Transition to a Democratic Iraq
Iraq Transition Initiative April 2004
In Iraq, USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI)
supports critical projects that build and sustain Iraqi
confidence in the transition to a participatory, stable,
and democratic Iraq.
Working closely with the Coalition Provisional
Authority (CPA), ITI increases Iraqi support for the
transition to sovereignty by providing quick-
dispensing, high impact small grants. ITI has initiated
658 small grants in various stages of development,
totaling more than $44 million.
First Responders In April 2003, the ITI program was one of the
first on the ground in Iraq, implementing small
grants for relief and reconstruction efforts. In
August, ITI operations formally became part of
the USAID Mission in Iraq, and its projects
complement the Mission’s local governance
and community development initiatives.
Initially ITI’s fast-paced assistance met critical
needs—providing short-term jobs to Iraqis,
restoring basic services, and encouraging
protection of human rights. As the transition in
Iraq continues, ITI now focuses on areas
crucial to the process, including:
• Civil society and civic education
• Transitional justice/Human Rights
• Conflict mitigation
Hewar Saber, 19, attends a sewing class in the village of
Tewala. An USAID grant provided the resources for the
class.
Office supplies are delivered to At Tamim Directorate of
Water Resources under an USAID grant.
Civil Society and Civic Education
Nationally, the ITI program collaborates with
the CPA to expand citizens’ understanding
of and participation in the establishment of
Iraqi institutions. Civic education and media
outreach initiatives are used to inform the
public about the constitutional process,
election planning, and the transition to
democracy.
Locally, ITI helps to enhance citizen
participation in governance by identifying
and supporting new local government and
civil society groups, especially women and
youth groups, and human rights
organizations. Using small grants, ITI
projects engage communities and emerging
Iraqi leaders and help them address local
needs.
Promoting Democratic Themes
Iraq’s Contemporary Visual Arts Society is
producing posters and leaflets on democratic
themes that will be distributed throughout
Iraq’s 18 governorates. Focusing on the
themes of democratic principles, the rule of
law, and citizens’ rights, the literature will
help inform the public on Iraq’s transition to
democracy. The project is being funded by
six grants from USAID worth a total of
$578,400.
In close cooperation with Iraqi nationals and the Coalition Provisional Authority, USAID is restoring
critical infrastructure, delivery of healthcare and education services, expanding economic opportunities,
and improving governance.
Special Feature

Special Feature
Iraq Transition Initiative
Human Rights and
Transitional Justice
ITI supports nascent Iraqi institutions and
emerging citizen groups in documenting the
Ba’ath regime’s human rights abuses and
promoting peace, tolerance, and
reconciliation. USAID’s small grants support
the translation and distribution of human
rights documents and the protection of
documents that detail abuses of the former
regime.
USAID helps local organizations, such as the
Society for the Protection of Mass Graves, to
preserve evidence of past abuses by training
groups conducting mass grave exhumations
and assisting Iraqi human rights advocates.
USAID supports Iraqi efforts to prosecute
perpetrators of crimes against humanity.
Conflict Mitigation
USAID focuses its small grant activities on
current or potential conflict areas, using
participatory methods to manage and mitigate
sources of tension. Geographic locations of
focus include the conflictive area in and
around Baghdad, areas of south and south-
central Iraq, and ethnically mixed locations in
the north.
Ministry in a Box
Because many public buildings, especially
ministries, were plundered after the war, USAID
created the Ministry in a Box program, which
provides furniture and office equipment that will
allow 100 employees of the ministry to
immediately return to work. The kits includes
items such as desks, chairs, tables, filing
cabinets, and a computer, printer, and
photocopier. USAID has delivered 47 Ministry in
a Box kits worth $5.8 million to Iraqi
government offices.
USAID
Sorting the documents of the Ba’ath regime. (USAID
Photo)
Women’s Initiatives
USAID funds the start-up and rehabilitation
of women’s centers, shelters, and
associations and provides resources and
training to women’s rights groups and crisis
intervention teams. The Baghdad Women’s
Centers Initiative funds a network of nine
centers offering a range of services and
opportunities to women in Baghdad. USAID
is rehabilitating and equipping the women
centers. Throughout the country, USAID
has embarked on nearly $2 million in
projects to establish 20 women’s centers.
Short-Term Employment
USAID funded a project in the low-income
neighborhood of Sadr City that empowered
thousands of residents to take charge of
their environment. Workers cleaned
hundreds of tons of trash, and USAID hired
the drivers of 180 garbage trucks and 130
sewer workers and engineers. By the
project’s end, 15,000 people had worked to
clean up their neighborhood.
Basic Services
Local governments throughout Iraq have
been challenged to provide basic services
to citizens. USAID support to Sulaymaniyah
Governorate helped rehabilitate firehouses,
allowing for the continuation of emergency
services and encouraging volunteer support
from the community.
United States Agency for International Development
www.usaid.gov/iraq/