FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR IRAQ

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000316 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON IZ PGOV PREL SUBJECT: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR IRAQ REF: BAGHDAD 286 ¶1. (U) Summary: U.S. assistance to Iraq has changed substantially, moving from "bricks and mortar" projects to improving Iraq's ability to govern effectively and democratically. Our assistance will help the GOI meet the needs of its citizens, preserve security, reform its economy, and foster political reconciliation. At this critical juncture, our assistance will reinforce our message of continued support and demonstrate that we want to shift emphasis over time from security to economic and humanitarian cooperation. Providing the building blocks to sustainment, capacity-building, and responsibility will ensure the Iraq government is truly accountable to its people. Our focused assistance, as outlined in this cable for FY2009 and FY2010, will allow us to get the job done and build upon the significant gains we have made in Iraq. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) U.S. assistance to Iraq has changed substantially. Originally, we focused heavily on Iraq's security and reconstruction needs. With an improving security environment, we are moving from "bricks and mortar" projects to improving Iraq's ability to govern effectively and democratically. Our assistance is designed to help the GOI meet the needs of its citizens, preserve security, reform its economy, and foster political reconciliation. Our assistance is still necessary. Last year's temporary spike in oil prices raised the question: were U.S. dollars essential to oil-rich Iraq? The answer is yes - and not just because oil prices have declined, limiting Iraq's 2009 budget. U.S. foreign assistance funds remain essential to a democratic and stable Iraq. This will be especially important as we reinforce our message of continued support and demonstrate that we want to shift emphasis over time from security to more economic and humanitarian cooperation. It is time for Iraqis to invest more in their own future as we transition to a strong bilateral partnership and strategic engagement in the region. ¶3. (U) Our funding is critical for three key reasons. First, it increases Iraq's ability to govern itself effectively and take control of its future. Efforts will focus on building institutional capacity at national and provincial levels and to strengthen the role of civil society in partnership with the Iraqis to empower them to sustain and expand the work that we have begun. Second, our assistance also gives us the ability to respond quickly to local needs, which is why our Quick Response Funds used by our Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) and USAID's Community Action Program must be robust. Democratic governance does not begin and end in Baghdad; we need to build governing capacity at the provincial and local level to ensure improving the lives of all Iraqis. Third, our assistance helps Iraq pursue the long-term reform essential to a healthy economy, full utilization of its natural resources, and the health of its citizens. We have made significant gains in the past five years, and as we move forward from this critical juncture, we seek assistance in key priority areas as outlined in this cable. Democracy and Civil Society -------------- ¶4. (U) Democracy and civil society programs are at the core of our objectives to strengthen an open and democratic system. This includes USAID's follow-on election support and the Legislative Strengthening Program supporting the Council of Representatives (COR) in targeted areas of the legislative process. Law-making, oversight and Qlegislative process. Law-making, oversight and representative functions of the COR require our expertise and assistance. The Access to Justice program will support critical institutions that provide citizens an alternative to violent resolution of disputes and improve the legal framework of civil and criminal codes. DRL's programs through the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) will also strengthen democracy-building. Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption -------------- ¶5. (U) Our assistance to Iraq will ensure an accountability to laws that are enforceable and independent. Rule of Law programs include legal education, support of lawyers and the Iraqi bar, and civil justice programs that will provide the Iraqis the building blocks to gain confidence in a fair, transparent legal system. This is closely tied to anti-corruption initiatives, particularly training provincial councils on anti-corruption strategies, investigations, and enforcement. Funding to civil society organizations to conduct watchdog activities and provide technical assistance to law faculty and students through the Constitutional and Legislative Development Project will reinforce the rule of law fundamentals throughout the country. National Capacity Development and PRTs -------------- ¶6. (U) USAID's Tatweer project emphasizes building the capacity of provincial Directors General from line ministries as part of a comprehensive approach to enhance the linkages between local, provincial, and central government structures. This technical assistance will institute transparent systems for civil service regulations, service delivery to provinces, and budget designs. Tatweer will also shift its focus to more sector-specific capacity development. Infrastructure sustainment through O&M support will enable Iraqis to make full use of the infrastructure projects we have built for them. Building this culture of maintenance and accountability to its people will be critical as Iraq assumes full responsibility for providing essential services to its people. Assistance to PRTs and local governments through the Quick Response Funds and USAID's Community Action Programs also follow this line of strategic assistance. Capital Development and Financial Markets (PEG) -------------- -- ¶7. (U) Oil and the public sector will likely continue to play dominant roles in the economy. The prospects for employment creation and growth rest predominately with the private sector. Working together with partners in the international community, the Provincial Economic Growth (PEG) program will assist the GOI to improve the policy and institutional environment to stimulate private sector investment and employment to further Iraq's integration into the global economy. By providing coordinated policy and capacity building support, we will assist Iraq's efforts to gain accession to the World Trade Organization. Economic Growth and Legal and Regulatory Reforms programs will help sustain these efforts. Agriculture private sector development -------------- ¶8. (U) Agriculture private sector development through the Inma program aims to reverse the effects of decades of command and control policies in Iraq's largest non-oil economic sector. Our assistance will help create a functioning agricultural credit system among private Iraqi banks, improve crop productivity through better water management, provide access to improved genetics, and expand value-added processing and access to markets. These advances contribute to increased farmer income, greater rural employment, and improved stability in traditionally volatile areas of the country. Investing in People -------------- ¶9. (U) Iraq's education system has been battered by more than two decades of war and underinvestment. The FY2010 budget will initiate a program to help strengthen Iraq's education system so that it serves as a source of skills critical for employment, democratic participation, and peaceful conflict resolution, rather than becoming institutions of anti-Western ideology and sectarian extremism subject to the influence of hostile, violent ideologies. A long-term program in education will help diminish the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit. Assistance to health professionals and the public health infrastructure will also aid these efforts. Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) training and demining -------------- -------------- Q -------------- -------------- ¶10. (U) Support for ongoing contracts for humanitarian demining, mine risk education, victim assistance, unexploded ordnance removal, and capacity building of indigenous humanitarian demining NGOs will help Iraqis rebuild the security and humanitarian structures in this critical area. In addition, our ATA program will support the integration of 500 Iraqi Police and Security Forces into the Embassy's dignitary protection operations. Vital installations security, terrorist crime scene investigations, and border training will strengthen this corps and reduce reliance on private security companies. International Military Education and Training (IMET) will also continue to be a small and essential part of our normalization efforts to strengthen Iraq's professional military. Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) for budget execution -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶11. (U) Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) through the Department of Treasury will strengthen capacity for budget execution efforts that ensure budgeting for operating and maintenance expenditures, medium-term planning, and a banking system with IT structures to handle government transfers and letters of credits for budget procurements. Responsible budget planning and execution will allow Iraqis to better strategize their long term needs and priorities. Internally Displaced Persons and Returnees -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Per reftel, successful reintegration of Iraq's displaced is critical to the stability of Iraq and the region. Adequate funding will be necessary to create conditions for the voluntary return of refugees and support these communities for long term stability. Assistance will be essential to support returns with shelter, health, education, water sanitation, and psycho-social counseling. CROCKER CROCKER