, Khalidyia and Al Waffaa, to receive returning IDPs who will be housed in these centers until their security checks are finalized, and food and medical supplies are made available GSP/Taqadum provided us with the opportunity to organize and coordinate our approach. Without their assistance, we would have sent engineers to conduct random assessments. The governor would have received several narrative reports making the analysis and decision-making processes more difficult and not timely. GSP/Taqadum helped the province develop the assessment forms that unify data and allow decision makers to easily review forms and obtain data to assess the situation, and thus make quick and effective decisions. The assessment forms will help Anbar s dealings with the federal government, as far as GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 5

13 presenting pertinent data very quickly and professionally. GSP/Taqadum taught us that emergency management clearly goes beyond government alone and that private and nonprofit support and effort are essential elements too. The capacity building effort provided us with the confidence to deal with the Government of Iraq, private donors, and international organizations. Stability restoration in Ramadi has a special meaning for both the federal and local governments, so Anbar s government officials are very keen to restore stability as soon as possible. In addition to the task of explosive scanning and clearance, three important challenges also faced Anbar s government: 1) ED clearance; 2) the restoration of electricity; and 3) the delivery foods and fuels. The province began working to secure generators through the UNDP to produce electricity, but the supply route to bring equipment, food, and fuels was limited given the Bizebiz Bridge, the only secure access to Ramadi, required a national government permit for the passage of each shipment. On January 17, 2016, Governor Mahmood asked Defense Minister, Mr. Khaled Al-Obaidi, to install a floating bridge near the Bizebiz Bridge to serve as an alternative route for Anbar to use for logistical transportation. The same day, the Governor met with Deputy Minister for Health and Environment, Dr. Jasim Al-Falahi; Ministry Director General for Explosives, Mr. Khalid Rashad; Governor Technical Deputy and LHCRS Chair, Mr. Ali Farhan; Planning Provincial Council Chair, Mr. Yahya Ghazi; Anbar Environment Director, Mr. Abid Khalf Ahmed; Anbar Explosive Director, Mr. Hameed Ahmed; Anbar Civil Defense Director, Dr. Fawzi Freh; and GSP/Taqadum s Provincial Coordinator, Mr. Abdul Basit Hamadi. After Technical Deputy Governor, Mr. Ali Farhan, briefed the Governor on the latest developments and status of conditions in the city, Deputy Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Jasim Falahi, stated that the scanning and identification of IEDs (without removal) at the 7 Kilo, 5 Kilo, Tamim, Tash, and Jameah Ramadi neighborhoods (the only neighborhoods where the civilian governments were allowed to work at that time) would take at least a month once work commenced and cost approximately162 million ID. Deputy Minister Falahi also said he would hold an international conference to obtain explosive clearance support from the international community. On January 20, Mr. Farhan visited the military command center to coordination actions to be taken. It was agreed an LHCRS office would be set up at Anbar University, and LHCRS and FTT member movements would be facilitated in order to begin first stage cleaning of areas 7 Kilo and 5 Kilo. Shortly thereafter, the LHCRS and FTT began working to assess the damages, with several of the service Directorates using the GSP/Taqadum-developed assessment forms and reporting back to LHCRS. On February 10, Anbar s Provincial Council conducted its first post-liberation in Ramadi at the LHCRS offices. For its part, GSP/Taqadum ended the quarter hosting the first two of four, back-to-back and highly successful Post-conflict Planning and Management workshops in Erbil (March Anbar, and March 31-April 1 Salah ad Din). GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 6

14 The first (Anbar) brought together 29 (4 female, 25 male) representatives from Anbar s Governor s Office, provincial Directorates, Council of Ministers Secretariat, National Security Advisory Council, and the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) who reviewed: 1) how to conduct field surveys for damaged sectors and assess infrastructure damage; 2) mechanisms for identifying needs and priorities; 3) how to draft proposed projects to be presented to donors to get funding. The workshop kicked off with participants reviewing the results of Anbar s Technical Team infrastructure and damage assessments of Ramadi s Municipality, Electricity Distribution, Water and Sewer Sectors. Technical team members of all sectors were commended for not only their extraordinary efforts, but also their courage at entering Anbar s capital city after its liberation in the face of many challenges, among them: 1) landmines; 2) gaining security approvals; and 3) a lack of engineering and other specialized staff, financial allocations, and specialized equipment and vehicles. Participants were then divided into five working groups based on sector: Municipality, Health, Sewage, Roads and Bridges, and Electricity. Utilizing the Project proposal templates developed by international donors and sample infrastructure and damage assessments, developed in cooperation with the three targeted provinces (Anbar, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din), each working group developed a project proposal for their sector (for possible funding by international donors) that included: 1) a proposed project list and matching estimated budget; 2) a bill of quantities; 3) potential beneficiaries; and 4) other necessary requirements. Once the templates were completed, each group presented its respective project proposal, each of which included a list of identified suggested donors, for discussion among all workshop participants. Participants then agreed on criteria to finance proposed projects including: 1) a feasibility study of the proposed project; 2) evaluation of the security situation and location of the project; 3) estimated project budget and detailed bill of quantities; 4) the numbers of direct and indirect beneficiaries; 5) job opportunities; 6) if the project s potential impact on the security, social, and economic situations; 7) an evaluation and monitoring mechanism; and 8) the level and amount of local contributions. The second workshop (March 31-April 1, Salah ad Din) brought together 26 (male) representatives from the Governor s Office (GO), Provincial Council (PC), provincial Directorates, Council of Ministers Secretariat, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Al-Nahrain Center for Studies, including Salah ad Din First Deputy Governor, Mr. Ismaeel Haloob. Following the same course as Anbar s workshop, participants reviewing the results of Salah ad Din s Technical Team infrastructure and damage assessment in the Education, Health, Municipality, Sewer, Water, Agriculture, and Roads and Bridges Sectors. Participants were then divided into six working groups based on sector and utilizing the Project proposal templates developed by international donors and sample infrastructure and damage assessments, developed in cooperation with the three targeted provinces (Anbar, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din), each working group developed a project proposal for their sector (for possible funding by international donors). By the workshop s end, participants had: 1) evaluated and presented the field visit mechanisms and assessment templates; 2) identified the damage, including weaknesses and strengths; 3) identified training needs and the need to create a database of basic needs and projects; 4) gained lessons learned experience; and 5) learned how to develop project proposals for presentation to international donors to attract potential funding. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 7

15 Two more Post-conflict Planning and Management workshops were planned for early April in Erbil (April 3-5 Diyala, and April 6-7 Ninawa). And now for a month-by-month recap of GSP/Taqadum s many other activities and achievements JANUARY 2016 A NEW YEAR BEGINS On January 6, at the request of Council of Representatives Services and Reconstruction Committee Chair, Mr. Nadhum Al-Sa edy, GSP/Taqadum specialists, Mr. Yousif Qadi (Service Delivery) and Mr. Abbas Burhan (Legal) met Mr. Al-Sa edy, and provided him with a review of the project s Service Delivery Performance Management System (SDPMS) and the proposed Provincial Council (PC) legislation to institutionalize it. Specifically focusing on legal and service delivery, GSP/Taqadum specialists also briefed Chair Al-Sa edy on the following: 1) Performance indicators for services and outcomes expected once SDPMS is adopted, i.e., enabling PCs to develop responsive policies GSP/Taqadum Service Delivery specialist, Mr. Yousif Qadi, reviewing the SDPMS with Mr. Al-Sa edy and strong service programs with measurable outcomes; 2) service delivery oversight tools such as Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) and Standard Operating Procedures; and 3) the legal and technical foundation of local SDPMS legislation. The three men then discussed the main service delivery-related issues that face Iraq and exchanged ideas on resource management, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and land acquisition for school and health projects. Mr. Al-Sa edy, stating his concerns regarding Law 21, as amended; related distribution of authorities between the Governor and his Deputies, and potential abuses of power if Director Generals and Directors were to be placed based on political affiliation rather than qualification and performance, expressed interest in the SDPMS and local legislation and said he would review it and provide feedback. Additionally, he expressed his support for discussing the laws in conflict with decentralization with provincial PC committees, via a GSP/Taqadum workshop. GSP/TAQADUM S e-communication AND e-tracking WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS WASIT S e-governance SUCCESSES SOON TO BE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT IRAQ Since 2011, GSP/Taqadum has promoted the use of information technology such as Sub-Legislation Implementation Tracking (SLIT) system and the Issue Tracking and Reporting System database. In 2014, Wasit requested related project technical support, which led to the province s establishment of a government based e-communication system. In response to Wasit s desire to track the implementation status of various provincial projects, GSP/Taqadum continued cooperative efforts with officials, which resulted in the development and implementation of an online tracking system GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 8

16 that monitors projects under construction, as well as the implementation of short- and long-term solutions identified via GSP/Taqadum-developed strategic Service Delivery Improvement Plans (SDIPs). In what used to take weeks and even months, Wasit s e-tracking system enables immediate conveyance of information from the government to its citizens and vice versa. It also informs decision makers with detailed information regarding service improvement plans, project (solution) implementation, and reasons behind project delays. Not only can citizens now access information on existing projects such as completion percentages and disbursed expenditures, they can also express related personal views and complaints. All of this fosters public participation and transparency. Supporting the sustainability, as well as replication of Wasit s e-systems throughout Iraq, on GSP/Taqadum hosted back-to-back, two-day Application of Electronic Government Systems to Improve Service Delivery workshops on January 4-5 and January 7-8 in Erbil. The first workshop saw 25 (1 female, 24 male) representatives from Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din. Participants included Wasit Governor Assistant for Services, Mr. Nabeel Shammah; Kirkuk Governor Assistant for Technical Affairs, Mr. Ali Hummadi Abid; Baghdad First Deputy Governor, Mr. Jassim Mohan Al-Bakhati; and Anbar Governor Technical Assistant, Mr. Jassim Al-Dulaimi. The second workshop saw 34 (3 female, 31 male) representatives from Basrah, Babil, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Karbala, Maysan, Muthanna, and Najaf attend, including Wasit Governor Assistant for Services, Mr. Nabeel Shammah; Basrah Deputy Governor, Mr. Mohammad Taha Timimi; Muthanna Advisor for Service Affairs, Mr. Haider Abid Jabir; and Dhi Qar Provincial Council member, Mr. Rasheed Al-Sari. GSP/Taqadum acting Chief of Party (COP), Mr. Alaa Al-Hakak, kicked off both workshops by giving a briefing on the project s cooperative activities with provincial governments to date, assisting them to become more responsive to citizen needs by: 1) focusing on improving the quality and delivery of citizen-centered services; 2) preparing them to receive functions and authorities from the three targeted ministries of Health; Education; and Municipalities and Public Works (three out of the eight ministries mentioned in Law 21, as amended); and 3) building their strategic planning capacity. After each briefing, GSP/Taqadum highlighted important services the e-communication systems are providing, as well as challenges faced by the local government during the systems implementation that can be avoided as other provinces develop and install similar systems. Participants were then divided into working groups and GSP/Taqadum staff distributed and reviewed an e-communication development manual depicting methods to support development of e- Communication projects in the provinces, including technical, administrative and financial details. Sharing experiences, participants developed project implementation timelines and discussed e- Communication advantages. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 9

17 GSP/Taqadum Senior Service Delivery specialist, Mr. Dheyaa Ajib (l) addressing workshop participants During the first workshop, explaining that it was almost two years since a committee was formed to implement e-governance applications that would streamline, expedite and facilitate the routine procedures aimed at saving time, cost and effort, Wasit s Governor Assistant for Services and Chairman of the Electronic Committee, Mr. Nabeel Shammah, thanked GSP/Taqadum and Wasit s information technology (IT) team, for their coordinated and outstanding efforts in achieving these goals and implementing Iraq s first e-communication and e-tracking systems. GSP/Taqadum s e-communication and e-tracking workshop GSP/Taqadum has assisted Iraqi local governments to communicate among its entities and track projects electronically, said Mr. Timimi, who participated in the second workshop. We thank them for their efforts. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 10

18 GSP/Taqadum for providing assistance to local governments to improve internal communication within departments and directorates, and to facilitate the electronic tracking of projects. The e-communication system will increase government efficiency, reduce corruption, and expedite service delivery to citizens. The e-tracking system will provide an opportunity for on-line monitoring of projects and services for both government officials and citizens. GSP/TAQADUM AND STAKEHOLDERS MEET TO DETERMINE MINISTERIAL-TO- PROVINCIAL TRANSFER PROCESS On January 20, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party (COP) Mr. Cameron Berkuti, and project lead staff attended a meeting at Al-Mansour Hotel sponsored by Baghdad s Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh. Participants included 30 (3 female, 27 male) representatives from the Shore Council, the Ministries of Education (MOE) and Municipalities and Public Works (MMPW), Babel s Governor s Office (GO); Najaf s Treasury Department; and GSP/Taqadum. Participants discussed preparations for the transfer of functions, staff, equipment, and properties from the ministries to the provinces. Mr. Berkuti presented a brief on GSP/Taqadum s progress to date, highlighting the appropriate transfer of functions mechanisms, and the preservation and enhancement of the delivery of citizencentered services. GSP/Taqadum Service Delivery, Finance, Education, Organizational Development, and Legal specialists delivered presentations addressing the mechanisms, problems, concerns and development of a roadmap aimed at determining the function transfer process; the transfer of specialized staff to the local level; and the need provide training to provincial staff to enable them to utilize the transferred functions. The Provincial Law No. 21 was enacted four years ago, but no actions have been taken to prepare for the transfer of functions, said Dr. Al-Adhadh. There is a need to adopt staff documents within their original departments because it is illogical to have provinces take on procedures regarding transfer, promotions and allowances. Those authorities should be entrusted to those departments. Divided into three working groups (administrative, financial and legal), GSP/Taqadum led participants reviewed legal mechanisms to finalize the transfer process and made recommendations that were later reviewed and finalized at the project s January 30 National Decentralization Conference (a recap of which is below). GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 11

19 DECENTRALIZATION SUPPORTERS GATHER TO STRATEGIZE A UNIFIED APPROACH Participants of a pre-conference meeting included HCCPSEC Chair, Dr. Al-Mufti, key provincial officials, and GSP/Taqadum On January 29, just one day before and in preparation for the National Decentralization Conference, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti, and High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, invited several Governors meet with them and discuss the conference agenda. Among those who attended were Mr. Aqeel at-turaihi (Kabala), Mr. Muthanna at-timimi (Diyala), Mr. Nawfal Humad (Ninawa), Mr. Malik Wadi (Wasit), Mr. Falih Abdul Hassan (Muthanna); and with Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Hakim Al-Yasser (Muthanna); Mr. Ribwar Al-Talabani (Kirkuk); and Diyala PC Secretariat, Mr. Khidhir Muslim. Specifically, participants discussed: 1) presenting a unified approach to decentralization and transfer of functions and Governors and Provincial Council Chairs messages; 2) the proposed recommendations to be presented at the National Decentralization Conference; and 3) progress regarding the implementation of decentralization and GSP/Taqadum s ongoing assistance in this process. It was agreed that the process has been very slow, with some ministries still reluctant to transfer ministerial functions. Mr. Berkuti and Dr. Al-Mufti then recommended the Governors and PC Chairs collectively articulate a clear message to the Federal government showing their commitment to providing better services to citizens after the transfer of functions, as well as highlighting the positive aspects of decentralization. Mr. Berkuti recommended their message answer one question: Will the local government be more effective in providing better services to citizens and reducing corruption than the central government after decentralization? Participants selected a panel of six Governors and PC Chairs to address National Decentralization Conference attendees and discuss prospective and positive aspects of decentralization regarding their respective provinces and challenges facing the ongoing transfer of functions process. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 12

20 SPECIAL EVENT GSP/TAQADUM S NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPING A LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF DECENTRALIZATION A HUGE SUCCESS democratic decentralization, involving the transfer of administrative, fiscal, and political power, is necessary for decentralization to be successful and for sustainability to be a reality. Democratic decentralization is significantly strengthened when mechanisms are created at the local level to facilitate the local level planning process, linking government staff to civil society. Such partnership often necessitates a change in the mind-set of its members as well as resources devoted to strengthening the capacities and skills necessary for effective facilitation of such processes Experiences from India, extracted from UNDP Draft Report on Global Workshop on UNDP/MIT Decentralized Governance Research Project, Amman, Jordan, June 14-16, 1998, p. 3 Prime among GSP/Taqadum s activities this quarter, on January 30 in Baghdad, the project hosted a National Conference on Developing a Legal, Administrative and Financial Environment in Support of the Successful Implementation of Decentralization. Sponsored by the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP), the conference was attended by more than 200 of GSP/Taqadum s main stakeholders: the Prime Minister s Chief of Staff, Dr. Mahdi Al-Alak, provincial officials, ministerial staff, and appointees; high-ranking Iraqi government officials; USAID representatives; selected ambassadors, including US Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart E. Jones; and representatives from a variety of international organizations, including the World Bank. Additionally, a minimum of 15 media outlets covered the event, the reports of some are found in the GSP/Taqadum in the Media section of this report on PG 75. Serving as the capstone for GSP/Taqadum s technical assistance efforts toward the devolution of power as stated in the Iraqi Constitution, the conference showcased the progress made, to date, toward: 1) improving the delivery of citizen-centered services; and 2) providing a financial, legal, and organizational environment to enable the transfer of functions from Iraq s ministries to provincial governments in Iraq s 15 provinces not incorporated into a region. It also clearly demonstrated the way forward for provincial governments regarding: 1) streamlining processes; 2) using best GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 13

21 management practices and training; 3) database-driven service delivery management; and 4) e- Communication, on-line service, and project e-tracking system to improve service delivery to citizens. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, conference participants engaged in open and frank discussions regarding the role of and capacity of governorates in providing better services to Iraqi citizens and Iraq s ministries role in focusing on policymaking and strategic decisions, and developing the capacity of local governments. The following sections offer a recap of the highlights of the conference. PM S CHIEF OF STAFF, DR. MAHDI AL-ALAK, OPENS GSP/TAQADUM S NATIONAL DECENTRALIZATION CONFERENCE Designed to build the capacity of the local government to better provide services to its citizens, GSP/Taqadum supports sustainable development of decentralization in Iraq, said Dr. Al- Alak emphasizing Prime Minister Al-Abadi s determination proceed with the transfer of ministerial authorities to local governments, which ultimately will lead to establishment of democracy in Iraq. The Prime Minister has stressed that it is his intention to complete the transfer of powers process, and that what has been achieved so far is reassuring. What is important is a firm conviction that the transfer of powers reinforces the principle of decentralized governance and giving local governments the ability to practice their role in the construction and development processes. According to Dr. Al-Alak Differences in opinions would not deter ministries and local governments from accepting the transfer of functions and assuming the related roles, and that the purpose of the conference was to enhance decentralization enthusiasm and make clear the desire to resolve existing disputes, based on the Constitution and Article 45 of Law 21, as amended. Pointing out that the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) and the Legal Department of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers is currently in the process of reviewing a Third Amendment to Law 21, Mr. Al-Alak stressed that the Third Amendment draft and the recommendations gleaned from participants of the conference will be on the agenda of the next High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) meeting scheduled for February. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 14

22 US AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ, MR. STUART E. JONES, STRESSES BENEFITS OF DECENTRALIZATION AND USAID-IRAQ GSP/TAQADUM S ROLE US Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart E. Jones took the stage after Dr. Al-Alak s opening remarks and said: For more than a decade, we have partnered with you to build a strong and democratic government for Iraqi people. We are proud of our successes and also recognize that there are also areas for improvement. With the passage of the Provincial Powers Law, Iraqis, through their elected representatives, representatives, have signaled their desire for responsive and accountable government at the local level. Our goal today is to further our joint efforts to realize this vision and to deliver it to US Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart E. Jones the Iraqi people. Citizens need local governments to have the authority and ability to respond effectively to their everyday needs. We want to influence the decision-making process and improve the service delivery process. It goes without saying that local governments are more responsive to local priorities. According to Ambassador Jones, the responsibilities of local priorities on local governments also unburdens Iraq s federal government, which allows the federal government to focus on strategic matters, such as national security, fiscal policy, and management of national resources. GSP/Taqadum assisted local governments in analyzing the functions and offered all the opportunity to become acquainted with the Indonesian experience on decentralization. Diyala Provincial Council Secretary, Mr. Khidhir Muslim HCCPSEC CHAIR, DR. TORHAN AL-MUFTI CITES DECENTRALIZATION AS IMPORTANT PILLAR A great supporter of decentralization and close partner of GSP/Taqadum, High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, followed Ambassador Jones statement by providing short history of the Iraq s decentralization path since it was formed and pointing out that after 2003, Iraqi officials, through their work with local and international experts, started to realize the importance of decentralization. Adding that the passage of Law 21 marked the start of serious thinking of decentralization and the transfer of functions, Dr. Al-Mufti said, Decentralization is one of the most important pillars in the government program, and we have started, in cooperation and coordination GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 15

23 with GSP/Taqadum, to work on transfer of functions in three stages: 1) immediate; 2) after six months; and 3) after one year or more. I am optimistic of a successful transfer of functions. Law 21 is very clear and ministries will retain such functions as policy formulation and providing consultation. Baghdad Deputy Governor, Mr. Jasim Bukhati HIGHLIGHTS OF GOVERNORS AND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CHAIR REMARKS In their short speeches, Governors and Provincial Council Chairs tackled the various advantages of decentralization for the provinces, their ability to provide better service after decentralization, and current challenges associated with the transfer of functions. Thanking GSP/Taqadum for its great effort to support and move forward Iraq s decentralization process, and stressing the importance of the private sector s promotion of local economy, offering investment chances, and reducing unemployment, Karbala Governor, Mr. Aqeel Al-Turaihi, said, In decentralized systems, citizens participate in service delivery monitoring and oversight. Kirkuk Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Ribwar Al-Talabani, said, The five percent margin of decentralization that the government enjoys today has enabled us to construct 560 schools, establish 15 bridges, pave 100 kilometers of roads, and improve water and health services. Addressing the challenges facing the transfer of functions, Diyala Governor Muthanna at- Timimi said, Despite the fact that the deadline for the transfer has passed, all functions and authorities are still exercised at the Ministry level. In recent demonstrations protesters have blamed the lack of services and projects on the local government. Yet the ministries remain responsible for the implementation of many projects. There are two options related to Law 21, as amended, said Ninawa Governor, Mr. Nawfal Humadi. Either implement the law and start the transfer of functions to the provincial level, or cancel the law. The province of Ninawa is now under the control of Islamic State terrorists and the transfer of functions will help the local government work more effectively after liberation. Local government should be allowed to enact local laws for the interest of citizens, said Muthanna Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Hakim Al-Yasir. Citizens will be more responsive and open to paying fees and taxes for services if those services are improved. The Ministries of Health, Education and Agriculture are still retaining authorities that should be transferred to provinces, said Wasit Governor, Mr. Malik Wadi. Ministers do not have full knowledge about needs of local citizens. Praising HCCPSEC Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, and GSP/ Taqadum Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 16

24 Governor Wadi presenting each a token of his appreciation for their outstanding efforts supporting the devolution process. (HCCPSEC Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti (1) and GSP/ Taqadum Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti (r) GSP/TAQADUM COP PROVIDES DETAILED VIEW OF PROJECT GOALS AND ACTIVITIES After expressing his thanks to Dr. Al-Mufti, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party (COP), Mr. Cameron Berkuti, briefed conference attendees on project goals, activities, and achievements. GSP/Taqadum s main objectives are to help provincial governments develop a plan for the transfer of functions and implement Law 21, as amended, by developing conducive legal and administrative environments. In preparing the decentralization implementation environment, we at GSP/Taqadum worked with and answered the following questions: Will decentralization support the improvement of services and their delivery? Will decentralization support stability, development, and national reconciliation? Is Iraq ready for decentralization? Do local governments have the ability to take on the new responsibilities and provide better citizen-centered services? What is the role of ministries in the devolution process? After highlighting GSP/Taqadum s role in preparing decentralization-friendly legal, administrative, financial, and service environments, Mr. Berkuti shared the next steps of successful implementation of decentralization. GSP/TAQADUM LEAD TEAM PRESENTS DECENTRALIZATION SUPPORT TOOLS Aimed at encouraging discussion among and questions from conference attendees on the use of functions after their transfer from the ministries to the provinces, GSP/Taqadum lead team staff presented an in depth review of the project-developed tools that support local governments in transfer of functions and improved service delivery. Among the tools reviewed are the following deemed most important: 1) development of a Coordination and Follow-up staff in the Governor s Office. This tool supports management of transferred directorates and organizes the flow of daily work tasks between the Governor s Office (GO) and the directorates; 2) Standard Service Performance Management System; 3) e-communication Systems; 4) process mapping and streamlining; 5) provincial Financial Affairs Department establishment and budget formulation processes; and 6) distribution of roles, responsibilities and authorities between governors and directorates and PCs and governors. NATIONAL DECENTRALIZATION CONFERENCE ATTENDEES DEFINE AND LIST RECOMMENDATIONS The National Decentralization Conference concluded with GSP/Taqadum staff leading attendees through a discussion-based exercise, which resulted in the refining of a list of recommendations on GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 17

25 how to proceed politically, legally, administratively, and financially, and inclusive of strategic planning and organizational development with decentralization and the transfer of functions. The following is the list of recommendations compiled and read by the Muthanna PC Chair, Mr. Kakim Muslim Al Yasiri: Political The federal government and effective political forces should create a favorable political environment, one that provides political cover for implementation of Article 45 of Law 21, as amended. The federal government and effective political forces should allow local governments to run their affairs based on administrative decentralization. Legal Adopt the template outlining the distribution of responsibilities and authorities between the Governor, Provincial Council (PC) and targeted directorates to unburden the Governor s Office (GO) and avoid unilateral decisions. The federal government and Council of Representatives (COR) should revise legislation inconsistent with decentralization. The Third Amendment to Law 21 should be consistent and supportive of streamlining the implementation of decentralization. Administrative Transfer of functions should be conducted based on a decision issued by the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP), supported by detailed steps outlining the transfer of directorates, properties, and financial allocations. Apply scientific standards in classification, analysis, and assignment of functions for ministries that have not yet started transferring functions to provinces. The development by local governments of mechanisms and procedures to evaluate and apply performance standards for employees and local departments so that the focus is shifted on to the citizen. Adopt mechanisms for streamlining procedures related to citizen-centered service delivery. Financial Establish and operate provincial Financial Affairs Departments (FADs). Identify responsibilities for spending, funding and transferring financial allocation to provinces. Review mechanisms for development of the local budget and adopt modern budget development models. Review laws related to taxes, fees, and wages, and divide these laws into local, national, and common and take steps to increase local revenues. Strategic Planning Local government should reactivate the provincial Planning and Development Council (PPDC) to facilitate the development of Strategic plans and reorganize service directorates - this will lead to improving service delivery to citizens. Reactivate Citizen Service Desks (CSDs) and conduct awareness campaigns to encourage citizen participation in the decision-making process. Organizational Development GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 18

26 Develop the capacity of the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) to undertake the following: Coordinate existing international and local projects and programs in the development of an integrated strategy to build the capacity of all local governments. Reactivate the strategic partnership between civil society and local governments to enhance their monitoring role and thus improve local performance. Reactivate the role of district and sub-districts to assume their planned responsibilities. Enhance the role of provinces in supporting Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and assist provinces controlled by Islamic State terrorists in reconstruction and restoring stability. Ninawa Governor, Mr. Nawfal Sultan, thanks the provinces for receiving and accommodating Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). FEBRUARY 2016 GSP/TAQADUM, HCCPSEC AND ANBAR GOVERNOR DISCUSS UNIFIED ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND GO ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES GSP/Taqadum COP, Mr. Cameron Berkuti addressing participants (speaking), including Anbar Governor, Mr. Suhaib Al-Rawi; HCCPSEC Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti; and USAID COR, Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim (center to far l) On February 9, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party (COP), Mr. Cameron Berkuti, along with USAID COR, Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim, met with Anbar Governor, Mr. Suhaib Al-Rawi; High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Mr. Torhan Al-Mufti; and 23 officials (3 female, 20 male) from Anbar s Governor s Office (GO), the HCCPSEC and the Ministry of Planning. After Governor s introductory speech on the purpose of the meeting, GSP staff presented a brief of the organizational, financial, and legal frameworks to the participants. Participants discussed: 1) the unified organizational chart, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum and adopted by the HCCP; 2) the need to create new departments and divisions; 3) future roles and responsibilities of the Governor s deputies and assistants; 4) job descriptions; 5) the Financial Affairs Directorate (FAD) organizational chart; 6) the opening of two FAD bank accounts; and 7) legal authorities. After Mr. Al-Mufti clarified the unified organizational chart, including affiliations of the Governor to the directorates and Governor s assistants to sub-directorate levels participants agreed to the GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 19

27 following: 1) completing the unified organizational structure in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum; 2) the Governor has the authority to create divisions as needed; 3) designation of Governor s Assistant be based on competence and the legal framework; 4) the need to link the Financial Affairs Department (FAD) to Governor 5) the HCCP will approach concerned officials regarding the establishment of a Municipalities Directorate General in each province; and 6) the HCCP will develop job descriptions in line with needs that may arise. Also, participants agreed to continue ongoing GSP/Taqadum, HCCP, and GO coordination efforts in order to define roles and responsibilities within the framework of the established organizational structure for all provinces, taking into account the conditions of each province. Mr. Al-Rawi thanked GSP/Taqadum for its supportive role. GSP/TAQADUM AND PC CHAIR DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 45 AND RECONSTRUCTION OF PROVINCES Baghdad PC Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh discussing the implementation of Article 45 with GSP/Taqadum COP, Mr. Cameron Berkuti and staff On February 10, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party (COP), Mr. Cameron Berkuti met with Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh, and two other PC officials and discussed the following: 1) reconstruction of provinces currently and previously occupied by Islamic State terrorists; 2) the implementation of Article 45 of Law 21 of 2008, as amended: 3) the status of the Ministry of Education functions transfer; and 4) the status of the Ministry of Health (MOH) functions transfer. Some countries have promised to provide reconstruction assistance to Iraq, and the priority is to rebuild the infrastructure first, and then other services such as health and education, said Dr. Al-Adhadh. Dr. Al-Adhadh said, The implementation of authorities transfer must be proceeded with a clear mechanism for the transfer process to be ordered by the Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Al-Abadi, and not via the directives of the Ministers. Discussing the implementation of Article 45 of Law 21 of 2008, as amended, it was noted that the ministries do not implement the orders issued by High Commission for Coordination between the Provinces (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, who, according to Dr. Al-Adhadh, has stated that GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 20

28 to date, three ministries (Health, Agriculture, and Education) intend to submit appeals to the Federal Court against the application of this law. Suggesting a meeting will be held with all Governors to discuss the problems facing them in the implementation of Law 21 to present them to Dr. Al-Abadi. Mr. Berkuti said, We are working now to organize the distribution of powers between the governors and directorates. The transfer of financial allocations from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) will also help to resolve the transfer process. GSP/Taqadum is ready to support a meeting of the Governors, but it would be best if the Baghdad PC invited them. Updating Mr. Berkuti on the status of the MOE s transfer of functions, Dr. Al-Adhadh said that during a meeting with Minister of Education Dr. Mohammed Iqbal, and his advisors, objections to implementing Law 21 were raised by the ministry. Some provinces, wanting to change their curriculum, and print their curriculum in their provinces are examples the ministry provided. Mr. Berkuti stated that all these issues had been identified and addressed in the functions analysis. GSP/TAQADUM LAUDED FOR ITS DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS BY USAID On February 10, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti met with USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Middle East (with oversight of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq), Ms. Mona Yacoubian; and USAID/Iraq Mission Director, Dr. Brooke Isham, Governance and Economic Opportunities Director, Mr. Michael Nehrbass, and Contracting Officer representative, Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim and presented a general overview of the project, as well as an update on project activities to date. Mr. Berkuti then gave a detailed review of the following: 1) the GOI s progress towards decentralization; 2) GSP/Taqadum s work with the three targeted, as well as the five non-targeted ministries; 3) GSP/Taqadum s progress to date on the two components of its work: a) the transfer of functions, and b) the delivery of services, including the progress made by each of the four frameworks that support the Ms. Mona Yacoubian, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Middle East transfer plans: a) Financial, b) Administrative/Organizational, c) Legal, and d) Service Delivery Improvement Planning (SDIP). In addition, Mr. Berkuti also reviewed additional project achievements, such as its Study Tour to Indonesia and work on Consensus Building, Technical Assistance to the Drafting of the Proposed Third Amendment to Law 21, Provincial Sharing of Lessons Learned, and Replicability; as well as challenges GSP/Taqadum faces in its work. Among these challenges he cited were the following: 1) the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Decision to transfer Directorates; 2) various financial issues; 3) the proposed Third Amendment to Law 21; 4) the changing roles of ministries; and 5) consolidating provincial directorates. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 21

29 Thanking Mr. Berkuti for his presentation, Ms. Yacoubian said, We very much appreciate the work GSP/Taqadum is doing. It is USAID s flagship project in Iraq. Lauding the efforts of not only GSP/Taqadum, but also Mr. Berkuti s passion and accomplishments regarding decentralization in Iraq, Dr. Isham said, Mr. Berkuti s knowledge of decentralization in Iraq is heads and shoulders above anyone else s anywhere. US BASRAH CONSUL GENERAL DISCUSSES MUTUAL COOPERATION WITH MUTHANNA OFFICIALS On February 11, Basrah US Consul General, Mr. Steve Walker, visited Muthanna and met separately, first with Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Hakim Al- Yasiri, and later with Governor Mr. Faleh Abdul Hassan al-ziadi. Meeting with Mr. Al-Yasiri, Mr. Walker discussed means to foster economic, scientific and cultural relations between Muthanna and the United States. Mr. Al-Yasiri praised the work of GSP/Taqadum and requested the Consul to extend the project since the local government is still in need of its assistance. During the meeting with Mr. Walker, Governor Dr. al-ziadi, requested American agencies increase commercial and cultural exchanges and initiate joint programs between Muthanna and US universities. The province is in need of many service projects in different sectors, said Dr. al-ziadi. The local government is ready to create a favorable environment and provide all possible facilities to enable US companies to work in the province. PC Chair, Mr. Al-Yasiri, welcoming Mr. Walker to his office Stating the meeting aimed to foster mutual relations and discuss prospects for cooperation, Mr. Walker commented later that both the Muthanna Governor and PC Chair warmly praised the efforts of GSP/Taqadum and said the project is vital to decentralization efforts, with the PC Chair stressing that he wants more of it. Basrah US Consul General, Mr. Steve Walker (l) discussing avenues of mutual cooperation with Governor Dr. al-ziadi GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 22

30 MOVING DECENTRALIZATION FORWARD ALL EYES ON TENTH MEETING OF THE HCCP Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Al-Abadi presiding over the Tenth meeting of the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces On February 17, the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP), chaired by Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Al-Abad, held its Tenth meeting. With six out of the eight ministries in attendance (Education; Health; Youth and Sports; Agriculture; Construction, Housing, and Municipalities attended, the ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, and Finance were not present), participants were reported to have stated that this meeting was the most successful to date, as far as addressing issues most important and pressing to the provinces. Many thanked GSP/Taqadum s advance preparatory meetings with Governors and Provincial Council Chairs where it was recommended they focus on the following: Requesting the HCCP act on recommendations agreed on during GSP/Taqadum s January 30, 2016 National Decentralization Conference Advocating, in one voice, for the passage of the Third Amendment to Law 21, as amended, by highlighting provincial desire to improve essential services and requesting the proposed Law not include any provisions that might delay the implementation of Article 45 Advocating, in one voice, the need for the HCCP s transfer order (as suggested in the conference recommendations) to devolve functions, directorates, and authorities from the eight line ministries Urge the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Education and Health to issue orders to transfer Directorates Urge the MOF to: 1) follow up on its January 11, 2016 official order to the seven line ministries to provide it with documentation of staff and funds to be transferred by February 16, 2016 and open provincial accounts; and 2) issue a letter to the provinces stating that local revenues must be deposited in a separate open account within the provincial Financial Affairs Department (FAD), provide guidelines, and state that local revenues should be exempted from provisions of Financial Administration and Public Debt Law No. 95 of 2004, in accordance with the 2016 Federal Budget Law As per provincial officials reports, the following issues were highlighted during the HCCP meeting: Discussion of the transfer of functions, that included provincial insistence that the transfers GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 23

31 be completed without waiting for the passage of the Third Amendment Ministerial flexibility toward the transfer of functions (unlike previous meetings where ministers expressed hesitancy and apprehension regarding the transfer) The Minister of Agriculture announced he had issued the transfer order the day before the HCCP meeting Dr. Al-Mufti is to chair a committee consisting of the Minister of Health; the Governors of Basrah and Selah ad Din; and two Provincial Council (PC) Chairs (Baghdad and Mayan) to review the functions and then send an order for the transfer of functions and directorates Dr. Al-Mufti is to chair a committee consisting of the Minister of Education; the Governors of Babel, Diwaniyah, and Mayan; and two Provincial Council (PC) Chair (Baghdad and Diyala) to review the functions and then send an order for the transfer of functions and directorates As per the Governor s and PC Chairs request, the PM requested that the Ministry of Finance issue an order to allow provinces to deposit local revenues in a separate open bank account, which allows for deposit and withdrawal (as opposed to closed, as previously instructed, which allows only deposits to be made) to enhance their financial capacity to provide services The PM stated the ministries have until the end of February to complete the transfer of functions that have been identified as immediately ready for transfer The PM reiterated his message on the importance of decentralization and the fact that the transition will take place The PM asked Dr. Al-Mufti to follow up on these outcomes closely As a follow up on the HCCP meeting, Dr. Al-Mufti sent two letters that included the functions that the Ministries of Education and Agriculture will transfer to the provinces; and requesting that provinces immediately provide any input on MOE and MOA functions. GSP/TAQADUM HOSTS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DURING THREE-DAY STANDARDIZING AND STREAMLINING SERVICES PROCEDURES WORKSHOP GSP/Taqadum Senior OD Specialist, Mr. Besman Al-Jibori delivering presentation on standardizing service procedures GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 24

32 In February GSP/Taqadum hosted two three-day workshops in Erbil titled, Modern Streamlining Methods to Improve Citizen Access to Services for the twelve provinces of Babil, Baghdad, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Diwaniyah, Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, Muthanna, Najaf and Wasit. The first, held on February for the Education and Health Directorates of the 12 provinces, was attended by 55 (6 female, 49 male) representatives from the Governor s Offices (GOs); Provincial Councils (PCs), including Diwaniyah Provincial Council member, Mrs. Intisar Al-Mosawi; Education and Health Directorates of the provinces USAID Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim, was in attendance. The second, held on February hosted 46 (2 female, 44 male) representatives from Water, Sewer, Municipality and Municipalities Directorates of the 12. USAID Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim, was once again in attendance. In both workshops, GSP/Taqadum Senior Organizational Development Specialist, Mr. Besman Al-Jibouri, reviewed: 1) the approach of sharing and standardizing the process maps of services procedures; 2) how process maps are designed to improve procedures and have positive impacts on citizen; 3) standardizing the service procedures across provinces, 4) how to develop unified steps for each service that can be shared by all provinces; and 5) how to improve and streamline the service process mapping procedures. USAID Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim addressing workshop participants Participants were then divided into working groups according to targeted sectors where they selected several services and were guided through a practical exercise applying the streamlining techniques. Based on this experience, participants compiled the following recommendations: 1) unify the service implementation steps between counterpart provincial directorates; 2) begin to streamline service procedures as agreed by the provinces; and 3) discuss suggestions made regarding e-service delivery and adopt relevant provincial plans. Process mapping and streamlining the procedures for services the citizens are trying to obtain, will simplify and reduce the steps citizens will need to take to obtain that service, thus making the process more efficient, said Diwaniyah PC member, Mrs. Al-Mosawi, who attended the first workshop (February 21-23). From what I have learned here today, it will also make the function transfer process easier. According to Mrs. Al-Mosawi, this workshop was the first GSP/Taqadum event she has ever attended. I am very impressed with the level of work your project is doing and have gotten many ideas of how to use the information to improve service delivery to citizens in my province. For example, for people who want to retire on their pensions, currently there are many confusing steps to the process. With process mapping and streamlining, these steps will be simplified and reduced. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 25

33 Mrs. Al-Mosawi said she had established a committee consisting of staff from both the Citizen s Help Desk and PC s Citizen Participation Division (established in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum during Phase 1 and now fully institutionalized within Diwaniyah s PC). The committee s objective is to transmit information to citizens regarding government activities. After learning of the streamlining processes, I will explore with the committee ways to convey to citizen s what Directorate s have streamlined their processes so people will know these newer and more efficient processes are available to them. Also present at the first workshop, two Dhi Qar PC staff Information Technology (IT) Division engineers, Mr. AbdulHamid AbdulKahdum (Software), and Mr. Ahmed Mohsen (Design), requested GSP/Taqadum s support in setting up an e-communication system within their province to assist citizen access of service delivery processes. We need someone to show our decision makers the results of e-communication systems in order to get them to accept implementing such systems in our province, said Mr. Mohsen. We have the servers and hardware needed, but we don t have the application, and given the economic situation, government officials say there is no money to support such a system. It came as a great surprise to the engineers to learn that GSP/Taqadum has been involved with setting up such systems in other provinces, starting in Wasit and then supporting replication of that province s e-communication system in other provinces. Seeing the engineers surprise at this news, project staff quickly introduced the pair to project Service Delivery Specialist, Mr. Hassanein Malik, who explained his e-communication work with the provinces and offered to facilitate a meeting with Dhi Qar decision makers and present the results experienced in other provinces where GSP/Taqadum has supported replication of Wasit s e-communication system. GSP/TAQADUM COP MEETS KRG DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER On February 24, GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti, met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister (PM), Mr. Qubat Talabani; Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Yousif Goran; KRG Cabinet Secretary and Chief Legal Advisor, Dr. Amanj Raheem; and PM Advisor, Mr. Dara Khailany, and presented an in depth review of GSP/Taqadum s decentralization work to date. The review included: 1) an explanation of the underlying principles of decentralization; 2) the process the project used while working in cooperation with the 15 provinces; 3) the current status of decentralization in the 15 Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister (PM), Mr. Qubat Talabani provinces; 4) the legal basis for decentralization; and finally, 5) the present day challenges Iraq faces in its decentralization process. This review was followed by a lively discussion on the above items, with the KRG representatives showing a particular interest in the accomplishments that GSP/Taqadum work has produced, and GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 26

34 expressing how impressed they were that these accomplishments had been made to date. All stated that although KRG has the political support to decentralize: 1) it does not have a legal framework to support decentralization; 2) its provincial law does not have as many related provisions when compared to the Iraqi Provincial Power Law, Law 21 of 2008, as modified; and 3) its provincial councils are basically have not take an active role in local government. US CONSUL-GENERAL, MR. STEVE WALKER, VISITS MAYSAN On February 25, USA Consul-General (CG), Mr. Steve Walker; US Department of State Political Section Chief, Mr. Mietek Boduszynski; and Public Affairs Officer, Shana Kieran, from the US Consulate General s Office in Basrah, and GSP/Taqadum Provincial Coordinator, Dr. Raheem Al- Behadili, met with Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Munther Al-Shawai, and discussed the province s investment and public affairs. The meeting was kicked off with Dr. Al-Behadili updating the delegation on GSP/Taqadum project activities in Maysan. I am very pleased with GSP/Taqadum s activities and all the assistance they have provided in the preparation of a sustainable legal, financial and administration environments for the transfer of functions, responded Chair Al-Shawai. Not only have they been a great help in building the capacity of local government and developing the Service Delivery Improvement Plans, they have also been very helpful in selecting qualified staff to conduct program activities in a professional manner. MMPW DEPUTY MINISTER REVIEWS COMPLETED TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS As part of GSP/Taqadum s ongoing efforts to support building consensus between the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Work (MMPW) and the provinces on the Intergovernmental Coordination Implementation Plan (ICIP), on February 23, Mr. Dheyaa Sahib, GSP/Taqadum Senior Municipal Service Delivery Specialist, attended a meeting of 16 (7 female, 9 male) MMPW representatives from the directorates of Water, Sewer, Urban Planning, and Planning and Follow Up, chaired by Deputy Minister for Administrative Affairs, Mr. Yelmaz Shahbaz. Participants reviewed: 1) the functions, and movable (equipment and funds) and immovable properties that were transferred to the provinces; 2) the actions taken by the Directorates to implement the Ministry of Finance (MOF) letter No (January 11, 2016) that required them to provide the MOF with the following: a) Ministerial orders requesting the transfer of sub-directorates to the provinces; b) the budget tables and staff information of the provincial Directorates in order to facilitate their transfer to the provinces; 3) the names of provincial Directorates and functions transferred to the provinces of Anbar, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din; 4) procedures taken by the directorates that conflict with the functions transferred to provinces; and 5) capacity development plan that will be provided to provincial Directorate staff by the Ministry and GSP/Taqadum. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 27

35 MARCH 2019 COR SPECIAL ADVISOR OFFERS TO ASSIST GSP/TAQADUM DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS COR Special Advisor, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah (c) meeting with GSP/Taqadum On March 3, a GSP/Taqadum delegation consisting of Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti; attempted to meet with Council of Representatives Speaker, Dr. Saleem Al-Juburi, who unfortunately was called away to attend an urgent meeting regarding reported demonstrations scheduled to be held in Baghdad on March 4. Instead, Dr. Juburi s special advisor, Dr. Ahmed Rushdi Abdullah, met with Mr. Berkuti and the GSP/Taqadum delegation. Dr. Abdullah expressed a deep interest in the project and its achievements. Stating he would brief Mr. Al-Juburi on successes of the project, as well as the outcome of the meeting, Dr. Abdullah said he understood the challenges face decentralization transition and showed full support to the project. He offered the following assistance: 1) ensure amendments to conflicting laws that was drafted with GSP/Taqadum assistance are submitted to the Legal Committee; and 2) work with Ninawa Governor, Mr. Nawfal Hamady Sultan, to ensure the provincial Field Technical Team will complete their assessment in time to include the team in the next capacity building session with GSP/Taqadum s international expert on April 6-7. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 28

36 BABIL OFFICIALS REVIEW MOE ORDER WITH GSP/TAQADUM Babil officials reviewing MOE letter with GSP/Taqadum On March 3, GSP/Taqadum met with Second Deputy Governor, Mr. Hassan Mendil; Education Director-General, Mr. Hussein Khalef; and Education Sub-committee Chair, Mr. Radhi Obeid and reviewed the contents of a Ministerial Order dated February 14, 2016 and issued by the Ministry of Education (MOE) regarding the transfer of ministerial education functions to the provincial level. Comparing the letter to the final Decentralization Mapping and Analysis Tool (DMAT) developed by the provinces in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, participants agreed that the GSP/Taqadumdeveloped DMAT is comprehensive and well prepared, and that the MOE Order is a positive step toward transferring the functions. Later, the group met with Provincial Council (PC) Education Committee Chair, Mrs. Khitam Dawood, and other committee members and further reviewed the functions to be transferred. Mrs. Dawood asked about the distribution of education functions and responsibilities between the Governor, PC and Education Directorate. GSP/Taqadum explained that a model assigning the distribution of authorities, roles, and responsibilities, had been developed by provinces, in cooperation with the project. Mr. Mendil said that as per Governor Sadiq Madlool s directions, most of the transferred authorities had been delegated to the Education Directorate to ensure smooth and effective administration and service delivery. GSP/TAQADUM PROCESS MAPPING WORKSHOP YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS On March 7, 2016, the Planning Section of Diyala s Education Directorate sent Letter No.1079 to all provincial Education Sections inviting them to participate in future Directorate workshops focused on the streamlining of service procedures. [Note: This letter was issued in direct response to GSP/Taqadum s February 2016 Process Mapping workshops for the twelve provinces of Baghdad, Babil, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, Muthanna, Najaf, and Wasit held in Erbil.] On March 13-14, the Education Directorate, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, hosted the first of five such workshops, for 25 participants from different sections and divisions of Education sector to share knowledge and expertise they acquired during GSP/Taqadum training workshops. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 29

37 USAID VISITS GSP/TAQADUM S BAGHDAD OFFICE On March 8, GSP/Taqadum welcomed a USAID delegation that included USAID/Iraq Mission Director, Dr. Brooke Isham; Governance and Economic Opportunity Office Director, Mr. Michael Nehrbass; USAID Contracting Officer, Mr. Ronald Pearson (Clark); and the Project Acting Contracting Officer Representative, Mr. Vlad Raznatovic. Dr. Isham began the meeting by stating, The work of GSP/Taqadum is reflected by the outstanding work of Mr. Berkuti and his outstanding leadership vis-à-vis the Iraqi project staff. Mr. Berkuti responded by thanking Dr. Isham and said, We consider ourselves to be a true partner with USAID. Mr. Nehrbass asked for: 1) the project s strategy in light of the Ministry of Finance slow responses to decentralization needs such as opening of bank accounts; and 2) expressed a particular interest in the tangible service delivery results the project could produce during the extension and its positive effect on Iraq s current economic situation. Mr. Pearson asked for the project s proposed technical focus during the extension. In response, Mr. Berkuti presented an image depicting the structural elements of the decentralization process and explained that the project s approach has been focused on building capacity while performing the work and involving local and national levels of governments in the process. From the beginning, our focus has been on service delivery and without this project, decentralization would not be happening. The project began with improving services to citizens as the ultimate objective of the decentralization process. The decentralization part of the project is less than two years old and in that short time we have focused on three ministries with solid legal, financial, administration, and service delivery frameworks for successful decentralization transition. Some ministries are making the transition and all the directorates within them are being assisted in making this transition. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 30

38 MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS OFFICIALS MEET WITH GSP/TAQADUM AND DISCUSS FUTURE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS On March 9, GSP/Taqadum Capacity Building Specialist, Haitham Al-Hassany, met with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) Administrative Director, Mr. Akram Al-Atwan; and Legal Department and Minister s Office Manager, Mr. Zaid Hamoud; and discussed the current status of transfer of authorities from Ministry of Youth and Sports to provinces, and other issues related to decentralization. According to the Ministry officials, to date, most of the Ministerial functions and directorates have been transferred to the provinces. The only remaining items not addressed are those still under construction. Once they are completed, authority over them will be transferred to the provinces. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, both MOYS officials stated that they are open to cooperate with GSP/Taqadum and that Minister Mr. Abdul-Hussein has expressed readiness to provide his support to assist GSP/Taqadum s approaching other ministries and bring them onboard with decentralization efforts. According to the officials, beginning the following week, the Ministry will begin to transfer designated staff to the provincial offices. A complex and time-consuming process, this transfer involves removing the work history file of each staff person from Ministry records and moving it to the provincial offices. In addition, MOYS has been having meetings with both the Najaf and Baghdad governments to remove any obstacles that stand in the way of transferring functions. However, this effort does not include addressing laws currently in conflict with decentralization, but only technical items that are blocking the transfer. During the meeting, MOYS Minister, Mr. Abdul-Hussein, stepped in briefly and after thanking GSP/Taqadum, said, I admire the fact that GSP/Taqadum took the initiative to work with us in a time when there was no official framework. They helped us to understand the transfer process and walked us through each step writing the mechanisms and procedures. Echoing Minister Abdul-Hussein s appreciation, Mr. Al-Atwan and Mr. Hamoud both expressed a desire to forge a path of future cooperation with the project, saying they were open to new ways of working with the project. They suggested that the future collaborative work should include dividing the Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP) focus into two categories: 1) Sports (in terms of age groups); and 2) Youth (forums, Non-government Organizations, advocacy teams, women s clubs, and sport/activity health forums). GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 31

39 GSP/TAQADUM HOSTS LOCAL REVENUE LEGISLATION AND REVENUE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS GSP/Taqadum s Senior Budgeting Specialist, Mr. Najed Hamody, presenting the main elements of local revenue legislation On March 7-8 and 9-10, GSP/Taqadum hosted two back-to-back, Local Revenue Legislation and Revenue Resource Development Workshops where participants reviewed the main characteristics of local revenue legislation and identified applicable sources of new local revenue. The first workshop included provinces of Anbar, Basrah, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, and Najaf, and hosted 57 (11 female, 46 male) Governor s Office (GO), Provincial Council (PC), and Education, Municipalities, and Health Directorate officials; as well as High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) representative, Mr. Khalil Ibrahim. USAID field monitor, Mr. Alaa Mansour, was also in attendance. Mirroring the first workshop in both content and participant government affiliations, the second workshop hosted 69 (16 female, 53 male) officials representing the same areas of local government from the provinces of Babil, Baghdad, Diwaniyah, Dhi Qar, Muthanna, Ninawa, Salah Ad Din, and Wasit, including Baghdad PC Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh; and Wasit s First Deputy Governor, Mr. Adel Garib. USAID field monitor, Ms. Dhikra Sarsam, was also in attendance. In both workshops, GSP/Taqadum s Senior Budgeting Specialist, Mr. Najed Hamody, reviewed with participants: 1) the main elements of local revenue legislation; 2) how to draft local revenue legislation; and 3) the role of the Governor s Offices (GO) and Provincial Councils (PCs) in the legislative process. After this review, participants were divided into working groups and asked to design and draft local revenue legislation based on a list of recommendations provided by GSP/Taqadum. This exercise was followed by highly engaged brainstorming sessions where participants offered their input on new potential revenue resources, in accordance with Article 25 of the 2016 Federal Budget Law. Both of these workshops were particularly successful in that: 1) by applying what was presented during the workshops and with the guidance of GSP/Taqadum, GO and PC officials came away with a hands-on understanding of how to draft local revenue legislation and what specific topics need to be GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 32

40 addressed when drafting such legislation; and 2) participants were able to write a sample local revenue law and compile a list of potential sources from which new local revenues could be generated. The result will see clear and local legislation produced that will both hold government accountable and contribute to the transparency of local government practices. Not to mention, that collecting reasonable local revenues will enhance the local government s ability to provide better and sustainable services to Iraq citizens. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING COR MEMBERS, RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DECENTRALIZATION Basrah government officials and GSP/Taqadum engaged in a lively discussion on the laws currently in conflict with decentralization On March 10, a highly successful, well-attended meeting was held that saw attendees engage in a thorough discussion of: 1) the laws currently in conflict with decentralization; and 2) the GSP/Taqadum-developed model of roles, responsibilities, and authorities of provincial government entities. Participants included seven Council of Representatives (COR) members, incumbent representative and former Basrah Governor, Mr. Khalif Abd Samad (currently the Chair of the State of Law bloc at the COR); Basrah Governor, Mr. Majed Al-Nasrawi; Governor Assistant for Legal and Administrative Affairs, Mr. Moeen Al-Hassan; the managers of all Directorates affected by Article 45; two PC members; the Basrah UN representative; and USAID field monitor, Mr. Mazin Mohammed. In addition, several media outlets covered the event. Emphasizing the need for GSP/Taqadum to be involved in all activities related to the transfer of functions, Governor Al-Nasrawi lauded the project s role, responsibilities and authorities model, currently under review by the HCCPSEC; and announced a joint Governor - Provincial Council (PC) Chair consensus building meeting, hosted in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum and tentatively scheduled for April 23. Participants will include all Governors and PC Chairs from the 15 provinces, along with the HCCPSEC and Council of Ministers Secretariat who will come together to identify next steps, obstacles, and challenges facing them as they accept the transfer the functions. Along these lines, Mr. Samad recommended the COR form a committee that would include GSP/Taqadum and visit the directorate every two weeks to follow up on the functions transfer GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 33

41 process. Expressing their gratitude to GSP/Taqadum for its assistance, and a desire to continue working closely with the project, COR members made the following requests: 1) a list containing the laws and recommendations be compiled and sent to all COR committees; and that 2) pressure be applied on political parties, blocs, and COR committees to oblige them to expedite the transfer of functions. If it wasn t for GSP/Taqadum, Article 45 would have been nothing more than ink on paper, said Legal Committee Chair, Mr. Ahmed Abdul Hussein. [Note: Below is a link to a video and comments located on Governor Assistant for Legal and Administrative Affairs, Mr. Moeen Al-Hassan s Facebook page: LEGAL PROVINCIAL DIRECTORATE STAFF, IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM, DEVELOPING LEGAL MANUAL FOR SALES AND LEASE OF STATE PROPERTIES legal staff of the targeted provincial Directorates participating in GSP/Taqadum s legal workshop On March 15-16, GSP/Taqadum Legal Specialists hosted a two-day Sales and Lease of State Properties Manual Development workshop for 25 (3 female, 22 male) legal representatives from the Governor s Office (GO); and the Municipality, Municipalities, and Health Directorates of Babil, Baghdad, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, Muthanna, Najaf, Ninawa and Wasit, including Babil Governor Assistant for Legal Affairs, Mr. Ali Radhi; Ninawa Governor Assistant for Administrative Affairs, Mr. Ameen Fanash; and Ninawa Governor Assistant for Follow Up and Inspection, Mr. Ali Khedher. USAID Field Monitor, Mr. Jalal Sarbast, was also in attendance. GSP/Taqadum Senior Legal Specialist, Mr. Ahmed Al-Sinjary, kicked off the workshop by explaining that the need to develop this manual arose from the issuance of Law of Sale and Lease of State Property No. 21 of 2013 that abolished an earlier piece of legislation, Law No. 32 of 1986, but retained its instructions, which are still in force today. The new law contains several items that contradict the old instructions, and that need to be sorted out to: 1) resolve these contradictions; and 2) facilitate Directorate staff to attend to their tasks in accordance with more recent law. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 34

42 Divided into four groups, participants reviewed: 1) the mechanism and formation of the sale and lease of state property committees; 2) procedures related to the sale and lease of movable and immovable state properties; and 3) the main principles and final provisions to be contained in the draft of the manual. Identified in the GSP/Taqadum-developed Capacity Building Assessment Needs list regarding the Directorates and the newly transferred property management functions, this workshop resulted in the development of the content and materials to be included in the GSP/Taqadum drafted manual Law of Sale and Lease of State Property No. 21 of 2013 for use as tool to develop and build the capacities of local governments and legal staff in the transferred directorates. UNDP VISITS GSP/TAQADUM S DIWANIYAH EMBEDDED OFFICE TO COORDINATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS On March 20, 2016, UNDP Coordinator, Mr. Hassan Naji Abo-Esabia, met with GSP/Taqadum embedded staff in Diwaniyah, including Provincial Coordinator, Mr. Fadhil Wadhi, and Service Delivery Specialist, Mr. Bayan Nasir, in Diwaniyah to: 1) better understand project s interventions; 2) identify opportunities where UNDP s Local Area Development Program (LADP) effort could compliment GSP/Taqadum s efforts; and 3) to coordinate any future efforts or activities to avoid duplication. UNDP s LADP, currently being implemented in Diwaniyah, Muthanna, Maysan and Basra, focuses on: 1) building local government capacity in planning and aligning local plans with UNDP Coordinator, Mr. Hassan Naji Abo-Esabia (l) meeting with GSP/Taqadum s Provincial Coordnator, Mr. Fadhil Wadhi, and Service Delivery Specialist, Mr. Bayan Nasir, at the project s embedded office Diwaniyah and discussing coordination on interventions national development priorities and goals; 2) improving budget execution rates at the Governor s Offices (GO) and directorates; and 3) increasing citizen participation in local government planning and development. GSP/Taqadum s Mr. Wadhi, briefed Mr. Abo-Esabia on the development and implementation stages of the GSP/Taqadum-developed Intergovernmental Coordination Implementation Plan (ICIP) and Service Delivery Improvement Plan interventions. Moving forward, it is hoped that the UNDP LADP will complement GSP/Taqadum s efforts to build the capacity of local governments. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 35

43 PROVINCIAL COUNCILS PASS LOCAL LAWS DRAFTED IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM Maysan PC voting on a local law drafted in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum LOCAL LAW ON GRANTING NOTARY PUBLIC AUTHORITY PASSED BY PC Najaf On March 22, the Provincial Council passed a proposed draft law, developed by GSP/Taqadum, on Granting Notary Public Authority to targeted directorates legal managers. This Law will enable these officials to endorse respective directorates guarantees, bonds, and contracts, a responsibility currently assumed by the Notary Public. SERVICE-BASED PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LAW PASSED Maysan On March 23, by unanimous vote, the Provincial Council (PC) passed the Service-based Performance Management System Law, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. Thanking GSP/Taqadum for its assistance drafting the law, PC Chair, Mr. Munthir Al-Shawai, stated, This legislation will have a positive impact on delivery of services in the province. Not only will it allow adoption of planning, monitoring, and evaluating standards for services delivered to citizens, it will ensure improved, sustainable, and efficient services as well as citizen involvement to evaluate these services. Maysan is the second province to pass this legislation after Karbala. PC VOTES TO ALLOCATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT E-COMMUNICATION Najaf On March 23, as per Governor Mr. Luay Al-Yasiri s request, the Provincial Council (PC) voted to approve his request to allocate money from the Local Revenue Fund to activate government websites, develop the e-communication and project e-tracking systems, and pay for the iq domain. The use of e-communication and e-tracking systems will replace paper-based correspondence with electronic correspondence, streamline procedures, and remotely track project implementation. The PC voted to form a committee to follow up on development and implementation of the e-communication and e-tracking Systems. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 36

44 C. FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES / ELEMENTS ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (C3) (C3.1) BUILDING CAPACITY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS/SERVICES ACHIEVEMENTS: To start the quarter, on January 7-8, GSP/Taqadum hosted a Capacity Building Needs workshop for 20 (3 female/17 male) representatives from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Baghdad, Basrah, Diyala, Diwaniyah, Karbala and Kirkuk Education Directorates. Participants reviewed the functions to be transferred and unified, and agreed on a capacity building needs list prepared in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. The list was based on the following competencies: legal, financial, service delivery, project management, human resources, systems development, cultural relation and educational supervision. Identified needs included: 1) development of administrative investigation, administrative penalties, and legal and advisory skills; 2) development of leadership, planning and decision making skills; 3) staff capacity building in auditing, budget development, creation of an electronic assets system management, and implementation of plans and government contracts; 4) development of strategic plans, and a database for the provincial Education Directorates; 5) development of a communication and official correspondence mechanism; and 6) development of a unified electronic system for allowances and promotions in the provincial Directorates. From these identified needs, participants determined priorities and developed a unified action plan. (C3.2) PROCESS MAPPING OF CITIZEN RELATED FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES IN 12 PROVINCES Overview: GSP/Taqadum understands that after the transfer of ministerial functions, provincial governments will need to shoulder new responsibilities. Consequently, tools and methods must be set in place to make processes more transparent and streamlined for the citizen to reap the best possible benefits of decentralization. Two effective tools to this end are: 1) process mapping, a technique used to help organizations and individuals understand their specific roles and the value added by each step of the process of performing an activity; and 2) streamlining devolved functions by simplifying or eliminating the steps of a process through building the capacity of Human Resource (HR) departments in Governor s Offices and targeted directorates. Working in the 12 targeted provinces of Baghdad, Babil, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, Muthanna, Najaf, and Wasit, the project s focus has been to process map and streamline services that citizens use, i.e., citizen-centered services. The goal is to systemize and streamline these services and provide clear instruction of key steps and timelines to citizens about procedures. The process mapping of the services is very important to standardize the steps of the municipalities Directorates in all provinces because there are significant differences in the instructions, rules and regulations for the service delivery in the provinces, said Baghdad Governor Advisor, Mr. Raysan. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 37

45 Process mapping and streamlining includes collectively re-examining key steps and sub-processes with stakeholders. This includes all of the individuals who are involved with inputs and outputs of a specific process.process mapping includes recording and preparing written as-is steps that illustrate the complete process, resources, timeline, and externalities that impact the process; visualizing, by drawing a flow chart for the process,; simplifying, reducing, eliminating, combining or changing sequence steps and processes; and adopting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on written descriptions of each step in the process. The goal is to reduce the number of steps in the process, for example, to obtain the required permits to build a new home. This process might not be understood or even known by applicants. The streamlining analysis provides results that inform the reduction and/or reorganization of steps in a process to decrease the time it takes to complete a task.. Once the steps are streamlined they are shared among all the provinces for adoption and are also made public via a government outreach campaign to ensure transparency. In some cases, as highlighted in the Success Story on PG 28 the process is placed online for citizens to more easily access. The ability to apply for such permits online eliminates human interaction and thus works to reduce corruption. Equally important, such ease and transparency helps to increase citizen confidence in local government. In preparation for our two, very successful three-day regional Modern Streamlining Methods to Improve Citizen Access to Services workshops held in Erbil February 21-23, and (Note: Please see PGs for complete coverage of these workshops), GSP/Taqadum shared and reviewed as-is process maps, developed previously by counterparts in the targeted directorates, with relevant staff from all 12 provinces. This was done via numerous meetings (during January and leading up to the workshops) to streamline the maps and standardize the process of each service within the 12 provinces. In addition, two to three services were distributed to each province to map in preparation for the workshops. Participants also discussed how to complete the organizational system form and then distributed those forms to relevant staff, which filled them out based on feedback received from the directorates. In addition, a special preparatory meeting was held on February 10, with 21 (20 male, 1 female) officials and staff from the Governor s Office (GO), Provincial Council (PC), and the Sewer, Education, Health, Water, Municipalities, and Municipality Directorates, including Governor s Assistant for Administrative Affairs Advisor, Mr. Haider Jassim. The workshop attendees reviewed the process maps previously completed by the provinces to ensure that counterpart provincial directorates are following the same procedures in standardizing the mapping process, and discussed the objectives of the Unifying Process Map workshop; the main results of standardizing the process map of functions; and the services requested directly by citizens. ACHIEVEMENTS: Once gathered at the workshops, participants worked on streamlining the steps of these services during practical exercises. In a clear sign of the sustainability and success of GSP/Taqadum s assistance, some of those who attended the workshops returned home and trained staff in their provincial Directorates to process map and streamline procedures in areas not covered by Article 45 of Law 21, such as traffic police, internal affairs, and Electric and Justice Directorates. One participant, Diwaniyah Provincial Council (PC) member, Mrs. Intisar Al-Mosawi, said, I am very impressed with the level of work your project is doing and have gotten many ideas of how to use GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 38

46 the information to improve service delivery to citizens in my province. For example, for people who want to retire on their pensions, currently there are many confusing steps to the process. With process mapping and streamlining, these steps will be simplified and reduced. After the conclusion of the workshop, Mrs. Al-Mowsai held several meetings with project Operational Development Specialist, Mr. Firas Al-Kanany, to work with him on mapping and streamlining service related procedures in Diwaniyah s PC. Other positive results of the Modern Streamlining Methods to Improve Citizen Access to Services workshops: The Governors of Basrah and Diyala issued letters to all targeted Directorates officially ordering them to start drawing process maps and streamlining procedures. In Baghdad, thanks to the interest of Provincial Council Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh, officials who had come onboard unofficially at first to see the results of the process mapping and streamlining of procedures signed on officially. Diyala s Education Directorate Planning Section sent an official letter to all affiliated provincial Education Sections inviting them to participate in workshops to be organized by the Directorate on the service procedures related streamlining. The Education Directorate Planning Section in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum staff hosted one workshop on March 13-14, for 25 participants from different sections and divisions of the education sector to share knowledge and expertise they acquired during GSP/Taqadum training workshops. On March 30, Diyala s Water Directorate, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, hosted a streamlining of service-related procedures workshop for 27 participants from the divisions and section of the Directorate, including the Directorate Director, Mr. Murtadha Mahmood. Participants reviewed the mechanisms of service process mapping, and how to streamline procedures, discussed how to share knowledge and expertise they acquire during training workshops and recognized the need to coordinate with GSP/Taqadum on staff capacity building in the area of procedures streamlining. NEXT STEPS: The streamlined processes will be standardized among the matching Directorates in each province to ensure the methods are uniform throughout the provinces. Once standardized and streamlined, these processes can be posted online and throughout government buildings making citizens aware of the requirements and steps needed to access these services, to ensure provincial Directorates are held more accountable; and to reduce corruption. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 39

47 GSP/TAQADUM-INITIATED PROCESS MAPPING AND STREAMLINING OF SERVICES PAVING THE WAY TO PUBLIC- PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP Sometimes, in great moments of synchronicity, from one success others sprout. As recently reported, GSP/Taqadum s ongoing work, initiated in 2011, to promote Information Technology (IT) work is beginning to take a strong hold in the provinces. First to come onboard in 2014, Wasit requested GSP/Taqadum s technical support to assist their efforts to expand their government-based e-communication system into a more robust, multi-faceted one that, among other services, would speed communication between local government entities and track the implementation status of provincial projects. GSP/Taqadum s continued cooperative efforts with provincial officials and IT staff resulted in the development and implementation of an online tracking system that monitors projects under construction, as well as the implementation of short- and long-term solutions identified via GSP/Taqadum-developed Strategic Service Delivery Improvement Plans (SDIPs). As part of this IT work with the provinces, GSP/Taqadum Service Delivery (SD) Specialist, Mr. Hassanein Malik, discovered that the provinces of Maysan and Ninawa had been advised to utilize servers to create province-wide e-communications systems and that Wasit had decided to forge their own path forward and purchase its own servers. After evaluating the situation in Wasit, Mr. Malik advised provincial information technology (IT) staff to utilize cloud-based technology, which does not require the use of servers yet is easily accessible, user-friendly, and less costly than servers that require constant maintenance. Allowing for information to be accessed from any location at any time via the Internet, Cloud-based technology is also safer, especially when taking into consideration such events as the 2010 demonstrations that saw all records lost when government buildings were burnt to the ground. In addition, with Iraq s internal e-structure (underground optic cables required for connecting all e- Systems countrywide and enabling server use) nowhere near completion for a variety of reasons (highly expensive to install; security issues; no space left in underground channels used for water, sewer, and electric networks; and high level surface water that calls for the optic cables to be GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 40

48 buried deeper than these other network systems), using the Cloud technology was considered the best, most cost-effective, and truly, the only realistic choice given its transparency and the fact that no sensitive information would be transmitted. In September 2015, thanks to the technical support of GSP/Taqadum SD specialist, Mr. Malik, Wasit s e-communication and e-monitoring systems were up and running via its own Wasit.iq domain-based website, complete with a Citizen Portal for citizens to enter comments and feedback, as well as social media utilization supplemented by a Facebook page ( created by Wasit IT staff. In February of 2016, after five months of successful operation of Wasit s e-communication systems, Governor, Mr. Malik Wadi, invited GSP/Taqadum SD Specialist, Mr. Malik, to attend a meeting with Al- Baghdadi, an investment company specializing in e-server (Cloud-based) portal technology. With Wasit representing the only provincial government in all of Iraq utilizing Cloud technology and showing a high rate of success, the investment company had decided to offer fee-based services (12 percent of all fees collected by Wasit via its portal) to mount all of the provinces citizen-centered services to the Cloud. Currently, in order for citizens to apply for such services as building permits, business licenses, water use subscriptions, and even birth certificates, they are required to visit several government offices bringing along signed documents gathered at each and pay a series of fees in long, drawn out and time-consuming processes. These processes leave citizens exposed to bribes (to speed the process), multiple fees, excessive travel expenses, and a loss of time better spent at work or with family. For example, there are 17 local districts in Wasit. For citizens to receive free or subsidized land from the government, they must go to each of the 17 district government offices and obtain a signed document stating they do not own land before the purchase can occur. Using e-server technology, citizens will be able to complete an online application form that will be submitted to the Municipality Directorate with the click of a button from the privacy of their homes or wherever they can find an Internet connection. The Municipality Directorate will do the job of collecting the required signed documents tremendous savings of time, travel expense, and stress. During the meeting with Governor Wadi, the e-server project was presented as having three components: 1) Financial; 2) Technical (identified as the easiest); and 3) Administration, identified as the most difficult because it involves: a) compiling a list of all the services offered by the province online, b) process mapping and streamlining the processes of each service being offered, and c) the collection of the functions involved with each service. Of these, process mapping and streamlining is the most challenging, expensive, and time-consuming since it requires diverting a large number of directorate service staff from their normal tasks to assist the investment company efforts over an extended period. According to the investment company representative, their 12 percent fee represented, for the most part, the processing mapping and streamlining effort involved with preparing services for online access. When SD Specialist Mr. Malik explained that GSP/Taqadum had worked with the directorates of Education, Health, and Municipalities and Public Health and completed the process mapping and streamlining of all the citizen-centered services offered in Wasit, the investment company representative expressed shock and amazement and immediately reduced the offered fee from 12 to seven percent. This five percent reduction represents huge savings, not to mention revenue GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 41

49 generator for Wasit. Although the province does not charge any fees for its online services, the provincial government is currently reviewing legislation that would allow it to levy such fees. Excited by the prospect of utilizing e-service technology to ease the service application process for citizens and generate revenue for the local government, Governor Wadi thanked GSP/Taqadum for its ongoing support and said he would write an administrative letter to complete the deal with the investment company. FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK (C4) In accordance with GSP/Taqadum s Local Financial Management Module, which was presented and approved at the project s February 2015 National Local Finance Management workshop held for provincial officials and representatives from the ministries of Health and Education, Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works, Ministry of State for Governorates Affairs (MOSGA), and Council of Ministers Secretariat (COMSEC), project Finance specialists have been working with the 15 provinces to implement the Module in stages. (Note: Due to the Ministry of Finance s (MOF s) initial resistance to the financial model, the Module did not receive the MOF s approval until August 2015.) GSP/Taqadum s budgeting team has been focused on three major areas, with progress differing in each area according to each provincial government s capacities and resources: 1. Establishing a Local Revenue Generation System 2. Developing a Capital Budgeting Process to Meet Community Needs 3. Establishing a Provincial Finance Management System (Local Financial Management Model) These three areas are interrelated and combined together represent a practical and functional Decentralized Financial Management System phase. Creating a Local Revenue System is critical to financing local services, foster local government accountability, and improve service delivery. Development of a clear and reliable budgeting process will combine these revenues with provincial resources transferred from or allocated by the Federal government. Taken together, these two functions should be managed by a provincial financial authority that will control resources, conduct financial planning, and oversee spending of budget allocations in accordance with finance policies and regulations. DEFINING TERMS Financial Affairs Directorate (FAD): At the heart of all of this is a Financial Affairs Directorate (FAD) within each province, administratively affiliated to the Governor and technically to the MOF. Overall, the FAD performs the Ministry of Finance s provincial-related functions and operates two key expense bank accounts: 1) Operational or Recurring expenditures (maintenance, salaries, etc.); and 2) Investment or Capital expenditures (to finance provincial projects), which together, finance all spending units. In addition, the FAD contains two Sections: 1) Budgeting responsible for provincial planning and formulation of the general provincial budget, tracking changes that may occur in budget items, and tracking changes in staffing; and 2) Accounting responsible for the monthly financing of all devolved Directorates within the province; tracking spending within budget allocations for each directorate, and generating monthly provincial trial balances for submission to the Ministry of Finance. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 42

50 NUTS AND BOLTS 1. Establishing a Local Revenue Generation System Establishing Local Revenue Generation Systems ensures provinces are able to finance devolved service delivery functions without total reliance on Federal government funding. Revenue generation activities include: a) development of fiscal policy; b) forming Revenue Generation Committees or Units; c) conducting economic-based line studies; and e) developing laws and processes for utilizing, managing, evaluating, and auditing the system. GSP/Taqadum has been training provincial governments on the guiding principles, structures, and collection mechanisms for user fee and other revenue collection. This includes taking steps to create a conducive legal environment able to direct payments; and conducting public surveys to determine the willingness of constituents to pay for clearly identified services. Project staff has been supporting provincial governments in analyzing the national and provincial legal frameworks governing revenue generation by providing a road map, and assisting them in drafting local and national laws to establish local user-fee collection, management, and enforcement systems. The Revenue Generation System will provide provincial governments with a transparent means to collect and spend local revenue to meet community service needs. This system will also make local government more accountable to its citizens. Having a Local Revenue Generation System in place even a surcharge system and access to local revenue will increase the accountability of provincial governments to their citizens. The service delivery incentives facing provincial governments may improve if they have to raise their own revenues through tax or user fee increases, rather than relying on Federal transfers. In the long run, in addition to increasing accountability, Local Revenue Generation Systems will reduce the blame attributed to the Federal government for poor service delivery. Understanding the importance of Local Revenue Generation to support service delivery, accountability, and citizen satisfaction, GSP/Taqadum s Local Financial Management Module calls for the establishment of Local Revenue Units (LRUs), responsible for reporting on, financially managing, and eventually collecting local revenues within each provincial Governor s Office (GO). Overall Achievements January 1 to March 31, Local Revenue Units were established in their respective Governor s Offices in the following 11 provinces: Babil, Baghdad, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Diwaniyah, Karbala, Kirkuk, Muthanna, Najaf, and Wasit. 2. Local Revenue Ordinances were developed in the Governor s Offices of the following six provinces: Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Najaf, and Wasit; each of which submitted their draft legislations to their Provincial Councils (PC) for review and approval. 3. Local Revenue Road Maps were prepared in the following five provinces: Babil, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Najaf, and Wasit. Next Steps (Overall) 1. Assist the Provincial Councils to review the draft of local revenue legislations received from Governor s Offices to ensure they are in accordance with the GSP/Taqadum-proposed template for Local Revenue Legislation. 2. Continue to assist the completion of the Local Revenue Road maps in the other targeting provinces that have not yet completed them. 3. Provide on-the-job training to the new Finance staff on the roles, responsibilities and process of the Local Revenue Unit. 4. Assist the local governance to identify new local revenue opportunities according to Articlee GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 43

51 25 of 2016 federal budget law. 2. Developing a Capital Budgeting Process to Meet Community Needs Building on our earlier GSP/Taqadum experience establishing: 1) Provincial Planning and Development Councils (PPDCs) to assist Governors in formulating Capital Budget Plans; 2) Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) Units to determine service improvement needs; and 3) Citizen Service Desks (CSDs) to determine trends of citizen needs; GSP/Taqadum has progressed in our work with the provinces to develop and integrate Capital Budget processes into local budget development. The Capital Budgeting process will be institutionalized through a Provincial Council (PC) mandate that will allow citizen input into the decision-making process and hold the provincial government accountable for Operational and Capital Budgets. Investment Budget Achievements 1- The Investment Budget Preparation process was adopted in the following six provinces: Baghdad, Basrah, Diwaniyah, Diyala, Najaf, and Wasit 2- Provincial projects that will be transferred from the 2016 Local Investment Budget to the 2017 Local Investment Budget were identified in the following eight provinces: Babil, Baghdad, Basrah, Diwaniyah, Diyala, Kirkuk, Maysan, and Wasit 3- Financial staff in 11 of the targeted directorates in 11 provinces (all provinces except Anbar, Muthanna, Ninawa, and Salad ah Din) completed training in the management of FAD functions Next Steps: Investment Budget 1. Continue to train FAD staff on how to review the Investment Budget against available resources 2. Continue working with Governor s Office and Provincial Council staff and members to prepare them to adopt the investment budget preparation scheme 3. Assist Governor s Office and Provincial Council staff and members to identify and implement monitoring and evaluation procedures 4. Continue assisting the Provincial Council in developing a local fiscal policy. 3. Establishing a Provincial Financial Management System The initial process to establishing a Provincial Financial Management System is the restructuring of Finance staff roles and responsibilities, and the establishment of provincial FADs responsible for: 1) the financing the provinicial Directorates; 2) tracking Operational and Investment budget execution; 3) performing auditing and financial control; 4) reporting to the MOF; and 5) providing other related services as needed. Financial Affairs Directorate (FAD) Achievements 1. FAD staff in 12 provinces have been assigned (Muthanna, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din) 2. FAD staff in the five provinces of Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Najaf, and Wasit have been trained on their roles, responsibilities, and FAD procedures 3. Finance Department staff in the targeted Directorates have been trained on FAD systems and procedures in the following ten provinces: Babil, Baghdad, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Diyala, Karbala, Maysan, Najaf, and Wasit GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 44

52 Next Steps: FAD 1. Continue to provide Technical Assistance to FAD staff, including how to open new bank accounts, in all targeted provinces once they complete assigning staff to their respective FADs 2. Assist the Provincial Councils and FADs to develop a Local Financial Reporting System 3. Work with FADs, Directorates, and Governor s Offices on auditing and financial control Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) WASIT S FAD FULLY OPERATIONAL THANKS TO GSP/TAQADUM S SUPPORT In accordance with GSP/Taqadum s Local Financial Management Module, which was presented and approved at the February 2015 national workshop held for provincial officials and representatives from the ministries of Health and Education, Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works, Ministry of State for Governorates Affairs (MOSGA), and Council of Ministers Secretariat (COMSEC), project financial staff have been working with the 15 provinces to implement the Module in stages. (Note: Due to the resistance of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to accept the financial model, the contents of the Module did not receive MOF approval until August 2015.) Wasit s Financial Affairs Department (FAD) building GSP/Taqadum s budgeting team has been focusing on three major areas, with progress differing in each area according to each provincial government s capacities and resources: 1. Establishing a Local Revenue Generation System 2. Developing a Capital Budgeting Process to Meet Community Needs 3. Establishing a Provincial Management System (Local Financial Management Model) The initial process to establish a Provincial Financial Management System involved a restructuring of roles and responsibilities, and the establishment of a Financial Affairs Department (FAD) in each province. These FADS are responsible for the financing of all spending units in the province; tracking the execution of investment and operation budgets; performing auditing and financial control; reporting to the Finance Ministry (MOF); and the provision of other services. In addition, each FAD contains two sections: 1) Budgeting responsible for provincial planning and formulation of the general provincial budget; tracking changes that may occur in budget items; and tracking changes in staffing; and 2) Accounting responsible for financing all devolved directorates within the province on monthly basis; tracking spending within budget allocations for each directorate; and generating monthly provincial trial balances for submission to the Ministry of Finance. Based on a GSP/Taqadum model submitted to and reviewed with Wasit, on September 9, 2015, Wasit s local government established a provincial FAD in the Governor s Office (GO), which began GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 45

53 operations by selecting experienced employees from the GO and directorate financial sections to fill positions designated as per the job descriptions defined in the project-designed model. In accordance with an Administrative Order signed by Wasit Governor Malik Wadi, employees were assigned to these positions and a building was designated to house the FAD and its functions. GSP/Taqadum assisted the FAD with processes, procedures, and staff development. Wasit s GO then authorized the Governor s Financial Advisor and FAD Manager, Mr. Mahdi Wadi Najim, to communicate directly with targeted local Directorates concerning all financial issues. In January, Mr. Najim requested that departments start sending their Trial Balance sheets to the FAD for consolidation in order to fulfill one of the Accounts Section tasks. At the same time, the FAD requested that Directorates submit their 2016 proposed budgets, as well as the actual budget sent by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The Budgeting Section started to unify the Directorate budgets into one budget titled, General Provincial Budget. These two measures taken by the FAD were an initial step toward activating its full functions, especially in light of the fact that the MOF had recently approved the opening of the two FAD bank accounts (also part the GSP/Taqadum-developed proposal) required in order to start financing transferred Directorates. This financing of Directorates function cannot be performed without the Trial Balance consolidation and unification of all Directorate budgets. Proud of the establishment of FAD in the province, Governor Wadi stated that no Directorate budget is to be adopted unless first approved by the FAD. As February 16, all 15 provinces had issued orders to establish FADs and were in various stages of progress toward this end. Although Wasit was not the first to start the FAD process, thanks to the support of the Governor s Office, it was the first to complete the FAD process. Today, Wasit s FAD is fully functional, with staff currently receiving on-the-job to build their capacities and hosting other provinces (Diwaniyah, Dec. 22, 2015; Basrah, February 20, 2016) with the goal of sharing its experience to assist other provinces in more easily replicating establishing FADs. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 46

54 DHI QAR S AN-NASIRIYAH PARK REHABILITATION GENERATES JOY AND MUCH-NEEDED LOCAL REVENUE Filled to capacity and averaging visitors each weekend for the past three months since its opening, the rehabilitation of An-Nasiriyah Park was the result of local government efforts to generate revenue. On a daily basis, media reports bring news of some new act of violent terror aimed at disturbing citizens at their very core, instilling them with fear, and attempting to control or limit their lives. Yet, these very same people wake up each morning and carve out their futures one step at a time. And there is much to be done in today s Iraq, where Federal government entities are slowly but surely moving decentralization efforts forward by transferring authorities and functions. Indeed, this transfer requires a tremendous amount preparatory work for local governments to not only receive the responsibilities associated with these authorities and functions, but also to build capacity to administer, fund, assign, and even define the new roles required to implement them. Amid all the violence, or in despite of it, there is growing innovation and momentum moving across the country. People want to and are seeing the enactment and fruit of decentralization. Related successes are not shot heard round the world media stories, but instead small, locally based successes where people see up close and personal very real, tangible, and sustainable change for the better in their communities. Such is the case in Dhi Qar, where due to a side benefit of the province s revenue generation work, done in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, two parks now stand. Filled to capacity and averaging visitors each weekend for the past three months since its opening, the rehabilitation of An-Nasiriyah Park was the result of local government efforts to generate revenue. For the past 13 years, since 2003, due to insufficient funding and poor resource allocation and distribution, the park lay neglected with no one assigned to maintain it. Local officials, GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 47

55 including the Municipality Manager, Mr. Abdul-Nasir Atshan, following the recommendations of GSP/Taqadum Finance Specialists, invested a portion of the Municipality Directorate s income to not only rehabilitate, but also upgrade the park. Today, admission is free with fees charged for parking, as well as for leases to private investors who have: 1) set up kiosks where they sell goods, toys, beverages, and food; 2) constructed restaurants (two to date with others planned) for park goers to dine within; and 3) boats for hire for trips on the lake that is contained within the park. One investor is currently filing the appropriate paperwork that will allow him to provide boat trips for park goers to take voyages along the Euphrates River, which borders the park s south side. Fees collected help support the park s maintenance as well as other projects in the community. Thanks to the overwhelming success of the rehabilitated An-Nasiriyah Park, on March 21 - the first day of Spring and marking the Narouz holiday, Dhi Qar Governor, Mr. Yahia Nasseri, cut a ribbon as part of the opening day ceremonies of a second, 38-acre park just the other (North) side of the Euphrates. More than 4000 people from the outlying communities attended the celebration in support of its promise of access to normal life activities. Ziggurat Park, named for the ancient, massive structures built by the early Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian cultures that inhabited ancient Mesopotamia and were thought to be dwelling places of the gods, took just three months to develop. Just as with An-Nasiriyah Park, fees collected from parking and vendors will add to provincial revenues that will support enhanced services and life in the province. [Note: For more, in depth news of this second park and its opening please see: GSP/Taqadum has been working cooperatively with provincial governments across Iraq to establish local revenue generating systems that will ensure the financing of the devolved service delivery functions without complete reliance on Federal government funding streams. The aim is to provide services to citizens that will enhance their lives for the better. Along those lines, GSP/Taqadum has been training provincial governments on the guiding principles, structures, and collection mechanisms for user fees (as seen here with the two parks in Dhi Qar) and other revenue collection; including taking steps to create an enabling legal environment to facilitate direct payments, and conducting public surveys to determine constituents willingness to pay for clearly defined services. The establishment of the two parks and the obvious support of the public, as shown by sheer attendance numbers, are not only signs of the success of project efforts, but also a sign of the will of the Iraqi people to sustain normalcy and joy in their lives. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 48

56 LEGAL FRAMEWORK (C5) Implementation of decentralization requires a sound legal environment that addresses transfer from centralization into decentralization. (C5.1) RESOLVE LEGAL AND REGULATORY ISSUES RELATED TO DECENTRALIZATION Overview: GSP/Taqadum legal specialists, aimed to build a legally enabling environment for the transfer and performance of functions at a local level through two parallel approaches. The first saw them assist in the formation and training of Provincial Council Legal Committees to research, prioritize, analyze, and advise; draft laws, rules, and regulations; and follow-up on implementation of legislative actions. These Committees, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, identified 35 national laws, rules and regulations that conflicted with the administrative decentralization process of the targeted ministries, essentially blocking the implementation of Article 45 of Law 21 of 2008, as amended. Working collaboratively with Federal and provincial entities, particularly the provincial Legal Committees, GSP/Taqadum set about compiling recommendations and related draft amendments to address and harmonize these conflicts within the laws. The second approach aimed to assist the provincial governments in drafting and submitting them to Council of Ministers (COM) for national adoption. ACHIEVEMENTS: During the end of January and into February, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, meetings were held first in Basrah, and then in Najaf and Karbala, with Council of Representatives (COR) members representing these provinces, Governors, and other local Directorates to discuss the amendment recommendations that would align the conflicting laws with decentralization. They also made preparations to advocate to the Council of Representatives in support of these amendment recommendations. By the end of this quarter, all recommendations regarding the conflicting laws had been sent to either the Council of Ministers or the COR for review and consideration. NEXT STEPS: GSP/Taqadum plans to continue to conduct meetings with relevant (COR) sectoral Committees (Health, Education, Services, Legal, Financial, and Regions and Provinces) to discuss and lobby for adoption of the amendment recommendations. The project will also meet with Council Committees in Education, Health, Legal, Services, Economy, and Finance to prepare them to advocate for their adoption by the Council of Ministers and Council of Representatives. The goal of this review is to give members of these committees a greater understanding of the ramifications and specifics of the recommendations so they can better advocate for them. (C5.2) ASSIST GOVERNOR S OFFICES (GOS) TO DEFINE AND DEVELOP MANAGEMENT ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AUTHORITIES, AND RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GO AND THE DIRECTORATES Overview: GSP/Taqadum assisted the Governor s Offices and Directorates by reviewing the GSP/Taqadum-proposed legal mechanisms by which the transferred legal functions can be practiced and defining their roles, responsibilities, authorities, and working relations through on-the-job training. Legal functions were then institutionalized in accordance with the GSP/Taqadum-developed and proposed model for the distribution of roles, responsibilities, and authorities. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 49

57 ACHIEVEMENTS: (C5.2.1) GSP/Taqadum Legal Specialists continued their discussions from the previous quarter with the Governor s Offices on managing legal functions slated for transfer to the provinces that are currently authorized by the Ministries. There was discussion surrounding the legal mechanism that would be utilized to give the Governors authority to carry out the functions that were transferred to them. In cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, Power of Attorney was identified as the appropriate mechanism to not only allow Governors to utilize authorities currently carried out by the Ministries, but to also allow provincial Legal Departments of Sectoral Directorates to represent their Directorates in court. As part of our work with all provinces to prepare legal tools that will allow for the transfer of legal functions from the Ministries to the provinces, GSP/Taqadum proposed the following four legal mechanisms: 1. Granting Notary Public Law: allowing Directorate Legal staff to officially ratify contracts, pledges, and guarantees related their Directorates 2. Administrative Investigative Directive 3. Legal Advice/Consultation 4. Power of Attorney authorizes Directorate Legal staff to represent the Directorate in court By the end of the quarter, all of the above had been presented to the provinces. Najaf s Provincial Council was the first to vote on adopting the Pubic Notary Law. In addition, Baghdad, Basrah, Karbala, and Wasit s Provincial Councils were reviewing the Public Notary Law and will likely adopt it during the next quarter. By the quarter s end, the Power of Attorney mechanism had been successfully adopted by the Governors of Baghdad, Diwaniyah, Karbala, Kirkuk, and Wasit. (C5.2.2) This quarter began with GSP/Taqadum Legal Specialists building on the success of previous quarter s two national workshops (November and December 21-22) that brought together representatives from all 15 provinces (November 29-30, Babil, Basrah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Karbala, Muthanna, Maysan, and Najaf; and December 21-22: Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninawa, Salah Ad Din, and Wasit). These workshops resulted in the development of a first draft document that identified and defined the distribution of roles, responsibilities and authorities between the Governor s Offices and the Directors of the transferred Directorates. This first draft was thoroughly reviewed at a January 24 National Workshop on the Adoption of Distribution of Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities, hosted by the High Commission for Coordination between the Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) for 28 (3 female, 25 male) leadership and legal representatives (HCCPSEC, GO, and PC) from the 15 provinces, including USAID Contracting Officer Representative, Mr. Abdul Kareem Kasim; GSP/Taqadum Chief of Party, Mr. Cameron Berkuti; and USAID/Iraq field monitor, Mr. Alaa Mansur. Participants reviewed the final draft on distribution of roles, responsibilities and authorities of shared and technical functions of the Ministries of Education, Health, and Municipalities and Public Works and agreed to adopt and submit a final draft to the HCCP.,. Such identification and distribution will help the Governor, as the highest executive official in the province, to properly administer the transferred Directorates in accordance with Article 45 of Law 21, as amended. The draft was also presented at the project s January 30 National Conference on Developing a Legal, Administrative and Financial Environment in Support of the Successful Implementation of Decentralization. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 50

58 By quarter s end, the draft was still under review by the HCCP. NEXT STEPS: (C5.2.1) Work with all provinces to secure the adoption of all of the four identified mechanisms. Work with the Governor s Offices to define the mechanisms regarding other legal functions, such as legal consultants, property management, contract formulation, and Eminent Domain. (C5.2.2) Work with the HCCPSEC and provinces by providing technical assistance and trainings. For the provinces, advocate on behalf of the provinces to the HCCPSEC and for the HCCPSEC, advocate to the provinces that they adopt the model of distribution of roles, responsibility and authority between the governor and transferred directorates. (5.3) COORDINATE AMONG THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS AND GOVERNORS TO DEFINE THEIR LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND ROLES IN MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW 21 Overview: GSP/Taqadum is assisting representatives from Governor s Offices (GOs), Provincial Councils (PCs), Directorates, and Federal entities to develop and institutionalize, through local legislation - monitoring, oversight, and accountability mechanisms for the service delivery Directorates. GSP/Taqadum began by convening provincial level meetings between the GO and PC to develop a supervisory, planning, financial and legislative relationship between the Governor s Office (GO) and Provincial Council (PC), the goal was to support an integrated relationship between the two allowing both the ability to oversee and monitor service delivery performance. Taken as a whole, the goal and one of the many foundational bricks of GSP/Taqadum s decentralization work in Iraq, is to foster accountability. It is the responsibility of the Federal, GO, and PC governments to hold the Directorates accountable to provide services to their citizens. And it is the responsibility of the citizens to hold each the Federal, GO, and PC governments responsible to deliver services to their communities. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 51

59 Federal Government Ci;zens Local Government (PC, GO) Service Delivery (Directorates) Accountability Chart 1 For decentralization to be successful, mechanisms and tools must be set in place to ensure transparency. Strong relationships must be developed between government entities and citizens to ensure accountability and oversight between all and engage citizens in decision-making. Accountability Local Revenue Service Delivery Improvement Accountability Chart 2 GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 52

60 The national workshops resulted in the development of a related relationship model draft as a first and foundational step. Next, complementing the Service Delivery Improvement Plans (SDIPs) developed with the assistance of GSP/Taqadum, a proposed draft local legislation, the Service Standard Performance Management System Law, was also developed to institutionalize the methodology for the development of SDIPs for each sector in the provincial government. The institutionalization will force each sector to continue to use key result indicators, measure gaps in services, and develop plans for improvements for council approval, which will be taken into consideration in each year s provincial operation and capital budgeting process. This proposed law will ensure the accountability of the Service Directorates. ACHIEVEMENTS: During this quarter, GSP/Taqadum met regularly with GO and PC officials to review how to organize the relationship between the GOs and the PCs and activate their respective oversight and monitoring roles and to ensure that the content and objectives of the proposed draft of the Service Standard Performance Management System law would improve service delivery utilizing oversight mechanisms. Further discussion was also had regarding the PC s role in enacting local laws and the roles of the GO and PC in planning and budgeting. By the end of the quarter, 12 provinces (not including Anbar, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din) had prepared and submitted their Service Standard Performance Management System legislation drafts to their respective GOs and PCs for review and adoption. Karbala and Maysan had voted the draft into law. Some provinces (Muthanna and Wasit) took the official route with the GO adopted the proposed draft law and sent it afterward to the PC for adoption, while others took the alternative route and submitted the draft law to the PC where it is being reviewed before being placed on the PC s agenda for adoption. NEXT STEPS: The transfer of functions and Directorates from Ministries to the local level includes the transfer of technical, legal, administration, and financial management functions and leaves the Ministries to focus on national policies and setting standards. In order for the transfer to be successful, a clear technical relationship between the Ministries and provinces needs to be defined to ensure that national policies and standards are complied with and local governments are responsive and able to provide effective and efficient services. The Ministerial Orders issued by the Ministries of Education, Health, and of Municipalities and Public Works clearly state that the technical link for the transferred Directorates must remain with the Ministries, and only Administration and Financial links are to be transferred to the provinces. Unless the technical link is defined and limited to policy and standards implementation, the provinces will not be able to manage the Directorates or provide efficient and effective services to their citizens. To avoid any failure on the part of the provinces to manage their respective service Directorates, three two-day sectoral workshops To Develop An Accountability Framework and Technical Relationships between Ministries and Local Governments are planned for next quarter (Y5Q3) in Erbil (May 15-16) with the Ministry of Education and Babil, which was selected as the pilot province; May 29-30, with the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works and Basrah, Diwaniyah, Najaf, and Wasit which were selected as a pilot provinces; and June 15-16, with the Ministry of Health and Baghdad which was selected as the pilot province. The objective is to develop an initial draft accountability framework outlining the technical relationship between the Ministries and the provinces. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 53

61 SERVICE DELIVERY (S1, S2) What is Service Delivery? What does it involve? GSP/Taqadum service delivery work enables local governments to manage not only services they deliver to their constituents, but to also improve those services and their implementation. This involves using systemic scientific methodology, adoption of a Performance Management System that identifies the status of those services and compares that status with measurable standards. This is done by developing qualitative and quantitative result and performance indicators, and solutions to fill gaps that might be (and in many cases are) present in the performance of those services, including resource management, responses to the main service issues where it might be required to develop procedures and actions need to maintain services and/or upgrade the services using the indicators. The provincial Directorates, Provincial Councils, and Governor s Offices with GSP/Taqadum assistance in the targeted provinces are now participating in a periodical review of the status of the targeted services they deliver. They are measuring to ensure progress as well as to remove barriers. Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) Units are one of the monitoring and oversight arms used to verify and reflect the field status of service performance through the use of standard operating procedures (SOPs), applied site visits, including citizen rapid scans score-cards, servicefocused field tests, close follow up on service indicator progress, and Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP) implementation. In addition to the systematic approach GSP/Taqadum provides to local government, GSP/Taqadum s long-term focus is placed on tangible and measurable outcomes, and monitoring service provision performance changes in the field by using appropriate and data-driven tools. All of this, taken as a whole, is what makes the project s work significant ACHIEVEMENTS (FIVE SOUTHERN PROVINCES) MMPW was the first Ministry to begin the transfer of the movable (equipment) and immovable (properties) and forward them to the provinces in accordance to the previously agreed upon road map, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. MMPW began the transfer of properties from it s General Directorates to the provinces: Water, Municipalities, Sewage, Urban Planning, and Planning and Follow-up; and completed the transfer of Urban Planning, and Planning and Follow-up. Regarding the five southern provinces (Basra, Dhi Qar, Karbala, Maysan, and Muthanna), out of the 27 SDIPs identified, 23 were completed by the end of the quarter and sent to the Governor and Task Force members. By the end of March, three provinces: Basrah, Karbala, and Maysan had completed development of the SDIPs and will start with Phase II implementation in the next quarter. Karbala and Maysan conducted Task Force meetings and presented all SDIPs, and the Governor adopted all. By the end of this quarter, Babil had adopted the Standard Performance Management Resolution. NEXT STEPS (FIVE SOUTHERN PROVINCES) 1. Will follow-up on the transfer of properties from the MMPW s General Directorates to the provinces: Water, Municipalities, and Sewage. 2. The MMPW will continue to hold follow-up meeting to discuss issues related to the transfer of functions. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 54

62 3. GSP/Taqadum will provide on-the-job theoretical and practical training in the provinces via three separate courses designed to build capacity of staff in the Directorates. GSP/Taqadum will provide all logistic needs and the MMPW will provide the trainings. 4. Karbala and Maysan are now in the preparatory stages to establish an implementation committee and prepare an action plan for short- and long-term solutions, thus replicating the work GSP/Taqadum did in cooperation with the seven provinces in previous quarters. 5. Starting in April, the provinces will begin establishing implementation by developing action plans using the GSP/Taqadum-developed solution tracker. It is hoped by May implementation will begin. It is possible Karbala and Maysan will start earlier 6. Dhi Qar and Muthanna will complete development of their SDIPs in the next quarter. 7. Basrah, Dhi Qar, and Muthanna will present their SDIPs to the Task Force during the next quarter, and will form their respective implementation committees. 8. A focus group meeting of stakeholders coming together to discuss trash collection and how to address Iraq s growing trash management challenges is scheduled for early April. 9. The MMPW will follow up on the Ministry of Finance letter No (January 11, 2016) that required them to provide the MOF with the following: 1) the ministerial orders via which the provincial directorates had been transferred to the provinces; 2) the budgets of the transferred provincial Directorates as stated in the budgets of Ministry s General Directorates (in order to transfer them to the provinces); and 3) Human Resource (HR) information regarding the transferred provincial Directorates to be transferred from the Ministry. ACHIEVEMENTS (SEVEN TARGETED PROVINCES: BABIL, BAGHDAD, DIYALA, DIWANIYAH, KIRKUK, NAJAF, AND WASIT) Continuing GSP/Taqadum efforts in the seven provinces that completed the development and implementation of the SDIP process, implementation is ongoing. Service Delivery Improvement Plan Development Committees (SDIPICs) in seven provinces achieved: 56 short-term (ST) and 14 long-term (LT) for target services during this period based on the 37 SDIPs developed in the original seven provinces. Accumulative by the end of the quarter: 319 ST and 39 LT. By the end of this quarter, three provinces (Babil, Kerbala and Maysan) had adopted the Standard Performance Management Resolution. SDIPICs in the seven provinces developed site visit reports; and the status of the SDIP implementation updates for all targeted sectors was presented to the Task Forces, and the Provincial Planning and Development Councils (PPDCs) in order to gain GO and PC support for service improvement needs and to strengthen collaboration among Service Sectors. By the end of February, GSP/Taqadum specialists had updated the service indicators with the Directorates for the targeted services and were able to see an upgrade for most of the performance indicators (the average aggregate indicator at Fe.2016 is percent in comparison with the baseline indicator (before SDIP implementation) was percent. NEXT STEPS (SEVEN TARGETED PROVINCES) ESDO Units are continuing to measure the improvement to services based on updated indicators in seven provinces through field tests, ESDO utilization of the systemized Service Delivery Monitoring procedure, and tracking implementation via site visits based on developed action plan. GSP/Taqadum is continuing efforts in the seven provinces that have already completed the development and implementation of the SDIP process. SDIP implementation is ongoing. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 55

63 GSP/TAQADUM SUPPORTS BUILDING TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST VIA TWO-WAY e-communication SYSTEMS: GOVERNMENT-TO-CITIZEN AND CITIZEN-TO-GOVERNMENT Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) unit staff members interviewing residents in Samawa s city center (Muthanna) as part of their conducting a Citizen Rapid Scan survey (CRS) during their site visit Decentralization can have many advantages, including helping to improve service delivery; encourage citizens to become actively involved in decision making; provide ideas, projects and programs that are needed in order to improve services; and share their opinions with service departments regarding the quality of services they receive. This level of citizen participation is progressively becoming a core aspect of decentralization reforms. One approach in particular, Service Delivery Improvement Planning, developed by GSP/Taqadum Service Delivery (SD) specialists, helps to increase citizen participation. This approach sees decision makers in the service directorates (Water, Sewer, Municipalities, Municipality, Health, and Education) utilize a Service Delivery Improvement Plan or SDIP that begins with them agreeing on specific set of standards within their sector to calculate indicators that show the current value or as is situation. For example, the Water Directorate might stipulate 250 liters of water use per capita per day in Iraq s sub-districts (cities and districts would have different standards because they are expected to use more water) as the standard. Later, when checking the actual per capita usage, it might be discovered that citizens are only receiving 125 liters per day. This difference (250 minus 125) represents what is known as a gap in one indicator of water service delivery. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 56

64 Once this gap is identified, decision makers use the 14 different criteria contained in GSP/Taqadum s Gap Analysis template to determine the reason for this gap. Once the reasons are determined and remedies identified, the remedies are prioritized according to available funding. Short-term solutions that require little or no funding but produce the highest immediate impact are identified as shortterm. Solutions that require a greater amount of funding and will facilitate perhaps a better and more lasting final outcome are identified as long-term to allow time for the local government to raise funds to remedy the situation. One ongoing and growing GSP/Taqadum success story began when project Service Delivery (SD) Specialist, Mr. Hassanein Malik, discovered that the provinces of Maysan and Ninawa had been advised to utilize servers to create province-wide e-communications systems and that Wasit had decided forge their own path forward and purchase its own servers. After evaluating the situation in Wasit, project SD specialist, Mr. Malik advised provincial Information Technology (IT) staff to utilize cloud-based technology, which does not require the use of servers yet is easily accessible, userfriendly, and less costly than servers that require constant maintenance. Not to mention safer when taking into consideration such events as the 2010 demonstrations that saw all records lost when government buildings were burnt to the ground. Cloud-based technology allows for information to be accessed from any location at any time via the Internet. Utilizing a cloud-based system, Wasit IT staff was able to facilitate e-communication between local government entities. At the same time, GSP/Taqadum SDIP work identified short-term solutions that recommended the use of websites with provincial-based domains, and social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as a way to increase citizen participation. [Note: Please see to view the Facebook page created by Wasit s IT staff.] Combining this knowledge while working with Wasit IT staff, Mr. Malik, recognized the potential to take a next step and create a greater level of communication that would include twoway communication between citizens and government using social media via service delivery directorate website portals. Working in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, Wasit created an e-monitoring system on the newlyestablished Wasit.iq domain, where both government officials and citizens can track the progress of various projects, either proposed or in the process of being implemented, as well as offer their comments and opinions via a Citizen Feedback portal. This facilitates government transparency and accountability, which ultimately will foster a growing sense of trust between citizens and government officials. There is no doubt that SDIPs have contributed to an increase in participatory mechanisms, thus improving overall governance and service delivery. In addition, the use of SDIPs has underlined the importance of sharing information with the public, thus making citizenry a partner in service delivery. In the seven provinces that currently implement SDIPs, seven directorates have established website domain accounts. Seven others with previously established websites have since made improvements to them that have made them more interactive with the public. In addition, the five new Southern provinces where GSP/Taqadum has begun the strategic SDIP process have started to consult the public while their SDIPs are being drafted - as opposed to showing them the results only once the solutions have been implemented. Citizens are now welcome and invited to add their opinions and ideas to service department discussions that determine short- and long-term solutions aimed at improving service delivery. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 57

65 Since its inception in 2011, GSP/Taqadum has focused on raising the level of government transparency and accountability, and highlighted the institutionalization the work of provincial systems, specifically with regard to the monitoring and oversight of the delivery of services, and encouraging citizen participation in oversight activities. GSP/Taqadum has also supported provincial establishment Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) units that perform site visits and check the quality of services provided to citizens by applying Citizen Rapid Scan surveys (CRS). CRS surveys of underserved neighborhoods is one of the tools underlined by GSP/Taqadum as yet another means of measuring citizen satisfaction levels regarding government services, as well as promoting two-way communication between citizens and their government. SDIP-INITIATED PARENT COUNCIL DONATES TIME AND FUNDS TO REPAIR AL-FARAQED PRIMARY SCHOOL All the equipment and repairs shown in these photos water pumps; fans; lights; heaters; window glass, frames and shades; and toilet doors were either purchased by way of parent donations or repaired by Parent Council members It is crucial to ensure access to education for young people. There are now three million children and adolescents out of school in Iraq, the keys to a better future lie with them. If they do not miss out on education, a new generation of educated citizens could help bring about peace, prosperity, and stability where there is now violence, conflict and war. Bruno Geddo, UNHCR Representative in Iraq, September 2015 GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 58

66 The current issues plaguing Iraq s schools are overwhelming. The ongoing violence since 2013 alone has forced over three million Iraqis from their homes. As a result, according to the United Nations, an estimated 700,000 children have lost an entire year of school. Many others, especially young women and girls, have missed two years or more. According to UNESCO, Access to education is one of the first casualties as security deteriorates. In some relatively safe parts of Iraq, like Baghdad, schools are overburdened, with students who want to make up for missed classes and attend school during the summer months unable to find desks. This is due as much to overcrowding as it is to large numbers of desks in need of repair. Broken windows, non-functioning water pumps, damaged toilets, dirty schools, untended school grounds, and missing railings on stairways are an everyday reality in school buildings across Iraq. There are constant interruptions caused by unabated power outages that darken classrooms, and shut off fans and air conditioners in the summer and heaters in the winter. In some parts of the country, there are not enough schools to house students or teachers to meet the demand. Many good teachers have fled their homes, regions and even the country leaving behind a teaching staff depleted not only in number, but also in spirit. Given Iraq s current sluggish economy, funds needed to resolve these issues are not being allocated. In addition, a plan to update teaching facilities saw many schools demolished in preparation for the construction of more modern buildings. However, corruption and lack of funding sidelined those plans. Yet, successes do occur, such as the one in Najaf that saw the local government activate parent groups to identify, support, and fortify the province s schools. This success, as you will see below, shows clearly the positive results setting performance measure indicators and targets, and assigning authorities and responsibilities to the appropriate levels of government can have on improving services even when economic times are difficult. This success also clearly indicates the positive effect of decentralization bringing the decision-making process closer to citizens vis-à-vis having them elect their local government officials, thus making the government entities more accountable. In early December 2015, GSP/Taqadum, in cooperation with Najaf s Education Directorate, began updating the Directorate s Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP). One update to a specific solution called for the activation of a Parent Council in each school to focus on tackling issues such as much needed building maintenance and rehabilitation, overcrowding, reducing student dropout rates, improving teaching methods, and teacher staffing shortages all of which were not being addressed due to Iraq s economic crisis and related budget constraints. The Al-Faraqed Primary School for Females was among the many schools identified through this SDIP process. Established in 1964 and serving 270 females students in ten classrooms, the school was targeted for site visits by the Education Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) Unit, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, to observe the progress made regarding the implementation of the Parent Council Activation solution. (Note: ESDO is a GSP/Taqadum-developed collaborative approach involving the Provincial Council, Governor Office, and service delivery directorates to improve services using a performance measurement technique.) On December 29, 2015, in coordination with the Education Directorate, the newly formed Al- Faraqed Primary School Parent Council held its first meeting. A surprising 37 parents and concerned citizens attended and were able to agree on the following: 1) activation of a schedule of ongoing Parent Council meetings; 2) utilize social media as a line of communication between the administration and the Parent Council, and contact the parents of students to keep them informed of upcoming: a) Parent Council meetings, b) the results of those meetings, and c) the actions the Parent Council planned to take or had already taken. Most importantly, a six member Parent GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 59

67 Council was formed, and its parent members elected a Parent Council Chair and Financial Secretary, and appointed the school s headmistress as Council Vice Chair. On February 18, 2016, Education Directorate staff and GSP/Taqadum conducted a site visit to follow up on a number of SDIP solutions implemented as part of the Najaf Education SDIP, including the progress being made (or not) at Al-Faraqed Primary School for Females. The results project staff found were astounding. In the short time since its inception, the Parent Council had created a fully functional Facebook page (Al Faraqed Al Faraqed found at to ensure direct, effective, and timely communication with parents, teaching staff, and concerned citizens; and showcase all school activities. In addition, a series of repairs and upgrades had been made to the school, thanks to parent donations of funds and personal time except for the landscape work, which was completed by way of a collaborative effort between the Municipalities Directorate and activated parents. The following are some highlights of the accomplishments made to date: 1. Adoption of a communication record book shared between the school and parents that contains educational and psychological information on each student 2. Repair and replacement of window glass and frames 3. Replacement and/or repair all electrical outlets in the school s buildings 4. Rehabilitation of the school s water network, including the installation of new pipes and water pumps 5. Rehabilitation and replanting of school ground s backyard and grass, completed in coordination with Najaf s Municipality Directorate 6. Repair and/or replacement of bathroom doors At the most recent meeting of the Al-Faraqed Primary School for Females Parent Council on March 2, 2016, members welcomed more than 80 attendees, including Najaf Governor, Mr. Luay Al-Yasiri; GSP/Taqadum and Najaf Education Directorate staff; and dozens of parents. Parent Council members reviewed the above-mentioned accomplishments with attendees, as well as future planned efforts to follow up on students who have had to leave school (dropouts) to see what can be done to bring them back, and to attract and draw in potential students (including those who have dropped out) through neighborhood political awareness campaigns. Recognizing the progress made by the Al-Faraqed Primary School for Females Parent Council and thanking GSP/Taqadum for its cooperative work assisting the activation of the Parent Council, the school itself, and the Education Directorate through its SDIP work, Governor Al-Yasiri encouraged parents who were not yet members to attend the Parent Council school meetings in order to become more closely connected to the school s activities and needs. Governor Al-Yasiri stressed: 1) the importance of the SDIP process as a support of the successful transfer of functions and authorities; 2) development of educational tools; and 3) his plans to develop the educational sector in Najaf by receiving the functions and authorities from the ministries. The experience of the Al-Faraqed Primary School for Females and its activation of a Parent Council has proven to be an excellent alternative to sustainably rehabilitate GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 60

68 Iraq s schools in the face of the country s current financial crisis, said Governor Al- Yasiri. I would like to see the Education Directorate replicate this experience throughout the province. After some discussion, Parent Council members agreed to replicate their experience with another school, as requested by the Najaf Education Directorate. Hearing this news, GSP/Taqadum requested its provincial coordinator staff to expand their highly successful SDIP-initiated Parent Council Activation work throughout all of Iraq s provinces. Decentralization, at its finest, is a way of life and state of mind that connects citizens to the issues that most concern them and allows them to participate in local governance in ways that improve the overall quality of their lives. Such direct action generates a citizen/government partnership that ultimately fosters trust, not only on the part of the citizen s view of their government, but also regarding the government s view of its citizens. This partnership is exemplified in Najaf, where concerned parents came together and shored up the educational responsibilities of their economically distressed government. PAVING ROADS TO SECURITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND IMPROVED GOVERNANCE As a direct result of GSP/Taqadum s Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP) development process, Diwaniyah s Municipality Directorate was able to identify a short-term solution that involved the complete rehabilitation of an asphalt factory that had been shutdown for several years due to emissions issues and a lack of materials. The solution involved upgrading the factory s emission system to remove irregular determinants by applying appropriate filters to meet environmental standards, and providing the factory with the necessary raw material to manufacture asphalt. Presented to local government officials as a SDIP-identified priority, funds were then allocated and work began. In addition to rehabilitating the factory, adequate safety devices and measures were GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 61

69 distributed to factory workers and installed in its operation control room. Once this work was completed, in accordance with a ministerial order, the Municipality Directorate reopened the factory and resumed producing asphalt. Since the asphalt was made available, more than 94,400 square meters of roads have been paved, including the main roads leading to the city center, as well as the Al-Sedoor areas. To date, this SDIP-developed solution has benefitted 84,000 residents in Diwaniyah. As part of a related long-term solution that was also identified, the Municipality Directorate has begun construction of a new, more environmentally friendly asphalt factory with a greater production capacity and higher specifications. In its early stages now, with the site being cleared and concrete pillars installed, it is hoped that the construction will be completed in three months, and the factory will become operational in a year s time. A sign that the GSP/Taqadum-developed SDIP process is becoming institutionalized in the provinces, Dhi Qar s Municipality Directorate, inspired by the quick result of Diwaniyah s identified and implemented short-term SDIP solution, renewed its interest in the asphalt factory in Nasiriyah s city center that had been lying dormant for several years. Thanks to GSP/Taqadum s SDIP, which is being developed in Dhi Qar s Municipality Directorate at this time, it was discovered that the local government had lost interest in keeping the asphalt factory operational given it had signed contracts with local private contractors to repair the roads. But with the current dire economic situation, there was no money to pay the private contractors. Identified as a short-term solution, and given that the Municipality Directorate had the equipment, staff, and ability to load the asphalt onto its trucks and repair and pave the roads, the factory was reopened at little to no expense to the Directorate. Since its inception in 2011, USAID/Iraq s GSP/Taqadum has engaged with provincial leaders to increase accountability and transparency in local governance and improve provincial-level service delivery. The key element throughout the project has been building the capacity of the local government to better provide services to its citizens a foundational element of decentralization. The above successes, facilitated through GSP/Taqadum s SDIP development process, clearly indicate the positive effect of decentralization, which brings with it security, possibilities for economic growth, and improved governance. The SDIP is based on performance measurement system, and it is a collaborative method for various entities in local government to focus on improving services. BABIL EDUCATORS AND PARENTS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND REFURBISH SCHOOL IN THE FACE OF BUDGET GAP GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 62

70 As part of GSP/Taqadum s Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP) work, done in ongoing cooperation with Iraq s provinces, Babil was able to identify the need to rehabilitate the Safi Al Deen Primary School in central Hillah. Budget shortages within the Education Directorate saw a shortfall in the amount of funding allocated to make the repairs, and only major ones were completed. Inspired by this assistance and seeing the need, the school s teachers, staff and headmaster came together, pooled resources, purchased supplies, rolled up their sleeves, and began to make repairs themselves. During its Golden Years, Iraq s educational system was recognized as one of the best in the region boasting of exceptionally high literacy, access, and gender equality rates. Slowly degraded by decades of war and economic sanctions, the quality of education in Iraq today is in a sorry state. Redistribution of funding, political wrangling, and an ailing economy has seen resources diminish, which in turn, has added to further decay of the system s already heavily damaged infrastructure. In many schools, the physical infrastructure has so deteriorated that it has an increasingly negative effect on the quality of education and attendance rates. Displacement of tens of thousands students and staff due to ongoing violence has caused children, especially those from marginalized populations such as the disabled and girls, to become completely cut off from formal education. Where children are able to get to a school, they are met with decaying and conflict-damaged buildings, and a lack of basic teaching materials and supplies. As part of GSP/Taqadum s Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP) approach, which identifies both short- and long-term solutions aimed at providing citizen-centered services throughout Iraq s provinces, in February 2015, Babil was able to identify rehabilitating the Safi Al Deen Primary School in central Hillah as a need. Budget shortages within the Education Directorate, due to Iraq s ongoing economic crisis, saw a shortfall in the amount of funding allocated to complete all that was in need of repair and rehabilitation. With the school providing three shifts per days, the rehabilitation was deemed as urgent. By May 2015, major items such as the school s 200 sq meter roof, 500 sq meter grounds including sidewalks; and three sanitation systems including the flushing of each entire system, refurbishing of the bathrooms, replacement of pipes had been rehabilitated. Yet, other items and the general condition and appearance of the school remained in a state of deterioration and GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 63

71 disrepair due to the lack of funds. On March 9, 2016, GSP/Taqadum Service Delivery Specialist, Mr. Laith Falah, visited the school along with the members of the Education Essential Service Delivery Oversight (ESDO) Unit, and USAID Field Monitor Mr. Ayman Attiya. What they found was astounding. Concerned about how the appearance of the school with its deteriorated walls, ceilings, desks was not only negatively affecting teaching, but also the spirit of the staff and children attending, the teachers and staff, assisted by the school s very proactive headmaster, pooled resources and efforts and renovated the school by themselves. Not only was the main entrance to the school, and several walls and ceilings repainted with bright colors, the main meeting hall had been renovated and student desks repaired thanks to funds donated and collected by the headmaster and teachers, who had also reached out to parents and asked they contribute as well. Just a beginning, since much more work is needed, the headmaster, teachers, and staff are planning a parent meeting to show the before and after results and encourage parents to join in their efforts. This includes reaching out to the Education Directorate, the Governor s Office, and the community at large and asking for their assistance whether volunteering their time and expertise or donating funds and/or materials. The Provincial Council Education Committee and Deputy Governor have been invited. We are all taking from our salaries to provide a better educational environment for our students, said teacher Alaa Al-Laban. We are looking forward to receiving support from the Governor s Office to continue restoring our school so it will provide a better learning environment for our students, as well as a better teaching and working environment for teacher and staff. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 64

72 D. LETTERS A good litmus of the positive effect of GSP/Taqadum s decentralization work can be seen through the spectrum of letters Government of Iraq (GOI) officials regularly publish that request actions take place that can be traced back to a specific and/or direct cooperative intervention on the part of project staff. The following are a recap of the most recent letters distributed by high-level GOI officials. PROVINCES ARE ASKED TO SEND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO LAW 21 COR Council of Representative s (COR) Regions and Provinces Committee Chair, Mr. Khalid Al-Mifraji, in a letter dated December 16, 2015, requested provinces to present their respective suggestions for Law 21 proposed amendment by January 16, The suggestions will then be discussed with invited experts, which will be followed by an extensive meeting with Governors and Provincial Chairs. Additionally, provinces suggestions will be taken into consideration during discussions of the Third Amendment draft to Law 21, slated to be issued by the Council of Ministers. In September 2015, based on a request from the Ministry of State for Governorate Affairs (MOSGA), GSP/Taqadum prepared a proposed amendment to Law 21 to enhance the decentralization process. Many of GSP/Taqadum s recommendations were taken into consideration and included in the current draft amendment; and a copy of GSP/Taqadum s draft amendment was also submitted to the COR Committee for Regions and Provinces. HCCP SECRETARIAT LAUNCHES A CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) Secretariat Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a letter dated December 28, 2015, requested all provinces nominate two key financial officials to attend a 3-day financial capacity building workshop to be held January 17-20, The workshop is designed to build the capacity of provincial financial officials in preparation for the transfer of functions and launching of new provincial financial departments. GOVERNOR REQUESTS MOF OPEN TWO ACCOUNTS AND MOF AGREES Basrah Governor Majid an-nasrawi, in a letter dated December 30, 2015, requested the Ministry of Finance (MOF) open: 1) two accounts, one each for the provincial operational and investment budgets; and 2) a trust account. These accounts will facilitate financial and accounting processes in directorates covered by the devolution process. Several governors have submitted similar requests based on the GSP/Taqadum s proposed financial management system. Finally, on Jan 5, 2016, and based on December 1, 2015, HCCP s letter, Ministry of Finance agreed for the provinces to open bank accounts after 2016 s budget approval. HCCPSEC TAKES STEPS TO SUPPORT PROVINCIAL SPORTS CLUBS HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) Secretariat Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a letter dated December 30, 2015, notified provinces that provincial sports clubs are to retain their legal status, and grants and donations offered to provinces for sports activities are to be transferred to provinces. The letter also indicated that the following functions are to remain ministerial: 1) granting of permits; 2) determination of performance standards; and 3) conduction of elections. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 65

73 PRIME MINISTER ORDERS ESTABLISHMENT OF A HIGH COMMITTEE TO RESTORE STABILITY TO ANBAR Prime Minister s Office Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Al-Abadi, in a letter dated January 3, 2016, issued an Administrative Order establishing a High Committee, to be chaired by Anbar Governor, Mr. Suhaib ar-rawi, and consisting of 15 deputy ministers. The Committee is tasked with 1) taking the necessary steps to clear the province of Anbar of landmines; 2) provide basic services to returnees; and 3) working directly with the Reconstruction Fund to develop, in cooperation with the United Nations and donating countries, a comprehensive plan to reconstruct the city of Ramadi and other areas in the province. Several months ago, GSP/Taqadum began meetings with the Government of Iraq (GOI), international representatives, and local officials from the three ISIS-controlled provinces (Anbar, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din) in developing a plan for post-conflict service restoration. As a result, a Field Technical Team (FTT) was formed and trained in each of these provinces to perform field assessments of services and restoration plans. The training was provided by a post-conflict international expert and included several administration and technical aspects, such as the formation of the team, structure, coordination, communication plan, office needs, and leadership. With GSP/Taqadum s assistance, each team developed plans, checklists, and guidelines for preentry, entry, transition, and stability phases, as well as food security, displaced people, health, education, infrastructure, water, sewer, and housing and construction. Also, worked with teams and developed assessment forms aimed at gauging the province s current, as-is conditions. The Teams performance will be reviewed and improved based on GSP/Taqadum s feedback. WASIT GOVERNOR REQUESTS THE PC ADOPT A DRAFT LAW DEVELOPED IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM Wasit Governor Malik Khalef, in a letter dated January 4, 2016, requested the Provincial Council review, vote on, and adopt the Service-based Standard Performance Management System draft law, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. The letter indicated that the draft local legislation will ensure sustainable use of standards for planning, monitoring and regular evaluation of services. MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS TRANSFERS ITS PROVINCIAL DIRECTORATES TO GOVERNOR S OFFICES MOYS Minister of Youth and Sports (MOYS), Mr. Abdul Hussein Abtan, in a Ministerial Order (MO) dated January 10, 2016, transferred all MOYS provincial directorates located in Baghdad and provinces to respective Governor s Offices. The MO is considered implemented on its date of issue. PC REQUESTS GO ESTABLISH A HIGH COMMITTEE TO INCREASE LOCAL REVENUES Wasit Deputy Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Turki Khalef, in a letter dated January 11, 2016, requested the following: 1) the Governor s Office (GO) establish a high committee to work with provincial directorates to explore means to increase local revenues and provide draft legislation for PC review and vote; and 2) that the proposed high committee be formed within 15 days of the letter s issue date. PROMPTED BY HCCP RECOMMENDATIONS, MOF ALLOWS PROVINCES TO OPEN TWO ACCOUNTS HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a letter dated January 12, 2016, announced to all Provincial Councils and Governor s Offices the Ministry of Finance s (MOF s) authorization (in its official letter No. 904, dated January 5, 2016) allowing the provinces to open two accounts, one each for the operational and investment budgets, after the passing of the 2016 Federal Budget Law. Earlier, in a letter dated January 1, 2016, the High Commission for Coordination between GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 66

74 Provinces (HCCP) had requested that the MOF open the two accounts. PC PASSES LOCAL LAW TO ENHANCE LOCAL REVENUES Wasit Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Mazin Kandooh, in a letter dated January 14, 2016, notified the Governor s Office that the PC has passed the Health Service Fees Law No. 3 of A copy of the Law was attached to the letter. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES AGREE ON THE GRADUAL TRANSFER OF EDUCATION FUNCTIONS Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh, in a letter dated January 20, 2016 provided a review of the results of the January 4, 2016 coordination meeting in Baghdad to the following: Council of Ministers Office, Council of Representatives Education Committee, High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC), Ministry of Education, and all Governor s Offices (GO) and Provincial Councils (PC). The review stated: 1) representatives from PCs, GOs and directorates of Education reviewed the working paper discussed between the Ministry of Education and provincial representatives on May 18-19, 2015; 2) participants agreed to the findings in the working paper and gradual transfer of Education functions according to the stages: a) immediate, b) after six months, and c) after one year or more; and 3) agreed that functions related to policy formulation and development of standards should remain at the ministerial level. GOVERNOR REQUESTS DIRECTORATES TO SUBMIT 2016 BUDGETS AND ALLOCATIONS Basrah Governor, Mr. Majid Al-Nasrawi, in a letter dated January 21, 2016, requested the Directorate of Health to submit a copy of its estimated operational and investment budgets approved in the 2016 Federal Budget Law, along with all relevant tables in order to prepare the provincial general budget in accordance with provisions of Article 45 of Law 21. The letter also requested provincial directorates which their budgets have been prepared at the ministerial level send respective 2016 budget allocations to the Governor s Office (GO) within 10 days after receipt of this letter. GSP/Taqadum was copied to the letter. PROVINCIAL DIRECTORATES ASKED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON LOCAL REVENUES FOR PREVIOUS YEARS Basrah Governor Dr. Majid Al-Nasrawi, in an Activation of Local Revenues letter dated January 21, 2016, requested the Directorates of Health, Water, Sewer, Municipality, Agriculture, Youth and Sports, Education, Urban Planning and Reconstruction and Housing provide the Governor s Office Budgeting Section information related to respective directorate revenues collected , according to a template (attached to the letter) prepared by GSP/Taqadum. GOVERNOR REQUESTS COMSEC TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED FINANCIAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE Basrah Governor, Dr. Majid Al-Nasrawi, in a letter dated January 21, 2016, requested the Council of Ministers Secretariat (COMSEC) to take into consideration the proposed organizational structure for the provincial Financial Affairs Department (FAD), which is the result of coordination and consultation between the federal and provincial governments. The letter stated the province s high interest in adopting the proposal and deems it as a significant step towards implementation of Article 21 of Law 21, as amended. The letter indicated that establishment of the FAD was one of the recommendation made at the National Financial Workshop hosted by GSP/Taqadum late February, 2015 under the aegis of the COMSEC. GSP/TAQADUM STAFF RECOGNIZED BY THE BASRAH EDUCATION DIRECTORATE Basrah Education Human Resources Section Manager, Mr. Ihsan Abdul Nabi, in letters dated January 24, recognized GSP/Taqadum s Basrah hub for its efforts on the transfer of functions, and especially sharing its expertise with and improving performance of Education directorate staff. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 67

75 KARBALA GOVERNOR RELEASES SEVERAL AUTHORITIES TO HIS DEPUTIES AND ASSISTANTS Karbala Governor, Mr. Aqeel at-turaihi, in an Administrative Order dated January 26, 2016, released several authorities to his deputies and assistants allowing them to oversee and follow up on (through coordination committees formed for this purpose) directorates transferred to provinces, in accordance with Article 45 of Law 21, as amended. PROVINCES ARE RECOMMENDED TO COORDINATE WITH INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a circular dated January 27, sent recommendations made at the January 7 Development Indicators in Iraq meeting to the provinces for review and necessary action. One of the recommendations suggests that to build the capacity of local governments, provincial efforts be coordinated with international agencies operating in Iraq, including USAID- Iraq GSP/Taqadum, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Bank (WB) and Canadian Governance Institute. HCCPSEC REQUESTED LOCAL COUNCIL INFORMATION FROM ALL PCS HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in three letters dated January 13, 27 and 28, 2016, requested all Provincial Councils (PCs) provide the following information: 1) the number of actual meetings held by district and sub-district Councils in 2015; 2) how a vacant seat is filled in the event of death of a local council member due to a terrorist act; and 3) the statistics of accrued sick and annual leaves taken by local council members. GOVERNOR SENDS FOUR LETTERS RELATED TO FINANCIAL ISSUES Basrah Governor Majid Al-Nasrawi, issued the following letters on February 1, 2016: 1) an Administrative Order (AO) establishing a Local Revenue Unit (LRU); 2) a response to the Ministry of Finance s (MOF s) official letter regarding imposing charges for services; 3) an official letter to the Basrah Education Directorate, requesting it to assign financial staff to the provincial Financial Affairs Department (FAD); 4) an official letter to the MOF s Budgeting Directorate to facilitate activities of the FAD Director. PCS AND GOS NOTIFIED OF DEVOLUTION AND DECENTRALIZATION TRANSFERS HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC), Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in two letters dated February 1, 2016, notified all Governor s Offices and Provincial Councils of the following: 1) a proposed mechanism to direct the positions of the General Inspectors in the eight devolved ministries is to be referred to the Commission of Integrity for its review and feedback; and 2) the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has transferred all Labor and Social Affairs Directorates and their authorities to the provinces in accordance with Ministerial Order No (dated December 20, 2015) and the social security law is currently being revised to harmonize it with administrative decentralization. DIYALA NOTIFIED THAT DIYALA.IQ DOMAIN HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR THE PROVINCE S E-COMMUNICATION NEEDS Diyala Media and Communication Commission s Information Technology Section Director, Mr. Umru alkais Hashim, in a letter dated February 2, notified Diyala Governor s Office (GO) that the domain: has been reserved for all Governor s Office (GO) sites. This is a central step toward activating an e-communication System within the province. GOVERNOR OF KIRKUK GIVES POWER OF ATTORNEY TO LOCAL LEGAL STAFF ALLOWING THEM TO EXERCISE LEGAL FUNCTIONS Kirkuk On February 2, Governor Najim ad-din Karim, via power of attorney, authorized the GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 68

76 following: 1) local directorate legal staff the authority to litigate and appear in court; and 2) the use of legal functions transferred to provinces by the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction and Public Municipalities. The Governor s actions follow GSP/Taqadum s recommendation for the provinces to exercise the legal functions transferred to them. WASIT SHIFTS FROM PAPER TO E-BASED CORRESPONDENCE Wasit Governor, Mr. Malik Khalef, in a letter dated February 3, 2016, requested that directorates and Governor s Office (GO) departments cease the sending and receiving of paperbased correspondence except in special cases (as stated in the annex attached to the letter) effective February 15, In addition, Mr. Khalef authorized the e-governance Committee to track and report the implementation of the content of the letter. GOVERNOR AUTHORIZES SEVERAL POWERS TO PROVINCIAL LEVEL Najaf Governor, Mr. Luay Al-Yasiri, in an administrative order dated February 3, decided to authorize his Assistant for Administrative Affairs and provincial Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Directors to exercise certain Governor s powers (a list of which was attached to his administrative order). These items are slated for discussion by a committee formed by the HCCP. HCCP TO HOLD ITS TENTH MEETING NEXT WEEK HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in an official letter (sent along with a related agenda) dated February 4, notified all Governors and Provincial Council Chairs of the Prime Minister s decision to hold the tenth meeting of the High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) on February 17, 2016 in Baghdad. GSP/TAQADUM STAFF RECOGNIZED BY BASRAH PC CHAIR Basrah Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Mr. Sabah Al-Bazooni, in a letter dated February 9, recognized GSP/Taqadum s Organizational Development staff, Ms. Eman Karim, for her efforts on process mapping of the citizen-focused services the PC provides to citizens. MINISTRY DECIDES TO COLLECT CHARGES AND FEES FOR EDUCATION SERVICES MOE The Ministry of Education, in a letter dated February 9, requested provincial Education Directorates charge fees for education services in order to collect revenues for the Federal Education Fund. The letter stated that provincial Education Directors would be held responsible for any delay in the collection of these fees. BAGHDAD PC CHAIR ADOPTS NATIONAL DECENTRALIZATION CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh received recommendations of the National Decentralization Conference and noted it for adoption and distribution to PC Committees (February 6, 2016). COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA COMMISSION ASSIGNS KIRKUK.IQ DOMAIN Kirkuk The Communication and Media Commission (CMC), in a letter dated February 16, notified the Local Government that the domain: has been assigned to the province. This is a central step towards activating the province s e-communication System. GOVERNOR SENDS LETTERS TO MOF AND HCCP Diwaniyah Governor, Dr. Sami Al-Hasnawi, in letter dated February 16, requested the Ministry of Finance (MOF) authorize governors to exercise a set of powers over state selffinance corporations, firms and agencies, as per MOF letter No. 406 (May 5, 2015) granting such powers to competent ministers and heads of entities not incorporated to a ministry. A second letter, dated February 16, that Governor Al-Hasnawi sent to the High Commission for GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 69

77 Coordination between Provinces (HCCP), raised issues related to implementation of Article 45, such as the: 1) sluggishness of some ministries to implement Law 21; 2) seriousness of ministries to implement Article 33 of the 2016 Federal Budget Law regarding the transfer of provincial directorate allocations to provinces; and 3) the final inventory list of devolved directorates properties compiled based on the mechanism stated in the HCCP letter. SEWER DIRECTORATE RECOGNIZES GSP/TAQADUM STAFF Basrah Sewer Director, Mr. Ahmed Thijeel, in two letters dated February 18, recognized GSP/Taqadum s Basrah embedded staff, Dr. Sarmad Ghazi and Mr. Ehsan Kadhum, for their efforts in the: 1) transfer of functions; 2) development of the capacity of the Service Delivery Improvement Committee; and 3) improved performance of Sewer Directorate staff. GOVERNOR ORDERS THE DELEGATION OF POWERS TO HIS DEPUTIES AND ASSISTANTS Maysan Governor, Mr. Ali Dawai, in an Administrative Order (AO) issued on February 21, 2016, stated the following: 1) provincial directorates of the Ministries of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities; Labor and Social Affairs; Youth and Sports; and Finance will report to their respective Governor Assistants; and 2) Deputy Governors will review and make decisions on certain issues, in accordance with the authorities granted to them by the Governor. The AO stated that these measures will continue until the new organizational structure is in force. The new organization chart for the Governor s Office, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, has been adopted by High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP). HCCP REQUESTS PROVINCES TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE LISTS OF TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in two letters dated February 22, requested that Governor Offices (GOs) and Provincial Councils (PCs) review and provide feedback on the lists of functions transferred by the Ministries of Education and Agriculture to the provinces (both lists were attached). GOV.IQ DOMAIN IS ASSIGNED TO MUTHANNA Muthanna The Communication and Media Commission (CMC), in a letter dated February 23, notified the local government that the domain: has been assigned to the province. This is a foundational step towards activating the province s e-communication System slated to be established in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. GOVERNOR REQUESTS PC APPROVEAL OF LOCAL LEGISLATION DRAFT Wasit Governor, Mr. Malik Khalef, in a letter dated February 24, 2016, requested the Provincial Council (PC) review and approve a piece of local draft legislation titled, Law on Organizing the Relationship between the Provincial Council and Governor, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. MOF REQUESTS RAFIDAIN BANK OPEN AN ACCOUNT FOR BASRAH S GO Ministry of Finance Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Fadhil Nabi, in an official letter dated February 25, 2016, requested the Iraqi Rafidain Bank open a current account for Basrah s Governor s Office (GO), at the request of the GO s official letter No.1373, dated February 22, 2016, in order to deposit and withdraw new fee charges, in accordance with Article 25 of the 2016 Federal Budget Law. (Note: The funds in this account can only be used to complete projects started in past years.) MOA ASKED TO RESOLVE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITIES INCONSISTENCIES HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a letter dated February 28, asked the Ministry of Agriculture GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 70

78 (MOA) to resolve contentious items cited in MOA Administrative Order (AO) No. 344, dated February 16, 2016, regarding the transfer of authorities. The MOA was asked to remove any inconsistencies between the AO No. 344 and a previous AO No. 1494, dated November 15, 2015, which was issued after being agreed on between MOA, provincial, and High Commission for Coordination between Provinces (HCCP) representatives. PROVINCES CALLED ON TO ACCELERATE SCHOOL BUILDING TURNOVERS MOE Minister of Education, Dr. Mohammed Ikbal, in a letter dated February 28, requested Governor Offices (GOs) and Provincial Councils (PCs) to accelerate receiving school buildings belonging to the Ministry of Education, which have percent rate of completion. TARGETED MINISTRIES ARE ASKED TO EXPEDITE INVENTORY OF TRANSFERRED PROPERTIES HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a letter dated February 29, requested ministries targeted by Article 45 of Law 21 to: 1) expedite and finalize respective property inventory to be transferred to the provincial level; and 2) provide the Ministry of Finance (MOF) with the requested information (via letter No. 4583J dated January 1, 2016) on the transfer of directorate allocations and staff from each ministry to respective provincial directorates. SIXTY-THREE FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TRANSFERRED TO THE PROVINCES MOE Minister of Education, Dr. Mohammed Iqbal, in a ministerial order dated February 14 and effective March 1, 2016, transferred 63 administrative, financial, educational, and legal functions and responsibilities to provinces in accordance with Law 21 of 2008, as amended. GOVERNOR REQUESTS PC APPROVE PROPOSED LOCAL LEGISLATION Wasit Governor, Mr. Malik Khalef, in a letter dated March 3, asked the Provincial Council (PC) to vote on the draft law: Transfer of Notary Public Authority to Legal Section Managers of Transferred Directorates, proposed by the Governor s Office Legal staff, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum.This law will allow Legal staff to use the Notary Public Authority within their respective transferred directorates, in accordance with Article 45 of Law 21, as amended. MOF ASKED TO EXPEDITE THE OPENING OF PROVINCIAL ACCOUNTS Diyala Governor Muthanna Al-Timimi, in a letter dated March 3, asked the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to expedite the opening of current operations and investment accounts for provinces. Referring to MOF s letter dated February 23, which requested Diyala defer opening its accounts until allocations are transferred from ministerial budgets to the provincial budget, Mr. Al-Timimi wrote that opening these accounts would be an important step toward expediting the transfer of functions. PC CHAIR ASKS GSP/TAQADUM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH MOCHPM ORDER Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) Chair, Dr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh, in an official letter dated March 8, asked GSP/Taqadum to review, analyze and provide feedback on the Administrative Order No.1431, issued by the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities (MOCHPM) on December 16, 2015 that excludes 22 Road and Bridge Directorate staff and their responsibilities from being transferred to the provincial level. Dr. Al-Adhadh further stated that exclusion of these individuals is a breach of a previous agreement between the Ministry and provincial representatives. GSP/Taqadum reviewed the letter and provided a response to the Baghdad PC Chair and copied other provinces. GSP/TAQADUM ASKED TO ASSIST WITH PLANNED MUTHANNA WORKSHOP HCCPSEC High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, in a letter dated March 8, asked GSP/Taqadum to assist Muthanna s Local Government to host a workshop aimed at reviewing the new unified Governor s Office GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 71

79 (GO) structure and the distribution of authorities between the Governor and provincial service directors. In a previous letter, dated February 16, Muthanna Governor, Mr. Falih Abdulhassan Sukar, had asked the HCCP to approach GSP/Taqadum for financial and technical support to hold the workshop. GOVERNOR ORDERS EDUCATION DIRECTORATE TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNOR S OFFICES AND RETENTION OF CERTAIN EDUCATION FUNCTIONS Maysan Governor, Mr. Ali Dawai, in an administrative order (AO) issued on March 9, in accordance with Article 45 of Law 21, and Education Administrative Order (AO) No. 2687, dated February 14, 2016, ordered: 1) transfer of the Education Directorate from the Ministry of Education (MOE) to the Governor s Office; and 2) the Governor s retention of certain Education authorities and responsibilities, and the rest delegated to the Director of Education. MINISTRY ORDERS TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES TO PROVINCES MOE Minister of Education, Dr.Mohammed Ikbal, in a letter dated March 13, ordered the transfer of the responsibilities and authorities referred to in the Ministry of Education s Administrative Order (AO) No. 2687, dated February 14, to the provinces, along with the MOE s properties, positions, and financial allocations. GSP/TAQADUM IS ASKED TO ASSIST THE TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS OF ADDITIONAL TARGETED DIRECTORATES Babil First Deputy Governor, Mr. Wisam Aslan, in a letter dated March 16, asked GSP/Taqadum to implement the project s approach, including its legal, administrative, and financial expertise, to assist the transfer of the Ministries of Agriculture (MOA) and Labor and Social Affairs Directorates (MOLSA) to the provincial level. Mr. Aslan commended GSP/Taqadum s significant role assisting the provinces to accept the transfer of the directorates of Health, Education, and Municipalities. GOVERNOR COMMENDS GSP/TAQADUM S DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS Najaf Governor, Mr. Louay Al-Yasiri, in a letter dated March 17, 1) thanked GSP/Taqadum Najaf staff for their assisting the local government to transfer functions and authorities from the Ministries to the province, in accordance with Law 21, as amended; and 2) commended GSP/Taqadum s fruitful efforts and said he looked forward to ongoing cooperation in order to better provide services to Najaf s citizens. AGRICULTURE DIRECTORATE FUNCTIONS ARE TRANSFERRED Dhi Qar Governor Yihya an-nasiri, in the Administrative Order (AO) No dated March 8, ordered the: 1) Directorate of Agriculture (DOA) to be disengaged from the Ministry of Agriculture and linked financially and administratively to the Governor s Office; and 2) transfer of the DOA s financial, administrative and legal functions to the provincial level. GOVERNOR CALLS ON PC TO VOTE ON LOCAL LEGISLATION DRAFT Diwaniyah Governor, Dr. Sami Al-Hasnawi, in a letter dated March 14, asked the Provincial Council (PC) to review and vote on the GSP/Taqadum-developed Granting Public Notary Powers to Targeted Directorates Legal Officials draft law, which will authorize legal officials to exercise Public Notary Powers within their respective Directorates, in accordance with Article 7(3) of Law 21, as amended. On March 22, a similar letter was sent to the Muthanna PC by Governor Faleh Abdul Hassan. GOVERNOR SEEKS FUNDING FOR PROVINCIAL E-COMMUNICATION PROJECT Najaf Governor Luay Jawad Al-Yasiri, in a letter dated March 15, asked the Provincial Council (PC) to designate adequate funding from the local revenue fund to finance the provincial e- Communication Project. Governor Al-Yasiri emphasized the importance of e-communication GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 72

80 use, especially in terms of saving time, money, and effort, given it is faster and more efficient than traditional types of correspondence. MINISTRY TRANSFERS FUNCTIONS TO 11 PROVINCES MOE Minister of Education, Dr. Mohammed Iqbal, in Ministerial Order (MO) dated March 17, ordered the following: 1) the transfer of 11 Education Directorates from the ministerial to the provincial level; 2) the retention of the remaining Education Directorates (Anbar, Salah ad Din, Ninawa, and Kirkuk) at the ministerial level until liberation of those provinces; 3) the retention of certain functions at the ministerial level until completion of the capacity building stage and availability of adequate provincial resources; 4) the retention of specific divisions and sections that are affiliated to the 11 Education Directorates mentioned in Item No.1 at ministerial level; and 5) the MO will be effective once properties, staffing, positions and allocations to provinces are transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the local level. DIRECTORATES REQUEST ADOPTION OF SAB INTERNAL AUDIT GUIDE Basrah Governor Office s Budgeting Department, Mr. Issa Hamid, in a letter dated March 20, requested the Directorate of Education adopt the Internal Audit Guide developed by the Supreme Audit Board (SAB).Mr. Hamid emphasized that the Guide would help reduce waste and misuse of public funds, and provide reliable and accurate financial statements. GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 73

81 E. GSP/TAQADUM IN THE MEDIA COR MEMBER ATTENDS GSP/TAQADUM LEGAL WORKSHOP COR Member Facebook Page, January 3: Council of Representatives Independent Bloc Chair, Mr. Sadiq Al- Laban, attended GSP/Taqadum s The Role of Legislation in the Transfer of Ministerial Functions workshop. While discussing the possibility of amending Article 45, participants explored strengths and weaknesses in Law 21, as amended, and provided suggestions. The workshop was successful in all respects. https :// Council of Representatives Independent Bloc Chair, Mr. Sadiq Al-Laban, (center left) attending GSP/Taqadum s workshop GSP/Taqadum discussing long-term solution plans with key Sewer officials GSP/TAQADUM DISCUSSES LONG-TERM SOLUTION PLAN WITH SEWER DIRECTORATE OFFICIALS Baghdad Sewer Directorate Facebook Page, January 11: GSP/Taqadum paid yet another visit to the Baghdad Sewer Directorate and met with Sewer Director Engineer, Mr. Nasir Muhi; and Planning and Follow-up manager, Mr. Abbas Mohammed. Participants discussed: 1) the Directorate s long term plan to improve services in Baghdad suburbs; 2) identify sewer and storm water pipeline drainage service gap rates and service indicators; and 3) completion rates of central processing projects the Directorate is currently implementing. HCCPSEC CHAIR AND GSP/TAQADUM DISCUSS MUTUAL COOPERATION HCCP Facebook Page, January 14: High Commission for Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, met with representatives of USAID-Iraq GSP/Taqadum and discussed mutual cooperation and new frameworks for establishing decentralization and assisting provinces in the devolution process. HCCPSEC Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti (l) meeting with GSP/Taqadum representatives GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 74

82 Karbala s Provincial Council (PC) Legal Committee Chair, Mr. Mahfooz at-timimi s interview in Karbala s Alyoum newspaper KARBALA PC LEGAL CHAIR HIGHLIGHTS GSP/TAQADUM S ROLE AT COR OFFICE MEETING Karbala Al-youm Newspaper, January 9-15: Karbala s Provincial Council (PC) Legal Committee Chair, Mr. Mahfooz at-timimi, stated that decisions taken by the Federal government and Ministries are not living up to citizen expectations, with the result seen in the problems and hardships they are currently facing. Referring to decentralization and existing laws, Mr. at-timimi pointed out that participants of GSP/Taqadum s January 5 meeting in the Karbala s Council of Representative s (COR) office said they are moving forward and making overdue amendments to existing laws in conflict with administrative decentralization. GSP/TAQADUM-DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TOOL UNDER REVIEW Salah ad Din Assistant Governor s Facebook Page, January 18: Salah ad Din Assistant Governor for Administrative Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Abdul Wahid, presided over a meeting of the province s Field Technical Team tasked with assessing damages and discussed a mechanism to assess provincial infrastructure damage. After providing an overview of the template, developed by GSP/Taqadum in cooperation with stakeholders of concerned provinces, participants set a Salah ad Din s Field Technical Team discussing the GSP/Taqadum-developed tool for assessing damages February 4, 2016 deadline for the technical team to finalize its work, in coordination with GSP/Taqadum, and submit its findings to Governor, Dr. Ra ed Al-Jabouri, in order for it to be included in the Provincial Reconstruction Plan. GSP/Taqadum delivering a presentation at meeting with Provincial Council Chair, Mr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh and decentralization implementation partners PROVINCIAL CHAIR UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF MINISTRIES COOPERATION IN FUNCTION S TRANSFER Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) Chair Facebook Page, January 20: Baghdad Provincial Council Chair, Mr. Riyadh Al-Adhadh, met with USAID-GSP/Taqadum and decentralization implementation partners to discuss detailed steps for transfer of directorates. Mr. Al-Adhadh underscored the importance of having the ministries cooperate in order to accomplish successful transfer of functions to the provincial level, which will ultimately improve services delivered to citizens. (Note: GSP/Taqadum advisors presented detailed procedures for the transfer of staff and properties from ministries to governorates.) GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 75

83 GOVERNOR DISCUSSES TRANSFER OF FUNCTION PROCEDURES WITH GSP/TAQADUM Governor of Karbala Facebook Page, January 24: Karbala Governor Aqeel Al-Turaihi, met with GSP/Taqadum and discussed the mechanisms to transfer ministerial functions and responsibilities to the provincial level and related legislation, as well as related provincial procedures taken to date. Also in attendance was Governor Administrative and Service Assistant, Mr. Mohammed Kamil. php?storyfbid= & id= GSP/Taqadum briefing Karbala Governor Aqeel Al-Turaihi on transfer of function mechanisms US Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart E. Jones addressing the audience at the National Decentralization Conference hosted by GSP/Taqadum, on January 30, 2016 US AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ COMMENDS EFFORTS OF HCCP SECRETARIAT CHAIR Independent Press Agency, January 30: US Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart E. Jones, reaffirmed the US government s support of the USAID-funded GSP/Taqadum project to assist the Government of Iraq s (GOI s) decentralization efforts. In his speech at the National Conference on Decentralization, Ambassador Jones stated these efforts are part of the GOI s commitment to decentralization, in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution and Provincial Powers Act (Law 21 of 2008). The Ambassador commended the High Commission for the Coordination between Provinces Secretariat (HCCPSEC) Chair, Dr. Torhan Al-Mufti, for his successful efforts to implement decentralization and said offering the people the opportunity to engage in developing their communities and provide better services is pivotal to decentralization. USAID-IRAQ GSP/TAQADUM HOSTS SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL DECENTRALIZATION CONFERENCE AL-Masalah, January 30: Under the motto Decentralization: Service, Stability, and Development, USAID-Iraq GSP/Taqadum hosted a successful National Decentralization Conference attended by Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Al- Abadi s Representative, Dr. Mahdi Al-Alaq; US Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart E. Jones; and Council of Representatives members, Governors, and Provincial Council (PC) Chairs. The conference was designed to implement a decentralized system cited in Article 1 of the Iraqi Constitution of A large number of participants attended the National Decentralization Conference hosted by GSP/Taqadum on January 30, 2016 GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 76

84 Baghdad GO officials and GSP/Taqadum (r) discussing mechanisms to transfer functions BAGHDAD GO AND GSP/TAQADUM DISCUSS MECHANISMS FOR TRANSFER OF DIRECTORATES Baghdad Deputy Governor s Facebook Page, February 4: Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs, Mr. Karim Khelaf, met with Governor s Office Section managers and GSP/Taqadum to develop the mechanisms and procedures to allow for the transfer of provincial Directorates from the ministerial to provincial level. According to Mr. Khelaf, two new Sections: Accounting and Budgeting, will be established pending final approval of the Governor. These sections will be tasked with developing financial plans and providing all relevant provincial project financial information. php?id= MAYSAN WATER AND SEWER DIRECTORATES REQUEST CITIZEN FEEDBACK Maysan Water and Sewer Directorates Facebook pages, February 7, 2016: On their respective Facebook pages, Maysan s Water and Sewer Directorates published the following message: Dear Citizen, the Directorate would like you to share your feedback in order to assist us in improving water/sewer service, and ensure these services live up to your expectations and cover all areas in the province. The Directorate is currently using, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, a scientific approach to improve services based on relevant standards and indicators. Maysan Water Directorate Facebook Page php?id= IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM, DIYALA SEWER DIRECTORATE CONDUCTS EXTENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO REPAIR STATIONS Diyala Sewer Directorate Facebook Page, February 8: Diyala s Sewer Directorate, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, conducted an extensive campaign to repair lift and pump stations based on Diyala s Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP). GSP/Taqadum (r) with Sewer Directorate staff at a pump station MUTHANNA WATER DIRECTORATE REQUESTS CITIZEN FEEDBACK ON SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS Muthanna Water Directorate Facebook Page, Feb. 16: Muthanna s Water Directorate Facebook page published the following message: Dear Citizen, the Directorate would like your feedback in order to assist us in improving water services, and to ensure that these services live up to your Muthanna s Water Directorate Building GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 77

85 expectations and cover all areas in the province. The Directorate is currently using, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, a scientific approach to improve services based on relevant standards and indicators. The message asked citizens to provide feedback regarding short-term water solutions (posted on the Facebook page) identified for underserved areas. SDIP Committee conducting a site visit to Al- Mahmoodiya central treatment station in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum BAGHDAD SEWER DIRECTORATE, IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM, CONDUCTS SEWER STATION SITE VISIT Baghdad Sewer Directorate Facebook Page, February 21: GSP/Taqadum and a USAID Field Monitor met with Sewer Director, Mr. Nasir Muhi, and discussed the progress of the Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP) Committee and related obstacles facing the Directorate, including the lack of financial allocations and qualified staff. Later, the SDIP Committee, along with GSP/Taqadum conducted a site visit to Al-Mahmoodiya District to follow up on short-term Sewer solutions, developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. KARBALA GOVERNOR WORKING WITH GSP/TAQADUM FUNCTIONS TRANSFER Press Conference, February 22: Stating his support of the transfer of functions and responsibilities, Karbala Governor Aqeel at-turaihi, stressed how the transfer enhances decentralization. We are currently working with the Federal government and the USAID-funded GSP/Taqadum project to gradually transfer the functions according to a set timeline. Although we are facing some problems and obstacles, ultimately the concept of decentralization will be established. EDUCATION DIRECTORATE HOSTS A WORKSHOP, IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM Diyala Education Directorate s Website, March 15: In the framework for coordination and cooperation with GSP/Taqadum, on March 13-14, the Education Directorate hosted a Process Mapping and Streamlining of Procedures Capacity Building workshop attended by 25 Education officials and staff, including Directorate Assistants and Division Managers. This workshop is the first of five planned by the Education Directorate s Planning Division aimed at building the capacity of Education official and staff. Diyala Education Directorate hosting GSP/Taqadum s Process Mapping and Streamlining of Procedures Capacity Building workshop GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 78

86 Babil officials reviewing Education and Health short-term service solutions with GSP/Taqadum DEPUTY GOVERNOR REVIEWED SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS WITH GSP/TAQADUM Babil Deputy Governor s Media Office, March 24: On March 24, Deputy Governor, Mr. Wisam Aslan, met with GSP/Taqadum and reviewed Education and Health short-term service solutions developed by respective directorates, in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. Stressing the importance of developing and implementing a roadmap for the improvement of services in all sectors, especially Health and Education, Mr. Aslan noted that indicators and standards have been developed for each sector to improve delivery of services provided by provincial directorates. TASK FORCE REVIEWS SERVICE SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED IN COOPERATION WITH GSP/TAQADUM Karbala GO Media Office, March 24: On March 24, Governor Aqeel Al-Turaihi, met with Karbala s Task Force (TF); Municipality, Municipalities, Health and Education Directors; Governor Assistant for Service Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Kamil; and GSP/Taqadum and reviewed the province s Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP), developed in cooperation with GSP/Taqadum. After Karbala s Service Delivery Committee presented its draft SDIPs, Governor Aqeel Al-Turaihi ordered the establishment of a committee to oversee implementation of solutions cited in the SDIPs. Governor Aqeel Al-Turaihi (c) meeting with Karbala s Task Force (TF); Municipality, Municipalities, Health and Education Directors; Governor Assistant for Service Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Kamil; and GSP/ Taqadum GSP/Taqadum Quarterly Performance Report Year 5, Quarter 2 79