Since 2006, Management Systems International (MSI) has implemented the National Capacity Development project or Tatweer (in Arabic), part of the United States Government's program to "build the capacity of key Iraqi ministries to deliver core services." The Tatweer program provides comprehensive assistance to critical Iraqi ministries and offices delivering services to the Iraqi people. USAID/Tatweer helps the government of Iraq (GoI) rebuild its civil service as part of a general U.S. commitment to a strong, independent Iraqi government providing its people with food, medicine, power and a better future.

USAID/Tatweer advisors interact daily with their ministerial colleagues in five executive offices of the Presidency Council, the Prime Minister's Office, Deputy Prime Minister- Economic Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister- Services and Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and in ten key GoI Ministries including the Ministries of Planning, Electricity, Oil, Agriculture, Municipalities & Public Works, Health, Water Resources, Justice, Migration and Human Rights.

The goal of the USAID/Tatweer program is to improve the delivery of core public services to the Iraqi people. To achieve this, USAID/Tatweer is employing at three-pronged approach that incorporates (1) technical assistance - direct engagement with the 15 offices; (2) training - design and delivery of cutting-edge courses in planning, management, finance, human resources and other key topics, to over 80,000 participants; and (3) procurement - provision of equipment, furnishings, civil works and other goods/services to fully equip the GoI's training centers.

USAID/Tatweer's close partnerships with key GoI Ministries and Executive Offices provide the GoI critical support to adopt and sustain administrative systems in line with international standards. The program provides a strong group of senior Arabic-speaking international and Iraqi advisors who support performance improvements across the government. The USAID/Tatweer team's demand-driven approach builds GoI willingness to adopt best practices, assume responsibility for associated costs, and endorse sustainable institutional and performance-based improvement.

Illustrative Results to Date:

• Training provided to over 90,000 civil servants and 750 trainers from all 18 Provinces.
• Ministerial training centers coming online across Iraq with USAID/Tatweer support, including curriculum, equipment, trainers.
• Self-assessment and process re-engineering systems adopted as integral to GoI institutional development.
• New Federal Civil Service Commission law approved by Parliament USAID/Tatweer advisors will provide support for its implementation nationwide.
• Organization charts, job descriptions, process maps, and internet connectivity developed for key ministries and offices.
• 120 Iraq scholars sent overseas for Master's Degrees in public administration.
• Significant improvements to procurement, project, and budget management procedures across ministries and provinces.