|
Related pages: Iraq Home
Page
Working with the Government of Iraq
The UK’s fundamental objective in Iraq is to develop the capacity of the
democratically elected Government of Iraq, and in particular to increase its
ability to provide security and basic services to the Iraqi people. The
Government of Iraq is leading the reconstruction process, with support from
DFID, the United Nations, the World Bank, the United States and other donors.
To achieve this DFID is working to help the government to improve service and
manage the economy effectively.
Billions, not millions of dollars are needed to get Iraq’s services working
properly. With the world’s third largest proven reserves of oil, Iraq should be
in a position to fund much of the necessary investment itself. But because of
the challenges involved in planning and implementing the scale of investment
needed (around $20 billion just on electricity infrastructure over the next ten
years), spending has been slow, at just over US$1 billion in 2005 and 2006.
This is why DFID is providing experts to work with the Iraqi Government, at
national and local level, to help it plan and deliver investment in basic
services (such as electricity and hospitals), to generate jobs and to manage its
own resources effectively.
 Back to top
We are offering expert assistance to:
- The Ministry of Finance. DFID has a £13 million project to support the MoF
develop and carry out pro-poor economic reform. The project focuses on helping
the Iraqis make better use of their money: strengthening the Government’s
management of the economy, helping them begin key structural reforms, and
tackling blockages in domestic investment.
- The Centre of Government, including the Prime Minister’s Office. A team of
5 full-time international experts is embedded in Prime Minister Maliki’s office.
The team is also helping the Council of Ministers Secretariat (the Iraqi
equivalent of the UK Cabinet Office) to make the Cabinet committee system
function more effectively.
- Southern Provinces. DFID is supporting the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction
Team in Basra, which helps Iraqi Provincial Councils to drive forward local
development and reconstruction. The PRT works closely with Provincial Councils
in southern Iraq, helping them to access funding from the national Government
and agreeing priorities to meet development needs. In Basra this has led to the
formation of a three-year development strategy that is now being used to plan
and implement essential repairs to roads, water and sewage infrastructure.
- Provincial Government officials and local Iraqi engineering firms in the
South. Our Infrastructure Programme is helping local contractors and Provincial
Government officials to build their understanding of best practice in
infrastructure delivery and project management.
Last updated 17 April 2007
Back to top
| 
|
|
Directgov |
