US Request - Template

UNICEF Iraq

Programme Summary 2007

1. UNICEF Iraq - Overview

Although Iraq was not officially an “emergency” country according to UNICEF global definitions in 2006, many of UNICEF’s programmes were already responding to the humanitarian needs of displaced and vulnerable communities. The highly complex nature of Iraq’s situation, which mixes displaced families and settled families within the same communities, affects basic services in a range of different ways.

Therefore, UNICEF’s programmes have been neither purely humanitarian nor purely focused on development. Programme strategies have adapted to fit Iraq’s unique reality, attempting to boost local basic services while at the same time reach out with special initiatives for vulnerable children, to improve the living environment and opportunities across entire communities.

Increasingly UNICEF has initiated a local approach, starting to build a package of essential care around children living in a particular area. This balance between providing humanitarian relief and finding sustainable solutions for families will be maintained as the best strategy for Iraq in 2007.

As of February 2007 UNICEF has included Iraq officially on the list of emergency countries, and continues to balance humanitarian response provided to recently displaced populations and their host communities with its regular support of basic social services for the population of Iraq.

UNICEF co-ordinates all its programmes with other United Nations Agencies, keeping children’s issues a key focus of international support to Iraq, and enhancing the scale and reach of integrated actions to produce sustained results for children.

UNICEF is a prominent member of the UNCT and takes a leading role within the Iraq Trust Fund (ITF) Cluster system, as the lead co-ordinator for two ITF Clusters (Education and Infrastructure), deputy co-ordinator the Health Cluster and a key actor in Cluster F (Refugees, IDPs and Durable Solutions).

A summary of UNICEF’s overall programme context for 2007-2010, and intended programme activities in 2007, follows:

1 2. UNICEF Programmes

2.1. Survival & Growth

The Survival and Growth programme aims to ensure the best start to life, reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), and improving the health and nutritional status of children and women. The main planned results were: a) increased quantity and quality of health care services, leading to reductions in mortality rates of infants, children and women, and in malnutrition rates; b) increased immunization coverage; and c) development of a more protective environment for children/youth, including access to information on HIV/AIDS. The programme is contributing to the realization of MDGs 4, 5 and 6.

The Survival and Growth programme supports efforts of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to sustain basic health and nutrition services, ensuring effective and equitable coverage to all children under-five years of age and pregnant/lactating women. These combined efforts have resulted in no major disease outbreaks, maintenance of polio-free status, and continued substantial reductions in the number of reported measles, mumps and rubella cases in Iraq. The Survival, Growth and Early Development (SGED) programme comprises of four projects:

Project 1: Maternal Infant and Child Survival and Health aims to ensure the best start to life by reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR) from current levels, and improving the health status of children and women. This project operates through: a) provision of required essential supplies/equipments; b) conducting national immunization days and outreach activities; c) strengthen routine immunization activities, d) development of national policies/strategies; e) advocacy & social mobilization, f) capacity building of health workers; and g) rehabilitation/construction of health facilities.

Project 2: Maternal and Child Nutrition aims to build upon infant and child survival, ensuring optimal growth and development up to age of entry into primary school. This project operates through: a) provision of required essential supplies/equipments/ therapeutic foods; b) development of national policies/strategies; advocacy & social mobilization; c) institutional and legislative reforms; and d) capacity building of health workers and rehabilitation/construction of health facilities.

Project 3: HIV/AIDS aims to support the protection of children, youth and women from HIV/AIDS by advocating with and building the capacities of key duty-bearers to enable them to play their effective role towards halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV/ AIDS. This project operates through: a) development of national healthcare capacity at all levels in formulation of policies, strategies, protocols and plans related to prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT); b) provision of essential components of services delivery; c) advocacy and social mobilization.

2 Project 4: Early Childhood Development (ECD) aims at strengthening the survival, growth, development, protection and participation opportunities for children from birth to 6 years of age in an integrated and holistic manner. This project operates through: a) national capacity development at all levels in formulation of policies, strategies, protocols and plans related to ECD and Better Parenting Initiative (BPI); b) development/adaptation of training modules; and c) development of IECD package for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), parents/care takers & community leaders via the implementation of the BPI.

2.1.1. Key Results Key expected four-year results include: (a) enhanced health and nutrition services in selected programme areas, with increased access and improved quality; (b) enhanced safe motherhood practices in the same areas, including antenatal care and Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC), contributing to a reduction in MMR of at least by 30% from 2006 levels which is determined by the Family Health Survey (FHS); (c) sustained immunization-plus coverage of 90% in all districts, linked with diarrhoeal disease/ acute respiratory infection (ARI) control, resulting in at least 10% reductions in diarrhoea/ ARI incidence and polio-free status maintained; (d) all pregnant women with access to voluntary counselling, care and testing, 80% of HIV- positive women/children receiving anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment and all young people with access to information on HIV prevention and user-friendly services; (e) strengthened convergence of health/nutrition activities, and their improved correlation with other sectoral interventions; (f) expanded interventions to address Low Birth Weight (LBW), wasting, stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, reducing these by at least 10% from 2006 values; (g) capacity of the MoH is augmented for policy development/prioritization and programme management; (h) optimal infant and young child feeding and care practices, including an extended Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), promoting baby-friendliness at the community and household levels; (i) strengthened support for more effective growth monitoring, common disease prevention, good hygiene and early care-seeking; and (j) as an integral part of ECD, improved parenting practices to stimulate children’s cognitive and psychosocial development; and (k) minimizing the spread of Avian Influenza in close collaboration with the communication component of the country programme.

The Survival and Growth programme will be developed, planned and implemented within a national vision for the whole country covering the North, Centre and South zones of Iraq. However, special strategies will be developed and piloted targeting specifically hard to reach areas and most vulnerable population groups, and regional programmes will be explored based on the situation of women and children in specific regions.

2.1.2. UNICEF’s Distinctive Role

The cluster approach adopted within the UNCT in 2004 has fostered close cooperation with other Agencies, in particular WHO, WFP, IOM, UNFPA, UNIDO and FAO, as well as NGOs. UNICEF is deputizing WHO in the Health and Nutrition cluster (Cluster D) and actively participates in the work of this body. UNICEF is the lead agency in the UNCT on nutrition in emergencies, and actively participates in the Cluster D working group on HIV/AIDS, Avian Influenza, Emergency Obstetric Care as well as the Health Sector Working Group (SWG) lead by the MoH, with participation of the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, UN agencies, and donors. The Health SWG provides a forum for close government dialogue with partners on issues such as policy development,

3 priority setting, project implementation and monitoring. It is enhancing the government’s ownership of projects for which assistance from the international community is requested, and it is fostering transparency among all stakeholders.

2.1.3. Key Achievements in 2005/06

 Successful national immunization programmes have effectively protected children against major disease outbreaks. Iraq’s polio-free status has been maintained. There have also been remarkable reductions in the number of reported measles, mumps and rubella cases in Iraq.  UNICEF has rehabilitated and constructed 25 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) units and delivery rooms throughout the country and provided supplies and basic equipment to these facilities, improving basic health care for over 500,000 people in remote and underserved areas.  UNICEF has been supporting Wheat Flour Fortification (WFF) with Iron/Folic acid since August 2006, covering 106 mills in Baghdad and 76 mills across other governorates.  72 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) and 2700 Community Child Care Units (CCCU) have received therapeutic milk and anthropometric tools as part of the Targeted Nutrition Programme.  Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and other basic essential drugs have been supplied through the Ministry of Health to PHCs, benefiting 4.8 million U5 children.  UNICEF has trained local health workers and paramedics PHC and maternity and pediatric hospitals across the country on basic child survival healthcare  UNICEF continues to deliver essential supplies to help children survive and thrive, including ferro-folic acid tablets, potassium iodate, midwifery kits, and premix for salt iodization.

2.1.4. Key Programmes & Projects for 2007

The programme is continuing its assistance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in meeting basic health and nutrition needs, achieved through a combination of the following strategic elements: a) humanitarian assistance to extremely vulnerable groups, including displaced families and host communities; b) support to service delivery and capacity building of the MoH - expanding access to, and usage of, existing quality basic health and nutrition services, including some rehabilitation where needed; c) community empowerment - ensuring community participation and involvement in the planning and management of community health and nutrition programmes and activities; d) strengthening the integration and convergence of health and nutrition services as well as linkages with other programmes, mainly Learning and Development and Water and Environmental Sanitation; e) sustaining the existing strong partnerships with the MoH, Ministry of Transport, United Nations Country Team (UNCT), donors, international and national NGOs, private and public sectors, to ensure required support, including sustainable financing of health and nutrition programmes; f) continuing to influence within and contribute to the Iraq Trust Fund (ITF) Cluster approach as deputy co- ordinator for the Health Cluster and SWG; and g) concerted policy development, monitoring and evaluation in health and nutrition issues leading to IMR/U5MR reductions.

Specific programme interventions include:

4  Immunization Plus, a two week long national Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR )campaign will start in April 2007 to provide 3.8 million children from 12- 59 months of age with MMR vaccinations. This project will address the risk of a rising level of susceptible children, which may reach 1 million in 2007/8, as part of emergency preparedness measures. Following UNICEF’s successfully advocacy for the procurement of the required quantity of MMR vaccines and syringes/needles, the Government of Iraq procures all required vaccinations in 2007. UNICEF will support the transport of 2,036 mobile teams for a period of 2 weeks, the provision of safety boxes for collection and incineration/disposal of used syringes/needles, as well as planning and monitoring and social mobilization, with special emphasis on hard to reach areas. This project will also support Polio National Immunization Days (PNID) planned for November and December 2007 with 10 million doses of OPV, transport for more then 5,300 mobile teams, registers and social mobilization. In addition UNICEF will continue to support routine immunization targeting 56 districts in Iraq with coverage of Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus 3 (DPT3) vaccination of less then 80%. This will be complemented by the decentralization of the National Vaccine Store and the rehabilitation/construction of three sub-regional stores in Erbil, Basra and Babil, and will also include provision of required cold chain equipment. UNICEF will support training of EPI staff at various levels in microplanning, cold chain management and a communication campaign to mobilize communities.

 Disease Management: UNICEF will support the MoH to provide for the availability of ORS and Zinc for at least 3 million cases of children less than 5 years for the Control of Diarrhea Diseases (CCD). This is scheduled for the summer months, when Iraq faces and increased risk of outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases, and complemented with training for concerned PHC staff to refresh their knowledge on diarrhea case management and hygiene promotion. UNICEF will also support capacity building for case management of ARI, conduct communication campaigns to increase community participation, provide essential medicines and IEC materials, as well as support supervision and monitoring.

 Emerging Diseases: UNICEF will support the MoH in communication and social mobilization of Iraqi communities on Avian Influenza in the following specific areas: planning, strategy development, support to develop IEC materials, capacity building in communication skills and outreach campaigns.

 Safe Motherhood and New Born Health: UNICEF will support a master training of trainers for the MoH and the Minister of Higher Education staff. By January 2007, 36 master trainers have completed their training. Cascade trainings will be carried out in 2007 in all of Iraq, resulting in 500 experts being trained in this field in 2007. UNICEF will also provide teaching/training materials and essential supplies for safe motherhood and newborn care as well as related IEC materials, supervision and monitoring.

 Maternal and Child Nutrition: will be supported through a series of key interventions, such as: a) anemia prevention and control through procurement and distribution of iron and folic acid supplementation tablets/capsules; b) WWF through procurement of premix, feeders and spares, lab equipments and reagent for quality assurance and control, IEC materials, capacity building, social mobilization and advocacy for sustainability; c) Universal Salt Iodization (USI) through procurement and distribution of potassium iodate, testing kits, training of

5 staff from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transport, monitoring and supervision of USI implementation as well as advocacy for sustainability of the USI interventions; d) Vitamin A supplementation through procurement of Vitamin A capsules and provision of the required technical support and IEC materials. A Micronutrient Survey will be supported by UNICEF to establish the baseline data on micronutrient levels in Iraq. UNICEF inputs to the survey will include training, recruitment of consultants, procurement of required supplies including laboratory equipments and reagents. NRCs will be provided with training to manage severely malnourished children through procurement of supplementary and therapeutic feeds as well as anthropometric tools and training of staff on the management of severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF also supports Community Child Care Units (CCCUs) through training of community volunteers on the assessment of the nutritional status of children and strengthening the referral system to the PHCs and NRCs with focus on 36 food insecure districts. UNICEF supports the MoH in the area of Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF) by developing the national IYCF strategy. In 2007 UNICEF will support a series of workshops to disseminate the strategy. UNICEF will continue to provide support to Ministry and Departments of Health with procurement of essential supplies for BFHI hospitals. Social mobilization will be carried out through provision of IEC materials and media campaigns on breast feeding promotion and an advocacy campaign to discourage distribution of infant formula within the public distribution system (PDS).

 HIV/AIDS: UNICEF will support the MoH in developing the capacity of national healthcare staff at all levels to enhance their skills in the formulation of policies, strategies, protocols and plans related to PMTCT and Youth Friendly Service Interventions.

 Early Childhood Development (ECD): to provide basis for future programming, 2007 UNICEF will conduct a home and community based pilot project on early childhood care for children between 0-3 years in selected districts in the Kurdistan Region. Support will be provided in developing and adapting training modules for parents and care givers, health workers and community leaders through the implementation of the BPI.

 Humanitarian Assistance: UNICEF’s support will include three main components addressing the emergencies in Iraq: (a) mitigation of possible outbreaks of measles, diarrhoea and avian influenza and sustained polio eradication efforts; (b) support to areas affected by internally displaced people (IDPs) to strengthen and increase existing capacity for services; c) support selected district hospitals to deal with injuries from violence including procurement of first aid kits, antiseptics, essential medicines and disposable medical supplies.

2.1.5. Budget

Planned Budget for 2007: US$: 15 million Funding Shortfall by end May 2007: US$ 1.4 million

6 2.2. Quality Learning and Development

The Quality Learning and Development Programme (QLD) promotes increased participation of children and youth in quality education programmes at early childhood, primary and intermediate levels, through both formal and alternative channels. This component falls within the UN-Iraq Joint Strategic Plan supporting the MDGs, in particular goals 2 and 3. The quality learning and development programme comprises the following four projects:

Project 1: Quality Formal Basic Education aims to improve quality of education with the view of increasing the rates of school enrolment, retention and completion and reducing gender disparities at all levels of learning. This is primarily achieved through quality enhancement in primary and intermediate education, system development, service delivery and school rehabilitation for improved basic education.

Project 2: Quality Non-Formal Basic Education aims to reach out of school children and youth, providing them the opportunity to complete primary education. This is achieved through the expansion of the non-formal education, policy/strategy development, teacher development and mainstreaming of children into the formal education system.

Project 3: Integrated Community-Based Services: this area-based project aims at enhancing quality opportunities for all children in most vulnerable areas through either formal or alternative channels of education using convergent and synergetic approaches to the development of children and local communities. This is primarily achieved through capacity development in teaching methods, classroom based and school based management, service delivery and rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities and school buildings for improved basic education.

Project 4: Programme Promotion and Support will address the ECD component extensively in order to achieve the overall key results of the programme, as well as and ensuring effective emergency preparedness and response capacity.

2.2.1. Key Results Expected key results include: (a) 86 per cent completion in primary education, 88 per cent completion at intermediate levels and at least a 10-per-cent reduction in gender gaps; (b) strengthened capacities in policy and programme development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; (c) establishment of at least 100 girl-friendly schools per year, with focus on improved water and sanitation facilities and hygiene practices; (d) implementation of an ECSL programme in at least 36 underserved districts; and (e) development of a non-formal education programme to benefit out-of-school youths.

UNICEF’s comparative advantage begins with its over two decade-long engagement with and commitment to educational development in Iraq, coupled with its world-wide commitment to basic education particularly of vulnerable child groups. UNICEF’s capacity is enhanced by highly competent national professional staff operating from the central and regional offices which offer a unique opportunity for decentralized programming and, the highly qualified international staff who are able to draw on a broad knowledge base, to provide technical leadership and support. UNICEF’s close involvement with government

7 and civil society actors will be further strengthened to develop a network which allows for efficient project implementation with sustainable results. UNICEF is recognized by Iraqis as a credible voice on behalf of women and children and as such an advocate for promotion of children’s right to basic education of quality. UNICEF will continue to provide the overall leadership to the UN’s joint programming processes for the Cluster on “Education and Culture” as the selected Coordinator.

 Over 20,000 out of 50,000 teachers were trained, improving the overall quality of education and teaching in primary schools.  A nationwide school survey was carried out after the 2003 war and the results made available online for global analysis.  1,350 national and provincial staff in Iraq’s Ministry of Education (MoE) were trained on computer literacy.  UNICEF has fully rehabilitated 152 schools and upgraded water and sanitation facilities in 717 schools, removing barriers that might keep girls out of the classroom. Further 90 schools have already been rehabilitated under the Integrated Community-Based Services Project (ICBSP), out of a projected 110.  4.5 million primary-level students received essential learning and teaching materials from UNICEF, while 1 million first graders were supplied with school bags. UNICEF has also supplied sanitation kits, blackboards and recreational kits to Governorates through the MoE.  UNICEF procured 57,000 desks and chairs for 114,000 students and 32,000 cupboards for primary and intermediate schools.  The first batch of 14,000 students enrolled in the Accelerated Learning Programme sat for their final exams in pilot governorates.  4,500 students were screened for visual and hearing difficulties and bony abnormalities.

The QLD programme is developed, planned and implemented within a national vision for the whole country. Special strategies will be developed and piloted targeting specifically hard to reach areas and most vulnerable population groups, e.g. accelerating girls’ education in areas with low indicators. Regional programmes would be explored based on the situation of women and children in specific regions.

2.2.4. Key Programmes & Projects for 2007 Given the complex and long-term nature of the challenges facing education, support for children will have to encompass a range of strategies. Many children need emergency assistance at this time in order to continue their schooling, but this must be balanced with ongoing basic support for schools, pupils and teachers. The Learning and Development programme will continue its major thrusts in formal education, accelerated learning for out-of-school children and ECSL. However, given the prevailing insecurity and displacement in many areas hampering school attendance, UNICEF will also work with other experienced country offices to develop a strategy for home schooling. Other key elements of the strategy mix will include integrated/community-based approaches, school- based management, seeking the empowerment of head teachers, supervisors and Parent/Teacher Associations for the establishment of child-friendly schools, and increased student participation, through activities linked to life skills, reconciliation, tolerance and recreation. Key programme interventions include:

 Essential Learning Supplies will provide Iraqi children aged 6-12 with essential learning materials for a total of 4.7 million students. These students are currently

8 receiving essential learning materials, which include exercise books, stationary and school bags.

 Early Childhood Stimulation and Learning Initiative (ECSL) supports the development of a national ECSL strategy and pilot home-based and community based early childhood stimulation. This is conducted in a cross cutting approach with health/nutrition and child protection, in order to support linkages between Early Childhood Development (ECD) and primary school. A child rearing practices study is implemented within this project and outlines for a National ECD Strategy paper drafted and disseminated. 1750 pre-schoolteachers and first grade primary school teachers and communities in selected areas are using the ECD emergency kit.

 Teacher Training supports the development of teachers and principals’ skills in classroom and school-based management and child friendly teaching methods. Within this project 25 master trainers will acquire knowledge and skills to train principals in school based management, leading to 200 principals being trained in school based management. 20 master trainers will have the capacity, skills and attitudes to help teachers implementing psychosocial relief activities in the classroom and 12 schools in 6 selected governorates will function as model schools being able to provide training on the job for teachers.

 Non-Formal Education (NFE) supports and facilitates the development of a comprehensive national policy on NFE, including Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) for out of school children, and strengthens the NFE unit within the Ministries of Education (Baghdad and Erbil) to improve planning and advocacy capacities of NFE programmes for adults at Governorate and local levels. A policy on non formal education will be drafted and circulated to stakeholders for adoption. All members of Non Formal Education Units of the Ministries of Education of Baghdad and Kurdistan will be trained on aspects related to planning for NFE including ALP, adult literacy, life skills development and vocational training. Adult women and ALP graduates will be empowered to establish self-owned small- and medium-scale enterprises through provision of livelihood generation training opportunities. 1000 teachers and volunteers will be trained for NFE, to meet the needs of all Governorates and 1500 teachers will be trained for ALP, 100 from each Governorate or as per actual requirements.

 Comprehensive School Rehabilitation will be provided for 90 schools all over Iraq 2006- 2007.

 Integrated Community-Based Services Project will rehabilitate 110 water and sanitation facilities and provide school furniture for 90 facilities and 5,350 double desks and 10,700 single chairs.

 Education Management Information System (EMIS) will support the MoE in strengthening its capacity in planning and administrating the EMIS for 100 key staff. A core group of 50 educational statisticians will be trained in development of indicators and analysis. In addition a core group of 50 MoE/Directorate of Education (DoE) staff will be trained in educational planning and administration. A School Survey will be supported by UNICEF, which includes data on ALP/NFE in the National EMIS and new school registers developed, printed and disseminated.

9  Improving Learning Environment in Mud Schools of six governorates (Suleimanya, Ninevah, Salaheldin, Muthanna, Thi-Qar and Diyala). Schools will be upgraded to child-friendly status and enrolment, and completion and retention in primary education increased, especially for girls. 100 schools will be rehabilitated including water and sanitation facilities benefiting 16,000 students. In addition, 700 teachers will be trained to improve their classroom management skills.

 Accelerated Girls' Education in most vulnerable districts: This project will lead to increased enrolment, completion and retention in primary education, especially for girls in governorates with lowest enrolment of girls. 200 schools will be equipped with appropriate furniture, learning materials, playgrounds, school gardens and safe water and sanitation facilities. Community and religious leaders in the selected areas will be mobilized to support girls’ education and parents encouraged to send their daughters to school. 600 teachers of 200 selected schools will be trained in child-centered and gender-sensitive teaching methods and applying them in the class rooms. Head teachers of the 200 selected schools will be trained in school-based management, and leadership skills and strategies.

 Capacity Building in Planning and Management for the Development of Education in Iraq. Within this project the institutional capacity of the MoE to take a holistic approach in tackling educational issues and planning will be strengthened. 52 senior staff at central and governorates level will be exposed to appropriate comprehensive sectoral analysis and diagnosis methods and techniques and provided with appropriate methods and techniques to outline policy options and future strategies. Educational planners from planning units at central and regional level will be trained intensively on the methodology of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and planners from planning units at central and regional level will be trained intensively on the methodology of school mapping and micro-planning within a framework of decentralization.

 Education of Young People for Peace This project will contribute to national reconciliation, peace-building and security by reducing ethno-sectarian tensions through non-formal and informal education. An assessment of the contributing factors of ethno-sectarian tensions among youth in Iraq and its impact on future generations will be conducted, followed by a review of youth conflict resolution models in educational policy from other countries with religiously or ethnically diverse populations to consider their possible application in the context of Iraq. Policy papers on how to more effectively incorporate modern concepts of tolerance, religious pluralism, citizenship and human rights into non-formal education in Iraq will be prepared and a framework formed for integrating principles of cultural and religious diversity, citizenship, and human rights into teaching materials for non- formal educational contexts in Iraq prepared. Training materials will be produced for use in non-formal education initiatives on subjects including citizenship, human rights, religious pluralism and tolerance. NGOs and youth groups will receive training on the use of the “youth extra-curricular activity” toolkit. Episodes of pilot series of “Sesame Street”-like program for Iraq will be produced and aired, with emphasis on mutual tolerance, cultural diversity (linguistic, religious, or otherwise) and non-violent dispute resolution

2.2.5. Budget Planned Budget for 2007: 39 million Funding Shortfall by end May 2007: US$ 25.9 million

10 2.3. WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WESH)

The WESH programme works within the framework of the UN Strategic Plan for Iraq to reduce the number of people without access to potable water and improved sanitation. The programme is linked closely to people’s livelihoods and sustainable development in general; it is an important input not just for target 10 of MDG 7 but for all of the other goals. In addition, the programme synergies made possible by the strategic co-ordination of Health and Nutrition with WESH interventions enabled UNICEF to make significant contributions to the overall health of Iraqi women and children during a period of great vulnerability. The WESH programme helps to avert outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as cholera by improving sanitation infrastructure in neighbourhood environments, eliminating sewage pools and contributing to the reduction of pollution loads entering the river. UNICEF continues to supply water treatment chemicals to the Government of Iraq , though the extent of such support was limited to cover only the partial needs of chlorine. The WESH programme comprises three projects:

Project 1: Infrastructure Improvement helps to address the rehabilitation and reconstruction needs in the sector and enhance efficiency of the water and sanitation infrastructure. It promotes community and area-based approaches and enables the adoption of integrated solid waste management principles in managing solid wastes. This is primarily achieved through the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and, where required, through limited construction and extension of new facilities. Advocacy and capacity building for community and area based approaches and policy development are also provided in this project.

Project 2: Policy and Systems Support aims to consolidate the gains made in improved access to safe water and sanitation through enhanced institutional capacity, strengthened systems, improved behavioral practices and an enabling environment. The project includes advocacy for policy development, institutional and legislative reforms, capacity development activities, piloting initiatives, water quality monitoring and surveillance and improved hygiene practices.

Project 3: Programme Promotion and Support aims to strengthening the human rights based approach to planning and programming, as well as improving monitoring and evaluation in order to maximize the impact of the inter and intra sectoral WESH interventions. This is further enhanced through cross cutting linkages with gender, ECD & HIV/AIDS. Within this project effective emergency preparedness and response capacity is ensured.

2.3.1. Key Results

The Water and Sanitation Programme will continue to be national in nature but will focus on vulnerable areas across the whole country irrespective of regional and urban/rural considerations and depending on the condition on the ground including the security situation. Areas that suffered extensive damage to their infrastructure resulting from ongoing military assaults and campaigns will receive priority. Staff capacity development and policy related issues will be implemented nationally. Issues of water quality, implementation of community based projects and pilot

11 initiatives are implemented on the base of the severity of the problem and the stability in the area.

UNICEF’s role as lead agency in the water and sanitation sector is based on its knowledge of the sector in Iraq stemming from its presence in the country since 1983, its global institutional experience in emergency water and sanitation interventions. Strong linkages with other UN agencies and NGO partners involved made it the best-placed lead agency for post-war reconstruction and coordination efforts. Since 2003, UNICEF has implemented diverse works - rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, response to emergencies, provision of needed chemicals and capacity building - to the tune of some $90 million improving the lives of millions of Iraqis all over the country clearly demonstrating its relevance and support to the government and the people of Iraq. UNICEF’s current coordination of the re- organized and expanded “Infrastructure Rehabilitation Cluster” within the UN Strategic Plan further helps ensure correct prioritization of water and sanitation projects funded through the UN ITF. With other UN agencies, UNICEF is resurrecting the water and wastewater quality monitoring programme, rehabilitating water supply systems, and enhancing solid waste management. UNICEF continues to play a vital role in the sector over the next four years in the reconstruction of vital infrastructure, rejuvenation of the management and operation of WESH facilities and in assisting the government in the overall planning and policy development processes while continuing to steer the UN effort in the sector by fostering an integrated approach to services.

 UNICEF completed 189 projects throughout Iraq improving access to water supply for more than 3.4 million people and bringing better sanitation to over 1 million others.  Areas suffering from chronic water shortages and in conflict received 800 million litres of tankered water through UNICEF programmes.  UNICEF continued to provide most of the essential water treatment chemical needs of the country, supplying 6,000 tons of chlorine and 11,000 tons of aluminium sulphate.  Almost 500 government and NGO staff were trained to support improved water and sanitation access, including facility operation and maintenance, water quality and other emerging issues.  An Integrated Basic Services Project currently being implemented in six Governorates in Iraq is providing safe water and sanitation services to families within a package of other basic needs.  Nine sewage-flooded neighborhood sites have been transformed into play areas for children.  UNICEF equipped 21 central water quality control laboratories and provided survey and leak detection equipment to the Water and Sewerage authorities.

2.3.4. Key Programmes & Projects 2007

For the new country programme, the backlog of pending services necessitates rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure to continue as a key priority, along with emergency response. Institutional strengthening will continue, while interventions in developmental and behavioral change will expand. It is expected

Training of Operators/ Engineers on O & M of WTP in Missan Governorate 12 that with improvement in services and stabilizing security, interventions will focus more on advocacy, community involvement, policy development, piloting alternative technologies and institutional and legal reforms. Labour-intensive approaches will constitute a major element in all hardware interventions. Strategically, the programme will support:

 Rehabilitation of Water and Sanitation Facilities. With in this project existing services will be sustained and an additional 250,000 people in urban and rural areas will have access to and use safe water sources.

 Community and area based WESH interventions: This projects aims to provide communities, including women and youth, in two select areas, to access improved water and sanitation services and manage their facilities. 80% of people in two communities adopt proper hygiene practices and water conservation measures.

 Integrated Solid Waste Management: Half a million people in critically underserved areas of Basrah city will gain access to improved solid waste management practices.

 Development and Capacity Building: This project enhances the government’s capacity for formulation of gender responsive policies & establishing appropriate legislative framework and improved planning, design, implementation, supervision, operation, monitoring & management of WESH facilities. Within this project policies will be reviewed/drafted in line with international standards and practices

 Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance: This project aims to increase the government’s capacity to take corrective actions based on timely access to water quality and wastewater characteristic data. The target is to rehabilitate/upgrade seven water/sewage laboratories.

 Hygiene Practices and School Sanitation: Up to 6,000 children in 20 schools will increasingly adopt proper hygiene practices and water conservation measures, as an outcome of this project. Inputs for inclusion of hygiene in sector policy documents will be drafted.

 Emergency Preparedness and Response: Emergency Preparedness Response Plan (EPRP) will be in place for 1,100,000 people affected during occurring emergencies. 150,000 people will be served with at least 20 liters of safe water in the affected areas including the outskirts of Baghdad city and IDP areas and up to 1,100,000 people will be served with UNICEF supplies during emergencies.

 Monitoring and Evaluation: Effectiveness of WESH interventions will be ensured through timely assessments and monitoring of interventions. As a result of this project the government will have timely access to information for improved planning and management of WESH facilities.

2.3.5. Budget

Planned Budget for 2007: 55.7 million Funding Shortfall by end May 2007: US$ 43.4 million

13 2.4. Child Protection and Participation

The Child Protection and Participation Programme aims to promote a safer protective environment for Iraqi children, focusing on addressing legal reform for children in line with child rights instruments and promoting and expanding pilot projects to develop a quality supportive social protection system for vulnerable children, developing monitoring mechanisms for child protection and ensuring children and young people are given opportunities to participate in their communities. The programme also contributes to MTSP focus area two by addressing support needs for children out of school and providing psycho-social interventions for children and young people affected by violence. The programme comprises five projects:

Project 1: Community-based Approaches to Social Service System aims to support the development of a National Training Agenda for child and youth focused social work through the transfer of skills and knowledge, and consolidate this transfer with practical pilot models to showcase community based approaches to child centre services for children to prevent, and protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse and to reintegrate children in need of special protection back into their families and communities. UNICEF supports the government in developing and implementing a national training agenda in line with modern social work practices, and the implementation of policies, protocols and programmes to assess the service provision needs of children.

Project 2: Protective Legal Reform ensures justice for all children through the development and implementation of protective legal reforms for children including all general laws affecting children, Juvenile Justice laws and issues affecting the new Iraqi Constitution. This will be achieved through the provision of technical assistance and advice, coupled with advocacy, capacity development for policy change, adoption by decision makers & law makers and implementation of pilot projects.

Project 3: Child Rights Monitoring and Participation develops a national child rights monitoring mechanism with sub national characteristics for comprehensive data collection, planning for services and assistance for children and for meeting state obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This project also promotes child and youth participation in nation building, in peace initiatives and in decision making at the community and national level. The project achieves this through research & development of new models tailored to unique Iraqi social factors, capacity development and piloting of new approaches at the local level and at the national level.

Project 4: Mainstreaming Gender aims to integrate Gender Mainstreaming into programming for children ensuring that special vulnerability factors for boys and girls, and men and women are addressed in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities in the programme. This will be achieved through coordination, capacity development, advocacy and research/data analysis using a multi-sectoral, multi-agency approach.

14 Project 5: Programme Promotion and Support aims at strengthening the human rights based approach to planning & programming, improving monitoring & evaluation, maximizing the impact of the inter & intra-sectoral child protection and participation interventions through enhanced cross cutting linkages with, ECD and HIV/AIDS.

2.4.1. Key Results Expected key results include: (a) social integration of children in need of special protection; (b) strengthened national policies; (c) protective legislative reform, based on international norms; (d) establishment and institutionalization of national and governorate child-rights monitoring mechanisms; (e) reduction in the number of unexploded ordinance incidents; (f) increased number of children receiving school and community-based psychosocial care; and (g) the impact of violence on children minimized.

UNICEF’s international staff, who have links to other professionals in the area of child protection globally, bring new competencies and skills to assist in the development of this field in Iraq to ensure all children can benefit from the creation of a protective environment. Global resources can be tapped to assist in national level interventions such as legal reforms, policy development and systems building, while efforts will also be focused at the decentralized level to ensure these activities can be translated at the community level to services, initiatives and innovative approaches to child protection to benefit children and their families directly, ensuring the state is able to fulfill its obligations under the CRC.

2.4.3. Key achievements in 2005/06

 UNICEF helped the National Mine Action Authority to run a national mine risk education programme reaching 300,000 children. Information materials were developed and sent to schools and PHC centres and TV spots were broadcasted to alert children and families to the dangers of unexploded remnants of war.  Direct Mine Risk Education was provided in three governorates of Southern and Central Iraq.  UNICEF is implementing an ongoing juvenile justice project, conducting a needs assessment, holding a plan-of-action workshop and training government staff on international juvenile justice norms.  UNICEF supported four drop-in centres for street children and transferred to the Government two transitional centres for children without primary caregivers, two “child friendly spaces”, and one open children and youth centre.  Direct child protection training has been provided to senior staff in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and selected NGOs working in Iraq, including training of 172 government social workers.

15 2.4.4. Key Programmes and Projects 2007

Reflecting on the priorities identified for the new 2007–2010 Country Programme, the Child Protection project will evolve into a new programme, which will also include Child and Youth Participation. The programme will target justice for children through legal reform and will strengthen the capacity of government and communities to deliver a child friendly juvenile justice system which is community based and consistent with international norms.

The programme will continue to promote enhanced local services for children promoting a safer protective environment free of abuse and exploitation for children and addressing issues of violence and will continue to work in areas of psychosocial support, MRE and family re-integration.

The development of a child rights monitoring mechanisms is also planned, especially to monitor child rights in complex emergencies, in addition to the enhancement of youth participation in community and decision making fora, including nation building. It will also lead gender initiatives across all other programmes.

 Capacity building for national training agenda, within this project a curriculum will be developed for tertiary based modern social welfare course at an Iraqi university and local teaching staff prepared to teach. 160 social workers will be trained in child protection and modern resources made available at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. This initiative includes formal social work training for new social workers in addition to continuing informal in-service training for existing experienced social workers.

 Support child integration centres with technical capacity and other essential supplies. Within this project the family-integration model will be expanded from Baghdad to 10 governorates, covering 21 orphanages including support from central level in order to ensure sustainability. 25 social workers will be trained in child protection and re-integration techniques in selected areas and 525 children in orphanages receive psycho-social support and other services.

 Pilot community based social services for children in need of special protection including working and street children, children affected by violence and children without caregiver. 100 children and adolescent at risk will receive social services and psycho-social support in the North.

 Support to develop a national psycho-social programme for children in school and out of school children and youths at the family and community level, including victims of mines and UXOs.

 Mine Risk Education (MRE), including needs assessment and national capacity development: a package of MRE will be provided to populations at risk. Comprehensive training for teachers and community volunteers will be conducted. Additionally, an MRE needs assessment in high and medium contamination areas will be conducted in communities for targeted MRE. Capacities of the National Mine Action Authority and regional centres as well as NGOs will be increased, in order to enhance planning, implementation and monitoring MRE and manage a victims database.

16  Provide technical and advocacy support for revisions of laws related to children for their harmonization with the CRC and other related human rights instruments and the implementation to the local level of these laws and policies.

 Juvenile Justice Legal Reform including alternative measures. Within this project technical information and advice will be made available for advocacy with legislators. 700 reformatory staff will be trained on child rights as well as a situation analysis completed and reforms recommended. The project will also support pilot projects for replication which showcase international norms of juvenile justice, specifically in alternate measures, diversion and community based interventions. The implementation of a community based Juvenile Justice system will be supported for a national roll out to ensure children have access to alternative forms of justice.

 Support the development of a model for the monitoring and reporting of violations of child rights related to children in need of special protection and support for regular comprehensive national child protection reporting mechanisms.

 Advocacy and mobilization of decision makers and communities for youth participation in National Strategy development and implementation. Within this project support will be provided to enhance youth and young people and women’s participation in civil society and build capacity of Government and NGO partners in participatory, social mobilization and behavioral change methodologies.

2.4.5. Budget

Planned Budget for 2007: US$ 5 million Funding Shortfall by end May 2007: US$ 1.9 million

17 3. Cross Sectoral Support

To meet the unique demands of the 2007 programme – which combines humanitarian response with sustainable development - UNICEF is currently expanding and strengthening its operational modalities. A detailed, multi-sectoral plan of action to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations in Iraq has been developed. This will require a larger pool of facilitators and stronger community-based networks on the ground over and above UNICEF’s ongoing strong partnership with IRCS, selected international NGOs and government partners, both at national and governorate levels. Emergency response cells are already in place and functioning in several governorates, although their capacity alone would not be adequate for the needs. Selected individuals from community-based networks will be trained to act as focal points for child protection, education, water/sanitation and health/nutrition, and monitoring and information gathering mechanisms will also be assessed. Pre-positioning of UNICEF supplies to respond to emerging needs is also ongoing, and plans are already in place to strengthen the communication and coordination capacity of IRCS and UNICEF facilitators through the provision of Information Technology and radio equipment.

UNICEF’s plans will be integrated into the wider UNCT contingency planning and humanitarian response strategies, to ensure co-ordination and avoid duplication.

4. Overall Country Programme Budget 2007

By beginning of April 2007 UNICEF Iraq has a funding shortfall of US$ 97 million for the planned country programme for 2007, including emergency response, totaling US$ 133 million. The detailed funding shortfalls for each section are recorded below:

UNICEF Iraq Funding Shortfall 2007, status 1 June 2007 Project Budget (US$) Funded (US$) Funded % Unfunded (US$) Water, Environmental 55,741,034 12,298,283 22% 43,442,751 Sanitation and Hygiene Learning & 39,214,263 13,286,112 34% 25,928,151 Development Survival & Growth 15,074,027 13,687,658 91% 1,386,369 Child Protection & 5,379,685 3,476,428 65% 1,903,257 Participation Policy, Advocacy & 6,552,887 1,924,102 29% 4,628,785 Partnership Cross Sectoral 11,053,299 4,278,395 39% 6,774,904 TOTAL 133,015,195 48,950,978 37% 84,064,217