Prepares institutions for transfer of sovereignty

By David Shelby
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is working to shore up Iraq's state service capabilities in preparation for the handover of sovereignty to an Iraqi transitional government in June 2004.

Currently, the firefighters in Babil Province, south of Baghdad, are benefiting from a CPA project to equip the forces with the necessary clothing and trucks to better enable them to meet their responsibilities.

According to a January 3 CPA press release, seven fire trucks and 200 boots have already been provided to fire departments in the province. Plans call for the delivery of an additional 13 trucks and an adequate supply of boots, gloves, helmets, fire hoods, fire retardant jackets and fire retardant pants for every firefighter in the province.

Primary health care is also a high priority in the efforts to establish adequate state services. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reported the completion of the first step in a primary health care training program on January 5.

The initial phase of the program provided for the training of 50 medical practitioners from across the country. In turn, those health care professionals will impart the new skills they have learned to another 2,500 medical personnel in 600 primary health centers around the country.

Building up the capabilities of state service providers is a key goal of the CPA, alongside its ongoing efforts to rebuild the physical infrastructure of Iraq, as the new Iraqi government will be expected to provide the full gamut of social and economic services when it assumes sovereignty in June.

As for the physical infrastructure, the CPA is taking advantage of the lower demand on facilities during the cool winter months in order to repair and upgrade electric generators and water treatment plants.

Currently, daily peak power generation is running in the range of 3,400 to 3,800 megawatts (MW) with an additional production potential of 1,800 to 2,000 MW offline, while approximately 40 generation units are closed for service and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, work is progressing at Baghdad's Sharkh Dijlah water treatment plant. The plant is scheduled to come online in May 2004 and be capable of treating 225,000 cubic meters of water a day by the time it becomes fully operational in June. It will provide water treatment for 640,000 Baghdad residents.

Historically, USAID, which is spearheading the CPA's infrastructure work, has been actively involved in building and upgrading facilities for power generation, power distribution, water treatment and water distribution in numerous countries around the globe.

Notable examples of the agency's work may be found in Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian territories, Morocco and Bangladesh. In these countries alone, USAID has helped provide electrical services to more than 80 million people and provided more than 30 million people with access to safe water supplies.

In addition to its efforts to build up the human and physical capabilities of Iraq's state service sector, the CPA is working to prepare Iraqi society for a smooth transition of power.

To this end, USAID's Local Governance Program is holding seminars with civil society groups in order to explain the details of the November 15 announcement regarding the devolution of sovereignty.

Recently, representatives from five civil society organizations attended workshops in Kirkuk to discuss the transition. These organizations will hold town meetings and conventions in their local communities to explain the changes Iraqis may expect to see in the coming period.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)