PRT DIYALA: ENCOURAGING SIGNS IN DIYALA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001157 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD EAID EFIN IZ SUBJECT: PRT DIYALA: ENCOURAGING SIGNS IN DIYALA WITH PASSAGE OF BUDGET, IMPROVED SECURITY ENVIRONMENT, AND NEW PRT STAFFING ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Diyala reporting cable. SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (U) The Diyala Provincial Government is increasingly eager to engage with the PRT thanks to improving security, the onset of the election season, the long-delayed passage of the 2008 provincial budget coupled with initial execution of the 2006 and 2007 provincial budgets, as well as a boost in PRT staffing. The arrival of a number of non-DoD subject matter experts (SME) to augment the PRT, and most recently the arrival of RTI to conduct training for provincial employees and elected officials have contributed to the sudden surge of interest in interaction from the previously moribund Provincial Government. END SUMMARY. IMPROVED SECURITY AND BUDGET EXECUTION PROMPTING PROGRESS -------------- ¶3. (U) The success of recent joint US-Iraqi military operations in Diyala has provided the Provincial Government space to begin providing essential services to areas formerly controlled by Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). GOI monies for projects at all levels are becoming available, and contracts, some from 2006, are being executed. The recent and long delayed passage of the 2008 provincial budget, coupled with recent GOI announcements of supplemental budget availability contingent on expenditure of current budgets, is motivating all levels of the Diyala Provincial Government to move more rapidly to secure and conspicuously distribute their piece of the fiscal pie before the election cycle heats up. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL INCREASES ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶4. (U) Provincial Council (PC) Committee members have increased the pace and depth of contact of collaborative meetings with the PRT in an effort to jump-start stalled programs and increase the perception of PC member involvement. Recent decisions affecting USG unwillingness to further fund capital projects, while initially disconcerting to Iraqi officials, have been taken in stride as officials are encouraged to access the funds available through the GOI. ¶5. (U) Members of two provincial council committees, Education and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP),regularly request weekly meetings with the PRT and transportation to attend events with local military units. School re-openings and medical missions to IDP clusters, regardless of PC involvement with the project, are now all objects of intense PC interest. The Provincial Health Committee, comprised of the PRT public health liaisons, the acting Director General (DG) of Health, and the members of the PC health committee, has additionally established a weekly meeting schedule to discuss projects and greater outreach opportunities. Previously, the Health DG was very involved with policy issues but never engaged the PC health committee. This increased interest in engagement comes at a critical time for Diyala, with the beginning of a large infusion of funds from the past budgets finally moving into the execution phase, and the GOI publicly announcing the promise of new monies almost daily. Diyala residents have high expectations of provincial government officials, who know that they must convey the message that they are the driving force behind real progress in the province if they hope to retain their seats in upcoming elections. INCREASED PRT STAFFING BOOSTS OPERATIONS -------------- ¶6. (U) Highly-qualified civilian SMEs who recently joined the PRT are a tremendous boon to the increased interaction between the PRT and the Provincial Government. Engineers, city planners, business development experts, public health personnel, and agronomists have rushed to establish contact and relationships with various provincial council committees and are successfully energizing relationships with previously unengaged sectors of Diyala society. Although still handicapped by a chronic shortage of linguist support, the addition of SMEs has given a great boost to PRT operations. ¶7. (U) Additionally, the long awaited arrival of staff from Research Triangle Institute (RTI),a USAID training contractor, has heightened interest by Provincial Government staff, who are eagerly signing up for training programs to enhance their professional performance. In the past, staff were only interested in training opportunities when they were offered outside the province. Now, in recognition of improved security, Governor Ra'ad has declared that training will be a part of the work day and conducted within the province. Staff from the Provincial Government's Contracts, Legal, and Finance sections are eager to begin computer training to enhance those offices' day-to-day operations and have signed up for a broad range of courses that should make help make them better overall BAGHDAD 00001157 002 OF 002 administrators. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (U) The combination of an improved security environment and recent passage of the 2008 provincial budget has accelerated the pace of progress in Diyala. However, there remain concerns that pre-election violence could jeopardize the gains made in the last few months. The PRT and its military colleagues continue to focus efforts on budget execution with non-stop follow-up in essential service improvements province-wide. These are the key elements to ensure that progress continues through the election cycle and into the next provincial administration. BUTENIS