MDGs in Iraq


MDGs in General

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

The 8 MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators.

Click here for a full list of Goals, Targets and Indicators

 

 

Implementation of MDG

In 2001, in response to the world leaders' request, UN Secretary General presented the Road Map Towards the Implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, an integrated and comprehensive overview of the situation, outlining potential strategies for action designed to meet the goals and commitments of the Millennium Declaration.

The road map has been followed up since then with annual reports. In 2002, the annual report focused on progress made in the prevention of armed conflict and the treatment and prevention of diseases, including HIV/AIDS and Malaria. In 2003, emphasis was placed on strategies for development and strategies for sustainable development. In 2004, it was on bridging the digital divide and curbing transnational crime. Click here to the the UN Secretary General's Reports

In 2005, the Secretary-General prepared the first comprehensive five-yearly report on progress toward achieving the MDGs The report reviews the implementation of decisions taken at the international conferences and special sessions on the least developed countries, progress on HIV/AIDS and financing for development and sustainable development. Click here for additional information on the 2005 Summit.

 

 

Photos

 

         

 

Links

o                          MDG Report 2005 (link to the Iraq 2005 MDGR in pdf format (see attachment)

o                         Tracking Iraq MDGs (link to the Iraq page on the MDG Monitor: http://www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets_00.cfm?c=IRQ&cd=368

o                          UN Agencies in Iraq

o                          Iraq Development Frameworks (link to the NDS in pdf and another link to the ICI web site: www.iraqcompact.org

 

UNDP Iraq’s Role

 

 

The Government of Iraq Launches IraqInfo, the First National Database of Key Social Indicators

 

 

BAGHDAD, 24 November 2008 - IraqInfo, a new user-friendly national database that provides wide-ranging recent information on social development in Iraq was formally launched today by the Government of Iraq at an official ceremony in Baghdad.

 

“This is a first of its kind for Iraq, and it will enable government and partners to organize and analyze information from various sources, locations and points in time in the country”, said Dr. Mehdi Al-Alak of the Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (COSIT). “It comes at an important moment in our recent history as the country moves forward allowing us to spend more time and effort focusing on how to better plan for Iraq’s future”, he added.

 

IraqInfo is a web-based database system using DevInfo software developed by the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to be endorsed by the United Nations Development Group UNDG to assist the UN and Member States in tracking progress toward the Millennium Development Goal’s (www.devinfo.org). Work on the database began in early 2008 when COSIT and the Kurdistan Region Statistical Office (KRSO) signed an agreement with the United Nations development programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

 

“The database is a work in progress,” said Dr Jamal ِAmeen, Head of KRSO. “Currently data contained in Iraq Info is at national and governorate level but we plan to include district and/or sub district level data, as well as all major surveys on Iraq since 1990 next year.”

 

The database currently contains all major official surveys conducted from 2003 by COSIT and KRSO with collaboration of other UN agencies including the Iraq Living Conditions Survey 2004, Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey 2006, Iraq Family Health Survey 2007 and the Food Security Vulnerability Analysis from 2003 and 2005.

 

“IraqInfo will be very useful to support national and sub-national development planning. IraqInfo allows for the disaggregation of economic, social and demographic data by region and sector, rural versus urban and by gender enabling performance to be monitored at both national and governorate levels and allowing comparisons on progress among regions. Such information will allow for efficient decision making, policy development and resource allocation”, said Mr. Paolo Lembo, Country Director, UNDP Iraq.

 

The UNICEF Representative Sikander Khan commended efforts to date and pledged the agency’s support to expand the use of IraqInfo to all government institutions at all governorates in the country. “It is essential for each governorate to have their own data to help determine the challenges and respond accordingly to deliver tangible results and positive change for the people of Iraq..”

 

IraqInfo, is available on-line (www.iraqinfo-online.org), for anyone requiring access to official national statistical and survey data on Iraq including government departments, planning ministries, UN agencies, institutions, NGOs and media.

 

   

 

 

Launch of IraqInfo in Baghdad                                                                                                                                                          Launch of IraqInfo in Erbil

 

IraqInfo Fact Sheet

What is IraqInfo?

IraqInfo is a web-based database system using DevInfo software which provides a platform to organize, store, and display data in a uniform format to facilitate data sharing at national and international levels.  This database contains all indicators from major national surveys since 2003 and will help Iraq to report on the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs), national goals, and other strategic development reports.  The system has a simple format for querying the database and producing tables, graphs, and maps for analysis and reporting.

 

Main objectives of IraqInfo

  • To provide a pool for all development indicators on Iraq, as determined through national statistics and surveys. 
  • To assist in reporting against MDGs and other national development goals.
  • To help decision makers in planning, monitoring, advocacy, data sharing and dissemination publicly through the internet.
  • To provide an easy way to analyze data by comparing similar indicators from different surveys over time.

 

What IraqInfo contains?

IraqInfo currently contains all major surveys conducted by COSIT and KRSO with collaboration of other UN agencies since 2003, as follows:

-          Iraq Living Conditions Survey (ILCS), 2004, supported by UNDP.

-          Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS3), 2006, supported by UNICEF.

-          Iraq Family Health Survey, 2007 (IFHS), supported by WHO.

-          Iraq Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (IFSV), 2003 and 2005, supported by WFP.

 

All data in IraqInfo is currently in English and a few surveys have been translated into Arabic.  Phase two of IraqInfo for 2009 will ensure that all data is translated into Arabic and Kurdish.  Additional survey data will be added to the database as surveys and other statistics become available.

 

Who manages IraqInfo?

COSIT, KRSO, UNICEF, UNDP, and OCHA signed a work process document at the beginning of 2008 to establish IraqInfo. This document explains the process establishing and coordinating the database.  Responsibilities are divided among these stakeholders. UNICEF and UNDP have technically and financially supported this project through building the national capacities of both COSIT and KRSO.  COSIT and KRSO are ultimately responsible for all data entry and management of the system.

 

Who can use IraqInfo?
IraqInfo is available on-line and is accessible to anyone who wishes to access official national statistics and survey data on Iraq.
It is expected that the main users will include:
- UN agencies
- National statistical offices
- Government departments
- Planning departments
- District planners
- Media (to report and track human development data)
- Educational institutions (for data analysis and to help children have access to the data)

- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- DevInfo administrators (would use the more advanced database administration modules to customize the system, add data etc.)

 

User training has been conducted for COSIT, KRSO, line ministries, and UN staff in Iraq.  This will continue into 2009 in order to maximize understanding and use of the system.

Who owns IraqInfo?
IraqInfo is the property of government of Iraq and all data belongs to the Ministry of Planning/Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology and the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office.

Future of IraqInfo?

COSIT and KRSO with support of UNICEF, UNDP, and OCHA will continue to manage and include all major surveys on Iraq since 1990 and the annual abstract statistical year book produced annually by COSIT.

 

Currently data within IraqInfo and mapping capacity is at national and governorate level.  By 2009 it is expected that data at district and/or sub district level will be included.

 

URL for IraqInfo?

http://www.iraqinfo-online.org/

News item: Team of Iraqi Human Develop Experts Complete the Study: Iraq Review of Human Development

A team of experts from the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation (MoPDC) and an independent Iraqi think tank, Baytalhikma, have completed the preparation of a review report on human development in Iraq, the “Iraq Review of Human Development” (IRHD), which is scheduled for launch in February 2009.

 

The IRHD addresses three main challenges that face Iraq today: violence, legacy of the past, and the transition process. The report’s analysis digs beyond the security constraints that apparently seem to be the main reason behind the development setback in the country. It reveals the importance to address structural problems as well as those that arise from insecurity, as they are only transient. Social and economic policies should be considered for a long term treatment process for Iraq’s development.

 

Throughout its analysis of a broad range of economic, social, and political issues, the report maintains a consistent focus on Human Security. The analysis is presented in three parts. The first part demonstrates evidence of human development and human security shortcomings and shows the situation as it is stands in Iraq today. The second part discusses the root causes and attributes them to the three challenges of insecurity, legacy, and transition. The third part presents a vision for the future and draws the scenarios and the priorities to get there. The analysis in the three parts of the report is elaborated in eight chapters comprising 200 pages. A statistical annex of 31 tables is included and presents a rich set of statistics and indicators that have not been available before.

 

The IRHD is being prepared entirely by a team of Iraqi experts who are enduring the extreme and violent situation that prevails in the country since 2006. It is seen that the strength of its analysis and recommendations are made more potent as that the data was gathered and analysed in a frighteningly unstable and insecure conditions. The report’s novel methodology in combining Human Security analysis with Human Development to address the situation in Iraq will not only serve the purpose of applying suitable policies, but will also serve to enrich human development methodologies needed for countries undergoing conflict.

 

The Iraq Review of Human Development will contribute to fill in data gaps related to Iraq and should lead to the integration of Iraq in the HD ranking. More important, the objective of the report is to serve the policy-making process and support the government in planning the course of development by focusing on Human Security as a means of achieving development goals. The report emphasizes the urgent priority of expanding education and urges all national and international actors to commit themselves to address this challenge. Illiteracy and ignorance are seen to be the most dangerous threats to human security and human development in Iraq.

 

The IRHD shows that there still remain beacons of hope in Iraq today despite fearful difficulties and widespread destruction. The report attempts to bring these out and focus on the urgent challenge of giving human development a much higher priority in the course of Iraq’s reconstruction and development process.

 

 

Launch of MDG Capacity Building Programme for Iraq

UNDP Iraq arranged for a Strategic Planning Meeting to take place in Amman on 16 and 17 January 2009. The Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation will lead a delegation that includes the Head of the Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology and representatives from the ministries involved in MDGs achievement, such as health and education. The two-day meeting aims to operationalize the MDGs Capacity Building programme and provide support to the national planning efforts.

 

The Iraq Strategic Review Board had approved the MDGs Capacity Building programme for Iraq in July 2008. This programme aims to develop the capacity of the Iraqi government to monitor and report on HD and MDGs, and to elaborate MDG based plans at the national and local levels. The multi-component programme designed for capacity building and advocacy on the MDGs will lead to the production of the second Unsatisfied Basic Needs report, an MDG report, and the full integration of MDGs to the national and local development frameworks.

 

Proposed interventions areas under the programme would include a Poverty and Social Impact Analysis, the preparation of the second Unsatisfied Basic Needs report, advocating the Iraq Review of Human Development, update to the tailoring of MDGs, capacity development on planning at national and local levels, and the preparation of policy briefs. The intervention will take place over 2 years, and will include 1 year of training and 1 year of creating demand for policy papers by directly funding them.

 

Institutionalizing MDG Achievement

Institutionalizing MDGs Achievement in Iraq

As of 2006, the Government of Iraq has introduced a targeted, mean-tested Social Safety Net (SSN) program to assist low-income families living under 1 $/day/individual with a package of conditional cash benefits and services and to mitigate the impact on poor and vulnerable of the liberalization of prices to fuel and food.

Cash benefits are conditional upon registration of job-seekers with the employment centers and upon participation in vocational training, on-the-job-training and other job mediation programs.

 

To date, around 1,000,000 families receive means-tested benefits and their job seekers are assisted with employment services. SSN budget represented 1.16% of GDP in 2007. With the launch of the NDS and the ICI, considerable progress has been made towards institutionalizing poverty reduction within the Government of Iraq (GoI).

In 2007, the government has created an Inter-Ministerial Poverty Reduction Committee, the mandate of which is to elaborate a Poverty Reduction strategy by September 2009. The Committee’s work will be based on the Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS) currently conducted in coordination with the World Bank.  Further adjustments of the SSN package will be evidence- based and will consider poverty analyses using specific outputs of the LSMS.

 

The NDS, the ICI and this Inter-Ministerial Committee combined present UNDP Iraq with the opportunity of a clear institutional structure through which to provide capacity building and support towards an MDG based national development strategy. A costing assessment of the MDGs at the national level will need to be integrated into the institutional process carried out by the Committee to achieve MDG-based planning consistent with the targets of the NDS and the ICI. In terms of sub-national planning, the National Development Strategy can be strengthened through further localization of policies to the regional and governorate level.

 

Therefore, local MDG-based plans will also need to be developed through local area based interventions in coordination with the national authorities. To this purpose, a current initiative for Local Area Development, which is currently being implemented by UNDP and other UNCT members through a joint initiative funded from IRFFI with USD 30 Million, can constitute an appropriate entry point for localizing MDG target setting, planning, and implementation.

The Iraqi MDGs in the National Development Strategy 2007-2010

Goal: (1) Mitigate Poverty and Hunger

Average calorie intake for individual is severely declined from 3300 in 1990 to 1000 in 1997. However, the food basket boosts food level to 2000 calories per individual per day. According to the Living Conditions Surveys, in 2004, 96% of Iraqis received limited shares of foodstuff which means that in case the PDS is phased out, hunger will be wide spread. In addition, unemployment is strongly connected to poverty.6.7 million citizen represent the labor force out of 16.4 million citizens who are economically active. Thus, labor force participation in Iraq is 40% while the standard average established by European Cooperation Organization is 70%.

(Target)  (1)

Reduce number of people living under poverty line by two thirds.

(Target) (2)

Reduce number of people suffering from hunger by two thirds.

(Target) (3) Increase labor force to 70% of people who are economically active.

 

Goal (2): Achieve primary education for all

Every one will have the opportunity for education and necessary skills to be able to participate in the economy. Educational levels are measured on the basis of the primary level and postgraduate level. According to the Living Conditions Survey, literacy is wide spread in Iraq; 39% in rural areas, 22% of adults didn't join the schools and 9% in secondary schools which is the highest educational level for them.

(Target) (4)

Completing all curriculums in primary and secondary education levels for all girls and boys.

 

Goal (3): Enhancing gender equity and strengthening women issues:

Woman education faced a sharp decline during the past 20 years after it had improved during the 1970s. 47% of Iraqi women are totally or partially illiterate. According to the Living Conditions Survey, the gender gap is highest in the north as education for woman is 20% less than men, in addition to clear discrepancies in woman education among regions. In Sulaimanya, 60% of women below 15 years don't have the basic education in comparison with 32% to 38% in Baghdad and Basra respectively.

(Target) (5)

Eliminating gender discrimination in all educational levels.

 

Target (4): reduce children deaths

Death among children bellow 5 years old was reduced in the period 1979-1989 from 120 to 60 for each 1000 birth. It increased in the period 1990- 2001 to 133 (in comparison with 33 case in Jordan and 107 in Yamane). Death among infants has also increased from 40 for each 1000 birth to 107 (105 in African Sahara)

(Target) (6):

Reduce deaths among children bellow 5 years old two third.

 

Goal (5): Reduce maternity deaths

According to Living Conditions Survey, maternity deaths is very high in Iraq around 193 for each 100,000 delivery (41 in Jordan and 25 in Kuwait)

(Target ) (7):

Reduce maternal deaths by two thirds

 

Goal (6): Full access to water and health services

According to Living Conditions Survey, 54% of households are provided with water and health services declined from 100% to 67% in 2004 (100% in Jordan, 97% in Syria and 100% in Gaza and West Bank ).

(Target) (8): Full access to water and health services for all people

 

Goal (7): Descent housing for all

Possessing a house is one of the important social security aspects. According to the Living Conditions Survey, 76% of Iraqis do not own residence, especially in middle and south of the country; in Kurdistan and Baghdad most people rent their houses. Overcrowded and destroyed houses are common.

(Target) (9):

Increase number of families possessing their own house to 90%.

(Target) (10):

Reduce number of families living in huts and crowded houses by two thirds.

 

Goal (8) Control Corruption:

Iraq has widespread corruption that needs to be addressed through

(Target) (11):

Ratify and implement UN Anti-Corruption Agreement in 2006.

(Target) (12):

Limiting state control over the economy and other social sectors in 2007.

(Target) (13):

Limiting discrimination in public institutions (Lack in clear administrative rules and regulation) in 2007

(Target) (14):

Increase accountability (Weak performance of human rights agencies and low NGOs and media) in 2007.

 
Copyright © 2007, United Nations Development Programme. All Rights Reserved  .Powered By IBS