Iraq – Community Action Program III (CAP III)

Establishing effective and responsive local government institutions

Building upon the success of five years of implementing the USAID-funded Community Action Programs (CAP) I and II, ACDI/VOCA and partner International City/County Management Association (ICMA) support USAID’s efforts to establish effective and responsive local government institutions in Iraq through the implementation of the third phase of the program, CAP III. The goal of CAP III is to increase the local government’s abilities to meet the needs of its constituencies by achieving the following objectives:

• helping communities better articulate their needs and mobilize resources within and outside the community to solve common problems
• working with local executive and representative government in CAP communities to better meet the needs of the community
• assisting civilian victims of conflict through the Marla Ruzicka Innocent Victims of War Fund

Begun in 2008 CAP III has, to date, mobilized 48 communities through 55 community action groups (CAGs), while providing funding for the CAGs to identify, plan and implement essential economic, social and infrastructure projects. Funding is provided on a matching basis with contributions from communities and the government of Iraq, creating a sense of ownership for the community’s development. Projects include construction of classrooms and community halls; repair of electricity, water and irrigation systems; supplying hospitals, youth and women’s centers with equipment and supplies; and facilitating apprenticeship programs to develop the skills of graduates in preparation for entering the workforce. ACDI/VOCA expects to implement over 200 community projects over the life of the project.

CAP III complements these community mobilization activities by working directly with 36 district and subdistrict councils. Led by ICMA, the program provides training and technical assistance to local councils so they can address and advocate for the needs of the communities and mobilize resources for community project implementation from the provincial and national levels of Iraqi government. Local councils and CAGs also meet regularly to review community needs assessments and jointly develop community project plans, institutionalizing a process for community-driven public service delivery.

CAP III also implements the Marla Ruzicka Innocent Victims of War Fund, which assists civilian individuals, families and communities that suffered from coalition operations. The fund helps individuals or families of individuals who were injured or killed by coalition forces to establish or expand a business. The fund also supports civilian victims at the community level through such projects as improving and equipping hospitals and rehabilitation centers. ACDI/VOCA intends to support 196 projects for individual victims and 19 projects for communities during CAP III.

For more information contact Brandie Maxwell at bmaxwell@acdivoca.org.

Updated: 5/09

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