 | November 2006 : Locals near Al Sulaymaniyah enjoy the Rehabilitation of the Bakha Hanara irrigation canal as part of the ITF Community Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project. So far, fourteen subprojects amounting to US$9 million are completed in eight governorates, creating an estimated 110,000 Man-days of employment, improving 25,000 hectares of irrigated areas, and benefiting 35,000 farmers. |
Start-up in January 2005, the US$ 20 million Emergency Community Infrastructure Project (ECIRP) consists of 20 labor-intensive and small scale civil works sub-projects for water supply, sanitation, irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Implemented across 15 governorates in Iraq, its objective is to address emergency needs in rural areas for infrastructure rehabilitation at the community level and to generate immediate employment.
In order not to compromise Bank fiduciary obligations, the project had to go through a learning period were Iraqi team needed to be trained in World Bank procurement and contract administration procedures. Laying this foundation has led to decisive signs of success. The effective results are that since September 2005: Fourteen subprojects amounting to US$9 million are completed in eight governorates, creating an estimated 110,000 Man-days of employment, improving 25,000 hectares of irrigated areas, and benefiting 35,000 farmers. Eight subprojects are underway (completion rates averaging 80%); three additional subprojects in Baghdad, Najaf and Diwaniyah are scheduled to be complete in 2007.
In all, the project will create more than 240,000 jobs, rehabilitate about 80,000 hectares of irrigated areas, and benefit more than 130,000 farmers.
|
