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Top Achievements for FY 2005
Iraq Top Ten Achievements

Iraqi workers carry out renovation of the Al-Doura power plant in Baghdad,
Iraq. USAID is funding the repair of Iraq's nationwide electrical system.
Photo: Thomas Hartwell |
- For the first democratic elections in more than 50 years, USAID trained
election monitors, provided logistical assistance to the Independent Election Commission of
Iraq, and trained political parties.
- Assisted Iraq in meeting requirements for more than $27 billion in debt
forgiveness and $480 million in new credit from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF).
- Assistance to the constitutional drafting process: USAID assisted the
Constitutional Drafting Committee regarding systems of representation, constitutional
referenda, and electoral law. USAID is also conducting public awareness and participation
campaigns to encourage civic engagement in the constitutional process.
- Provided between 30,000 and 50,000 short-term jobs weekly and created tens of
thousands of long-term jobs: The Community Action Program and Office of
Transition Initiatives have employed between 30,000 and 50,000 Iraqis in reconstruction
efforts every month and these programs, along with USAID's Economic Growth initiatives,
have created tens of thousands of new long-term jobs.
- Started the process for Iraq's accession into the World Trade Organization
(WTO): Assisted the government of Iraq in submitting its formal request to
enter into the WTO and provided policy support for Iraq to meet WTO requirements.
Trade liberalization fosters economic growth while WTO ascension will open up new
markets for Iraq.
- Investing in Iraqi schools: Since starting work in Iraq, USAID has
provided 8.7 million math and science text books, rehabilitated 2,529 schools, and
trained more than 36,000 teachers. These programs are ongoing. UNESCO subsequently
provided more than 20 million text books.
- Rebuilding Iraq's electrical sector: As of September 1, 2005, USAID
added 855 megawatts of new capacity to the electrical grid. By the end of 2005, the
total capacity contributed to the grid through USAID projects is expected to be more
than 1,600 megawatts.
- Supporting women's engagement in political and economic life of
Iraq: USAID is working with female politicians in the Iraqi National Assembly,
female journalists, NGOs, and community organizations that advocate for women's interests,
and providing them with training in constitutional drafting skills, advocacy efforts,
and developing legislative platforms. Also, nearly 60 percent of the small business
development grants administered by USAID have been awarded to women.
- Community development: USAID facilitated the creation of more than 670
Community Action Groups in 17 governorates. More than 1,966 projects worth $92 million
have been completed or are in development. The Iraqi communities have committed
approximately $23 million in resources for projects in their communities.
- Developing the private sector: USAID brought more than 28,000
businesses into the formal sector. Trained lending officers in microfinance best practice.
Tsunami Top Ten Achievements:

Three tsunami affected siblings happily peek through a discarded
window frame outside their new transitional home in Sri Lanka.
Photo: USAID/Gemunu Amarasinghe |
- Within hours of the tsunami, U.S. and other aid groups began sending
food, water, plastic sheeting, and medicine.
- Aid agencies and militaries worked together to deliver aid and
evacuate the injured.
- Fast aid prevents epidemics by monitoring, preventing, and treating
communicable diseases.
- One million people sheltered in schools, mosques, and temples.
Built temporary shelters for tens of thousands of people.
- Stricken nations coordinated foreign aid, local medical teams,
Red Cross societies, NGOs, and military forces.
- Cash-for-Work programs cleaned up wreckage, employed tens of
thousands of displaced people, and jumpstarted recovery.
- Clean water produced on U.S. military ships, delivered by helicopters;
purification kits given to thousands.
- Trained trauma counselors. Psychiatrists trained teachers, community
leaders, and clerics to help counsel thousands of grieving children.
- Registered, protected children. U.S. aid assured safety of orphans,
reopened schools.
- Planning major reconstruction has begun. Some $6 billion pledged for
roads, ports, electricity, schools, and housing.
Afghanistan Top Ten Achievements
- Two peaceful, democratic elections held. In October 2004, 7.3 million
Afghans (40 percent female) voted in Presidential elections and more recently, 6.8 million
voters (43 percent female) elected Parliament and Provincial Councils.
- Roads link the country. The highway from Kandahar to Herat nears
completion, and construction is underway or complete on more than 1,200 km of
secondary roads.
- Critical infrastructure developed. 17 women's centers have been
developed, 29 courts have been rehabilitated or constructed, and three industrial
parks are under construction.
- Agricultural output rises. Cereal output increased 24 percent and
livestock and poultry production increased by $200 million.
- Responding to the poppy problem. The three provinces where the
largest alternative livelihood programs were implemented had significant declines in
poppy cultivation from 2004 to 2005: Nangarhar – a 96 percent decrease,
Badakshan – a 53 percent decrease, Helmand – a 10 percent decrease.
- Combatants choose peace. More than 60,000 former combatants
have given up their weapons and are reintegrating into the civilian labor force.
- Domestic revenue increases. $260 million in Total Domestic
Revenue was collected in this past Afghan fiscal year, an increase of 20 percent
from the previous year.
- Media outlets grow. Created 32 community-based, independent
FM radio stations across the country.
- Access to healthcare expanded. 7.1 million Afghans in 14
provinces now have better access to quality health services, approximately 70
percent of patients served are women and children.
- Older students catch up. 170,000 students (58 percent girls)
in 17 provinces make up for lost years of schooling through an accelerated
learning program.
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