The One Program that is Working in Iraq

On June 21st Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) proposed the Wolf Amendment which sought to earmark $50 million in Economic Support Funds in the fiscal year '08 State/Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for the Community Action Program (CAP) in Iraq.

The amendment was rejected on the grounds that the CAP implementers do not require supplemental funding in the fiscal year 2008 since Congress appropriated $100 million for CAP in the fiscal year 2006 supplemental, but not before all parties involved in the debate agreed on the tremendous impact the program is having.

Congressman Shays highlighted project achievements saying, "CAP has successfully managed more than 6,000 reconstruction and development projects and created more than 2.7 million days of employment and 34,000 long-term jobs with 43 percent of those jobs going to women, Iraqi women."

Shays went on to say, "This is the one program that is in fact working in Iraq. No one disputes it. We can dispute everything else, but not this."

Although Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) opposed the amendment for the reasons described above, she made it clear that she fully supports the program and intends to vote for additional funding in the future when there is a greater need for it. She explained, "In fact, CAP is the only program of its kind to operate outside the Green Zone in Iraq. I have been a strong supporter of their efforts. I have met with them repeatedly. I know of their good work. By working from the community level up and assisting Iraqi moderates who have eschewed sectarian and insurgent violence, the CAP partners directly engage Iraqis in reconstructing their own communities. They create employment. They build nationwide grass-roots constituency for democracy."

ACDI/VOCA is one of four agencies teaming with CHF International to implement the Community Action Program. The two-year CAP II renewal continues CAP I successes in supporting selected community action groups and builds on its role by expanding training on conflict resolution, business ethics, basic accounting, microfinance/small and medium-sized enterprise finance, market assessment and civil society interaction with local government. More information about CAP II.