IRAQ PRTS ASSESS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS - FEB 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 000797 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON MOPS PREL IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ PRTS ASSESS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS - FEB 2006 ¶1. (U) INTRODUCTION. The Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Iraq report monthly the ability of the provincial level government to function effectively and the obstacles that prevent full self-governance. The PRTs assess provincial governments in the areas of governance, economic development and infrastructure, and the Multi-National Corps assesses security (which is included in the overall assessment). Governance includes the governor, provincial council (PC),director generals (DGs),and rule of law and transparency. The economic development category measures finance, banking and business; labor and unemployment; transportation; and agriculture and food. Infrastructure incorporates basic needs; capacity of electricity, fuel, telecom, transportation, and irrigation systems; and education systems. The sub-categories are broken down even further to ensure full consideration of the various functions that fall into the respective categories. ¶2. (U) PRT members evaluate each area and assign a color to identify its current status. Considering each sub-category status, the three main pillars are assigned a color-coded status and these roll up into the overall evaluation for the respective PC. Green indicates good progress with no identified problems, yellow means progress being made with only minor problems, orange indicates slow progress with significant problems, and red means very slow progress with major problems. The following paragraphs summarize the February 2006 assessments for the PRTs in Ninawa, Kirkuk, and Babil Provinces. END INTRODUCTION. -------------- NINAWA PROVINCE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) OVERALL AND GOVERNANCE. All three main pillars were rated orange for the Ninawa provincial government for February 2006, resulting in an overall assessment of orange. The Governor and his staff continue to perform their functions satisfactorily. However, the lack of decentralized authority and resources erodes any real power. The Governor serves as the voice of the people and as a sounding board for their issues. District mayors complain that he is unable to resolve their immediate problems, which relate to essential services and security. In order to see progress in the governance assessment, provincial authorities must obtain resources and legal authority to execute an essential services master plan for the province. The Provincial Council (PC) is too dependent on the Chairman and fails to act as a real policymaking body. Additionally, its current composition does not accurately reflect the ethnic and religious makeup of the province and, as a result, the PC does not effectively represent the interests of all its constituents. ¶4. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE. Infrastructure was rated overall orange with basic needs coded orange, capacity of the various systems such as electricity, fuel, telecom, etc., continued to lag at red; and the education system was yellow. Local managers within the potable water directorate are not proactive within their area of operations, thus limiting the effectiveness of the directorate outside Mosul. Funding shortfalls have halted the ability of the solid waste department to collect and remove debris from Mosul. Solid waste continues to block storm and sewer systems. ¶5. (U) Fuel distribution and storage present a significant limitation to overall capacity. This limitation was even more obvious in February because of the nationwide fuel shortage. Ninawa Province generates more electricity than used, but it is subject to the national distribution scheme. Transportation infrastructure is inadequate to support expanded commerce and requires significant national investment. ¶6. (U) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Economic development factors were rated overall orange. The economy of the province is poor. Unemployment remains a persistent problem and directly correlates to security and instability issues. Job creation must be a top priority and growth in businesses and industry is necessary to drive those jobs. The national government must invest in this process and encourage outside investment. Local projects delivering a short turn around and providing observable improvement will best assist provincial leaders to serve the interests of Ninawa citizens. The focus for economic activity in the province should be small to medium-size business growth combined with agricultural initiatives. -------------- BAGHDAD 00000797 002 OF 004 TAMIM (KIRKUK) PROVINCE -------------- ¶7. (U) OVERALL AND GOVERNANCE. Kirkuk was rated overall orange, as well as the three main pillars. The governance area was rated orange. The Kirkuk provincial leaders function on an acceptable level, although ethnic divisions hinder progress. Among the actions required to move governance from orange to yellow, the deputy governor needs to be appointed and effectively working. The PC performance is improving and moved from orange to yellow in February. They drafted a charter which is currently in review. The PC has also begun publishing its meeting minutes and making them available to the public. To continue their progress, the PC must become self-policing, corruption free, and self-sufficient. They must demonstrate the ability to manage priorities and resources. ¶8. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE. Infrastructure was rated overall orange with basic needs coded orange, capacity of the various systems such as electricity, fuel, telecom, etc., coded yellow, the education system was yellow, and civil service was rated red. The GST-5 Water Storage Project is expected to greatly increase the potable water supply in two large Arab Neighborhoods. Thirteen rural water initiatives are planned for smaller towns. These projects, and others, will drastically improve the availability of potable water to Kirkuk residents. ¶9. (U) Electricity capacity must increase to 10-12 hours per day from the current average of 4-5 hours per day. To improve their assessment rating in transportation infrastructure, more rail networks must be added, as well as increased airport capacity. There is no commercial airport in Kirkuk. The Kirkuk Air Base is controlled by the U.S. military and has only military and USG contracted civilian flights. The only other airfield in the area is located on an Iraqi Army Base. To increase the education infrastructure, more universities are needed or expansion of the current university to accommodate the province needs. ¶10. (U) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Factors affecting the economic development rating were overall orange. The PC needs significant assistance in attracting investment and maximizing opportunities for business development in manufacturing, petroleum, and agri-business. A campaign to attract investment, including financial and other incentives is essential. -------------- BABIL PROVINCE -------------- ¶11. (U) OVERALL AND GOVERNANCE. Babil Province was overall assessed at orange. Governance was yellow, while infrastructure and economic development were coded orange. Religious political parties hold significant influence over the Babil Police Department, reported to be the last independent police department in south central Iraq. The Governor and PC hand picked 700 recent police recruits rather than select from an open recruiting process. The recruits consisted of 250 DAWA, 250 Badr Corps, and 200 personally appointed by the Babil Governor. To help increase the governance assessment rating, police recruits should go through the normal vetting process in order to ensure they are screened properly and qualified. Continued selection by the Governor or other official implies that the government is picking loyalists rather than the best qualified candidates. ¶12. (U) It appears that the PC is becoming more effective in the political process and decision-making. Projects are being carefully prioritized. The Director Generals and other leadership are working together to improve their communities. The Babil provincial leaders need to strive towards strong leadership with little tolerance for corruption or intimidation. The legislative government needs to improve its management information system and strategic project planning capabilities. ¶13. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE. The overall infrastructure assessment for Babil Province was rated orange. To improve the basic needs infrastructure rating, Babil Province needs to sustain projects that improve water irrigation and water systems. Additionally, pipes that are encrusted with asbestos, high volumes of chlorine, and water-borne diseases should be replaced. The Minister of Health needs to incorporate plans and coordinate with the Director of BAGHDAD 00000797 003 OF 004 Health in Al Hillah to improve the hospital situation. Currently, hospitals can only barely handle major catastrophic events for a very limited time, not for any sustained catastrophic issues. The hospitals need to be better equipped with the appropriate tools and personnel to handle large scale issues. Expansion and more hospitals are needed in rural areas to relieve overcrowding. ¶14. (U) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. The economic development category was rated overall orange. As an agrarian society that relies heavily on the success of the agriculture industry, the economic stability of Babil province can be improved by ensuring fertilizer is available to improve the crops. It is important that the government provide yearly aerial spraying and that farm equipment can be easily replaced or repaired. -------------- TABLE SUMMARIZATION -------------- ¶15. (U) The following table summarizes, by province, the assessment report in governance, economic development, infrastructure, and security which all contribute to the overall assessment. NINAWA PROVINCE: Overall Assessment Orange Governance Overall Orange --Governor's Office Orange --Provincial Council Orange --Director's General Orange --Rule of Law and Transparency Orange Economic Development Overall Orange --Finance/Banking/Business Orange --Labor and Unemployment Orange --Transportation Orange --Agriculture/Food Orange Infrastructure Overall Orange --Basic Needs Orange --Economic Infrastructure Red --Education Yellow Security Not Reported TAMIM (KIRKUK) PROVINCE: Overall Assessment Orange Governance Overall Orange --Governor's Office Orange --Provincial Council Yellow --Director's General Orange --Rule of Law and Transparency Orange Economic Development Overall Orange --Finance/Banking/Business Red --Labor and Unemployment Orange --Transportation Orange --Agriculture/Food Orange Infrastructure Overall Orange --Basic Needs Orange --Economic Infrastructure Orange --Education Yellow Security Overall Orange --Capable Iraqi Army Orange --Capable IPS Orange --Detention Red --PJCC Green --PSC Green BABIL PROVINCE: Overall Assessment Orange Governance Overall Yellow --Governor's Office Yellow --Provincial Council Yellow --Director's General Orange --Rule of Law and Transparency Yellow Economic Development Overall Orange --Finance/Banking/Business Orange --Labor and Unemployment Orange --Transportation Not Assessed --Agriculture/Food Yellow Infrastructure Overall Orange --Basic Needs Orange --Economic Infrastructure Orange --Education Orange Security Overall Orange --Capable Iraqi Army Orange --Capable IPS Yellow --Detention Orange --PJCC Red --PSC Yellow BAGHDAD 00000797 004 OF 004 ¶16. (U) SUMMARY: The assessment is performed each month by the PRTs and evaluates information existing at the time. In some cases, the PRT members do not have sufficient data to make a fair evaluation without further research. The rating is aimed at identifying areas that need improvement to pursue the provincial path to self-sufficiency. It serves as a roadmap for future PRT training efforts, as well as a measurement of progress made. The items cited in the above paragraphs are not totally inclusive, but rather a sampling of the actions necessary for further progress. END SUMMARY. KHALILZAD