PRT TIKRIT: MOVING GOVERNANCE FORWARD IN SALAH AD

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 004311 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM EAID IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: MOVING GOVERNANCE FORWARD IN SALAH AD DIN REF: BAGHDAD 3946 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable. ¶2. (SBU) Institution of democratic principals and processes in the provincial government of Salah ad Din (SaD) hinges on the proper separation of powers between the Governor and the Provincial Council. At present, the relationship between these two branches of the provincial government is largely driven by personalities. We see the following initiatives as key to defining the independent roles of each branch of the provincial government, increasing transparency and accountability, and helping make elected leaders answerable to their constituents. The PRT intends to focus its governance resources on these initiatives. -------------- -------------- Instituting Rules and Procedures in the Provincial Council -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Institution of internal rules and procedures in the Provincial Council (PC) is crucial for normalizing the council's operations, decision-making process, transparency, and accountability. At present, the PC does not hold regular meetings, take minutes, or record votes. ¶4. (SBU) The PC legal committee drafted internal rules and procedures two years ago, but they were never implemented. The PC, in conjunction with the PRT, recently updated the rules, and the PC plans to vote on their implementation at its next meeting. The PRT is also working with the ISF to ensure the safe passage of members to the meetings, as security has previously prevented members from traveling to Tikrit to attend meetings. (NOTE: Copies of the PC's internal rules and procedures are available at the website listed in para 12. END NOTE.) -------------- -------------- Holding Regular Meetings between DGs and the Governor -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Holding regular meetings between the Ministries Directors General (DG) and the Governor and Deputy Governor is important to ensure that the Governor has proper oversight of the DGs' operations and that the DGs are fully informed of the provincial government's priorities. Currently, the communication gap that exists between the Governor and the DGs prevents municipal services from effectively reaching SaD residents. ¶6. (SBU) The PRT is working to establish regular meetings between the Governor's office and the DGs, but the initiative has been met with some opposition. The DGs have been very supportive of holding the regular meetings. -------------- - Establishing Rules and Procedures for the PRDC -------------- - ¶7. (SBU) Establishing rules and procedures for the PC's Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC), SaD's primary decision-making body on reconstruction and large capital projects, is vital to guaranteeing that reconstruction money is spent properly and that projects are allocated and contracted fairly. Presently, the PRDC has no internal rules, making the project decision-making process opaque and inconsistent. ¶8. (SBU) The PRT will be working with the PRDC to draft internal rules and procedures and to work them through the approval process. We intend to use Economic Support Funds (ESF) to encourage this process. ESF monies will also provide the committee its initial funding in FY 2007 and ensure that the established procedures work effectively. With the ESF monies working to streamline the PRDC's operations, the committee should be ready for its full funding when it arrives from the GOI later in 2007. -------------- Increasing the Information Flow to the PC -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Increasing the flow of information from the DGs to the PC is essential for the PC to make proper funding and policy decisions. At present, the PC receives little information about the status of service delivery and project implementation. ¶10. (SBU) This problem is two-fold. The Governor does not provide the information from the DGs, and the PC does not ask for it. As a first step for increasing the information flow, the PRT has helped the provincial government create a project database that records projects, descriptions, and status (both financial and engineering). The PRT is also working with the Governor to ensure that information is available and with the PC to inform members about how this information is necessary. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶11. (SBU) We believe that regularizing procedures will be an important tool in ensuring transparency and accountability. The overall positive response we have received from our interlocutors bodes well for improved functioning of the provincial government, although the proof will only be seen after several months of use. END COMMENT. ¶12. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://blogs.csp.sgov.gov/blojsom/blog/ salahaddin/. KHALILZAD