The International Community Submits the Iraq Briefing Book to Prime Minister Nouri Al-Malilki

SRSG Melkert indicated that the Briefing Book was prepared by the IPF which includes the major donor embassies and aid agencies present in Iraq to assist the incoming government in their endeavor towards the reconstruction and development of Iraq and to provide a basis for future discussions on key areas of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister thanked the international community in Iraq for the Briefing Book promising to carefully study it and recommend next steps for engagement by the Government through the relevant ministries.

The Briefing Book is comprised of two parts. The first part addresses key policy issues, including: macroeconomic challenges, development planning and prioritization, governance and public sector reform, anti-corruption, private sector development, social protection and the challenges of regional cooperation and internal disputed territories. The second part focuses on the various sectors and cross-cutting issues, including: human rights protection, civil society and the media, gender mainstreaming, basic social services, water resources management, agriculture, environment, energy, transport and telecommunications and cultural heritage.

There are a total of 16 chapters for each of the policy issues with an outline of the challenges based on analysis of Iraq’s context and experience, a presentation of recent and ongoing policy actions followed by a series of recommendations for further initiatives.