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11 April 2003

USAID Awards Contract to Improve Iraqi Local Governance

(North Carolina company to provide technical assistance and grants)
(450)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced April
11 that it had awarded an initial $7.9 million contract to Research
Triangle Institute (RTI) to create opportunities for Iraqi civic
participation in the country's post-conflict reconstruction through
technical assistance and grants.
In a statement released April 11, USAID said RTI would "create
programs to increase management skills, knowledge and capacity of
local administrators to direct services such as water, health, and
public sanitation and in areas such as economic governance," and will
provide technical assistance to strengthen civil society and
institutions.
"All activities under the RTI contract will target underrepresented or
'at risk' groups, including organizations that promote women's rights
and strive to help youth and minority groups to participate in the
political process," said the statement.
Following is the text of the USAID statement:
(begin text)
USAID Awards Iraq Local Governance Contract 
Washington, DC -- The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) today announced an initial $7.9 million award to the North
Carolina-based Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to promote Iraqi
participation in Iraq's post-conflict reconstruction. Providing the
people of Iraq, and in particular women, the opportunity to
participate in public decision-making and stimulate local initiatives
is a key component of the U.S. government's assistance program for
Iraq.
Under the USAID contract RTI will provide technical assistance to
strengthen local administrations, civic institutions and civil
society. RTI, an independent, non-profit organization based in
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, will create programs to
increase management skills, knowledge and capacity of local
administrators to direct services such as water, health, and public
sanitation and in areas such as economic governance.
A provision in the contract allows RTI to authorize grants to both
Iraqi and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to improve
municipal infrastructure, assist local NGOs with capacity building and
undertake training programs in communications, conflict resolution,
leadership skills and political analysis. All activities under the RTI
contract will target underrepresented or "at risk" groups, including
organizations that promote women's rights and strive to help youth and
minority groups to participate in the political process.
The local governance contract is part of USAID's planned
reconstruction assistance to the Iraqi people, aimed at helping
maintain stability, ensure the delivery of essential services, and
facilitate economic recovery. This is one of eight initial requests
for proposals (RFPs) issued by USAID as part of its overall relief and
reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information on USAID's
humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, as well as the
actual local governance RFP, please visit .
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)