ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN IRAQ: THE POSITIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001700

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV KDEM EAID IZ
SUBJECT: ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN IRAQ: THE POSITIVE
ENERGY OF IRAQ'S CIVIL SOCIETY


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of Iraq's lead
anti-corruption agency, the Commission of Integrity (COI),
works with NGOs and civil society (hereafter referred to as
NGOs) to enforce ethical behavior in the public and private
sectors. A number of NGOs have demonstrated their commitment
to fight corruption and many would like to have funding to do
anti-corruption programs. NGO representatives agree there is
a need for a national strategy and coordination among the
NGOs and that corruption is pervasive in society. They also
concur that a preventive strategy, teaching children early in
their schooling about transparency and integrity, is
essential for change. There seems to be no shortage of
groups calling themselves NGOs, but no real control on the
legitimacy or efficacy of these groups. Most have some
political, religious, social, business, or media connections.
Iraqi NGOs have the potential to make a lasting difference
in the fight against corruption. The Anti-Corruption
Coordination Office (ACCO) plans to hold a conference to
promote coordination between NGOs and government officials on
anti-corruption efforts. END SUMMARY.

The Commission of Intergrity Work with NGOs
--------------


2. (SBU) The lead GOI anti-corruption agency, the
Commission on Integrity (COI),has a Director General level
officer, Mr. Samir, who works directly with NGOs. Mr. Samir
told us the COI, under authority of CPA Order 55 that created
the COI, has worked with various NGOs since its inception in

2004. He has a select list of around 50 "cleared"
organizations he trusts with which he normally works (he will
share the list with us),though he cautioned that these
organizations also have numerous sub-branches and groups,
especially in the provinces, on which the COI has no
information. Samir noted not all NGOs are active or honest.
The COI provides training to these groups in all provinces
except those in the Kurdistan Region. Samir said COI
Commissioner Judge Raheem Al-Ugaili supports this work and
has asked him to expand his activities. Samir is in the
final stages of forming a CSO Alliance for Integrity and
Fighting Corruption, a core group of 27 NGOs, that will be
open to others to join, centering their activities on
fighting corruption.

NGOs Interested in Anti-Corruption Projects
--------------


3. (SBU) At a lunch the ACCO hosted for a number of NGOs,
NGO representatives noted a major concern was how pervasive
corruption is throughout society, citing administrative and
financial corruption and the impact of corruption on
services. There was universal agreement that a generational
change was essential and key to such change would be to teach
children about transparency, accountability, and integrity
early in their educational development. One participant
spoke of the need for a joint government/NGO strategic work
plan to combat corruption. In separate follow-on meetings
with some of the more active NGOs, ACCO discovered there has
been activity by some in the field of anti-corruption.


4. (SBU) Some of the larger, more well organized and funded
NGOs have had a number of programs or are planning new
programs that touch on anti-corruption issues. For example,
the Al-Noor Universal Foundation, established in 2003, has
worked on numerous anti-corruption related programs with
international implementers, e.g., conducting anti-corruption
workshops for NGO leaders and creating posters and banners
with anti-corruption themes. Among the new programs they
Qwith anti-corruption themes. Among the new programs they
propose is a project to educate Iraqi government employees on
existing anti-corruption institutions and mechanisms for
fighting corruption. They would like to hold workshops to
increase the awareness of corruption concerns among youth.
Al-Noor also proposes to establish a National Committee to
Fight Corruption, with members to be selected from
representatives of the media, academia, the arts, women,
other NGOs, politicians, the private sector, religious
leaders, social leaders, and youth. Also on Al-Noor's agenda
are public outreach campaigns and training of provincial
officials. The Iraqi Green Peace Organization proposes a
project to educate teachers and, in addition, students in
grades four and five, in an effort to reach out early for the
children to learn about anti-corruption ideals. This
proposal fits in with the ongoing coordination between the
Commission of Integrity Education Department and the
Education Ministry on development of a new anti-corruption
curriculum for all school levels.


5. (SBU) The Media Center for Iraqi Civil Society
Organizations would like to start up a website to serve as a

BAGHDAD 00001700 002 OF 002


repository for documents and publicize anti-corruption
related documents covering visions and opinions, news and
activities, and projects and programs. The services would
include translation and search engine capability. A
representative from the Democratic Center for Women's
Rehabilitation would like to see the NGOs organize
subcommittees from NGOs, media, etc., to be incorporated into
a national strategy to produce recommendations on fighting
corruption and how to implement those recommendations and
then create a national strategy based on the best of those
recommendations.

Some Concerns about the NGOs
--------------


6. (SBU) One NGO representative asserted that NGO
coordination in Iraq is lacking. She expressed the deep need
for Iraqi NGOs to make their own decisions and not to follow
international directions. The NGOs, she added, need to focus
on their purpose, justification, and sustainability and
monitor anti-corruption activities. There is concern about
the current draft NGO law and fear it will make it much too
difficult for NGOs to operate. (NOTE: The Embassy is
working closely with the Parliament's Civil Society Committee
to amend the draft NGO law to bring it into compliance with
international best practices. End note.) All agree on the
need for accountability and transparency in government and
the importance of giving Iraqi citizens the key role in
monitoring and reforming society.



7. (SBU) COMMENT: There is a long tradition of NGOs in
Iraq, both in the public and private sectors, although
changes are taking place within these organizations in the
post-conflict environment. There seems to be no shortage of
groups calling themselves NGOs, but no real control on the
legitimacy or efficacy of these groups. Most have some
political, religious, social, or media connections. Others
are hitched to business interests and register an NGO
foundation with the Iraqi authorities to give them a special
umbrella to cover their other activities. Still others are
groups formed to get funding from international sources for
their worthy causes of the day. Judging from our contacts
with the NGO community, they are well aware of the corruption
going on throughout the country and have numerous ideas of
how to combat this corruption. Unfortunately NGOs themselves
are, in a number of cases, under suspicion for corrupt
practices, receiving funding and not being able to account
for how the money is spent. However, despite concerns, there
are a number of active, effective, honest NGOs, and some NGOs
have already been involved in anti-corruption activities.
Opportunities exist for international donors to collaborate
with NGOs on anti-corruption projects, providing mentoring
and oversight. Iraqi NGOs have the potential to make a
lasting difference in the fight against corruption. The ACCO
plans to hold a conference to promote coordination between
NGOs and government officials. END COMMENT.

FORD