Globalisation:Iraq
Building a New Civil Service
Iraq is currently in dire need of expert assistance if a properly functioning civil society is to be established out of the wreckage of war and the aftermath of dictatorship. The task of rebuilding the Iraqi civil service is not an easy one. Prior to the war, the Iraqi public administration had already been undermined by decades of neglect and mismanagement under the Baath party. The widespread looting of public facilities that took place during the recent conflict and the removal of whole swathes of senior civil service figures tainted through association with the former regime, has led to the nation’s bureaucracy being effectively crippled. Without an effective civil service, essential services cannot be delivered.
Adam Smith International was called upon by DFID to assist three vital Iraqi ministries (Finance; Planning & Development Coordination; Municipalities & Public Works) in building emergency capacity for the immediate provision of vital services. ASI is involved in laying the foundations for long-term reform.
Our responsibilities are as follows:
- Running both ‘quick impact’ and longer-term training for senior civil servants
- Establishing working relationships between ministries
- Completing institutional mapping exercises looking at size, structures, functions and relationships
- Completing analysis of recruitment and HR policies
- Determining capital needs of ministries
- Establishing contact with World Bank, IMF and other key donors
By assisting with the very immediate needs of the Iraqi civil service and by helping to plan for the future, we hope to be able to lay the foundations for strong, cohesive structures, capable of coping with the huge demands that will be placed upon them after the forthcoming elections.
