IRAQ COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

The Iraq Community Action Program (CAP), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, is one of the only community and local government-focused development programs in Iraq. Now in its third phase, CAP directly engages Iraqi community leaders and elected local councils in reconstructing essential infrastructure in their own cities and villages. CAP has evolved, since its beginning in 2003, from a predominately infrastructure-focused program to a holistic effort that builds a foundation for democracy and grassroots advocacy mechanisms.

CAP III is based on the premise that local community needs are best met by ensuring the active partnership of all stakeholders— citizens, local government, business and social leaders—in identifying priorities and designing interventions. CAP I and II focused primarily on building the capacity of community action groups to fill the gap of local government and exercise true grassroots democracy by implementing projects on their own where necessary, and in partnership with local government where possible, to meet community needs. CAP III will focus on furthering the evolution of community-centered development by building the capacity of local government to take on its proper governance role as the locus of community needs assessment, prioritization, project design, funding and implementation.

• More than 2,000 community associations have been trained in the   CAP process
• 3,100 youth and women have participated in community-based campaigns and activities
• 98,000 jobs have been created
• Over $50 million has been injected into the local economy through community project contracts, local Iraqi staff salaries, and operational expenses