DFID’s Update on Iraqi Reconstruction Programme

The Department for International Development (DFID) held a press conference last Thursday, chaired by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for International Development. This is a wing of the Government that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. What appeared most striking about the conference was the diversity of journalists present, from Latin America through to Europe, Africa and Asia including the Far East.

The reconstruction of Iraq was formally tabled in October 2003 at the Madrid Conference attended by 73 donor countries and 20 International organisations including the UN, World Bank and IMF etc. As a result $32 billion were pledged including £544 million by the UK Government.

The fundamental message put forward in London was clear enough: Saddam Hussein’s long and tyrannical reign had been responsible for transforming a potentially rich nation to one where abject poverty was the norm. The role of the DFID would be “to help make Iraq a confident country once again by encouraging economic growth, political accountability and social cohesion” asserted Hilary Benn.

No easy task it seems, judging from events that have transpired over the past year. This was reflected in the questions that were put to Mr Benn and his associate Jim Drummond. Key concerns included security on the ground, allocation of donor money and how it would be safeguarded against corruption, the efficiency of the emerging Iraqi public administration and the conflict of interest that exists between the differing ethnic/religious communities that make up Iraq.

In all fairness, many of the problems that exist were acknowledged by Mr Benn and he re-iterated that the DFID were working towards an inclusive, Iraqi-led reconstruction process that would bring sustained benefits to all citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable. He was confident that life for the normal Iraqi was improving, with a particular emphasis on increased media freedom, role for women in judicial reform, training of Iraqis in Public Administration and there were clear signs that commercial life was returning. It is commonly agreed that the economy should recover quickly but social and institutional damage will take longer to repair.

The DFID acknowledges that transparency in the use of oil revenues is critical and that the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) should, as far as possible, be locally owned and managed. Furthermore, they and other donors will have to develop a deeper understanding of the political forces that can deliver change

In summary, there are three barometers, which the world’s eyes are focussed on: namely the security situation, the political process and reconstruction progress. The challenge for the DFID in “capturing the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people” couldn’t be sterner.