CFW Final Report-1

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World Food Programme Iraq
PRRO 200035
Cash for Work Programme
Progress Report
Reporting Period: From: 24 September, 2013 To : 28 November, 2013
Name of Cooperating Partner: Qandil, Swedish Humanitarianand Development Org.
Project Location: Baghdad (Mahmudiyah District)
Report prepared by: Alaq Nabeel, Program Officer
Report approved by: Muayad Hadi, Baghdad Field Coordinator

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Highlights
After accomplishing two phases of Cash For Work (CFW) programme successfully in Baghdad
and other governorates in which the project has met the sought for objectives , Qandil has
launched the third phase of the project for the year 2013 extracting lessons learnt from
previous phases which were taken into consideration that the project was initiated, designed,
and implemented with the goal of improving the living conditions of the target by providing
unemployed labor forces with temporary job opportunities for 40 days period, providing
workers with income so they can meet their essential needs, and achieve some work which is
beneficial to the community and the local economy as well.
The project has been planned to be implemented in Al Mahmudiyah, particularly Al Rasheed
district which is one of nine administrative districts in Baghdad located in southern Baghdad
and it is mostly an agricultural area with a high incidence of irrigation canals that supply plants
with water. As a result of neglect many plants has grown in these canals impeded the water
passage and flow, these plants like (Ceratophyllum) could only be removed by hands, the
district is also characterized by the high percentage of vulnerable, IDP, and returnee families,
in addition to the high unemployment rates, which is often identified as key driver of conflict.
Youth unemployment in particular is seen as a direct motive for all conflict actions, it’s
therefore understandable to see why employment generation is commonly viewed as a key
factor for stability. For the reasons mentioned above Qandil in collaboration with WFP was
keen to create opportunities for the poor and vulnerable to earn an income and to meet their
basic and urgent needs, while rehabilitating basic services in the community. One of Qandil
basic priorities for this project was ensuring a proper communication with the communities
from the beginning of the programme by clarifying that it is a short-term project with defined
objectives implemented by liaising closely with local actors (government as well as NGOs, etc.)
in order to gain a more accurate picture of the project.
Utilizing the same mechanisms, CFW program has been commenced and preceded by
assessment stage, and selection of beneficiaries, locations, and activities which were done in
coordination with WFP and the Local authorities. The preparation activities have been started
with the beginning of June when many joint coordination meetings were conducted attended
by Qandil staff along with representatives from WFP, and local authorities including Ministry
of Water Recourses, Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage, Al Rasheed District Council, in
addition to Mukhtars and tribal leaders of Al Rasheed district. These meetings aimed at
outlining the CFW fundamentals in terms of payment modalities and beneficiaries’ selection
method, and discuss the activities to be implemented in the targeted areas.
The beneficiary selection process was carried out by Beneficiaries’ Selection Committees
which put in consideration the WFP criteria. During the assessment stage, Qandil has
concentrated on the significance of CDG (Community Development Groups) in addition to
women participation and their selection whether from Local Authorities or the host
community. It is worth mentioning as well that during this phase, Smart Cards modality was
used (particularly in Baghdad) for workers’ payments depending on the daily attendance
sheets which were tracking the workers daily presence at the site to determine the wage
entitlement each worker should receive.

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Activities
During mid July, the laborers registration started to participate in CFW activities, and those
who fall under the WFP standards have been selected to reach (1,100) beneficiaries in two
villages; Sakhrajiyah, and Siyafiya within Al Rasheed district. After persevering efforts to gain
the official approvals and allowance to start the CFW activities in the targeted locations,
Qandil in collaboration with WFP respective staff has eventually obtained the approvals from
the Ministry of Water Recourses on 18 September, 2013. Right after the approvals issuance,
the preparations were proceeded to get started with the activities, as many coordination
meetings were conducted along with the local councils in order to highlight the basics of the
project and identify the LA role. The beneficiaries’ database has also been taken in
cooperation with LAs and WFP and was regularly updated with all detailed information about
each beneficiary based on applications developed by WFP yet modified and filled by Qandil.
The CFW preparation meetings
Registration process for men and women

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Irrigation canals before CFW interventions

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The working groups where distributed according to the targeted irrigation canals as (11)
projects of cleaning irrigation canals were implemented in the mentioned areas (5 in
Sakhrajiyah and 6 in Siyafiya). The working groups were distributed into (22) groups, each of
which consist of (50) laborers (49 workers headed by one supervisor) all are directly overseen
and monitored by Qandil Monitors who are basically (5) and responsible for following up all
about field activities and maintaining the attendance sheets on daily basis and other logistic
matters. These groups were intended to work on cleaning the irrigation canals for (40) days in
total, and receive (10) USD per day, while the supervisors are entitled to (13) USD. The
beneficiaries were selected considering that the majorities are displaced, as 70% of them are
IDPs, while the rest are vulnerable families.
On 24 September, 2013 NFI equipments were distributed to the laborers, and immediately the
cleaning activities have actually started, the distributed items included (labor gloves, metal
rakes, wooden brooms, water buckets, wheel barrows, plastic shoes, metal sickles, shovels,
straw hats, paper muzzles, first aid Kits, water pots, and ice bars, etc). The work starts at 6:00
am and ends at 12:00 pm 5 days a week.
Supplied equipments

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Throughout the project implementation, Qandil field teams has regularly trained the working
groups on fulfilling their tasks as best as possible in addition to instructing them on how to use
the distributed items properly, briefed them about safety precautions and supplied them with
the required equipments to avoid exposing themselves to any possible risk, and ensure the
work quality, they were also briefed about ethical principles. Multiple site visits were paid by
US Embassy representatives in Iraq to the targeted sites in order to oversee the work
mechanism and progress; moreover, representatives of WFP were visiting the sites regularly
accompanying Qandil staff of program officers and monitors to facilitate the project
implementation and monitor the work progress.
Cleaning the irrigation canals in Al Rasheed sidtrict

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Distribution of working groups and projects for each location:
# Project Title
Name of
communities
Number of Participants
Workers Supervisors
Total
Females
IDPs Female IDPs
Project
(1)
Rehabilitation of the Irrigation
Canals (TH00)
Al-Rasheed / Sakhrija 196 4 40 100 20
Project
(2)
Canals (TH03)
Project
(3)
Canals (TH05)
Project
(4)
Canals (TH07)
Project
(5)
Canals (TH0502)
Project
(6)
Canals (TY00)
Al-Rasheed / Sayafiya 196 4 30 80 10
Project
(7)
Canals (TY00/BC1)
Project
(8)
Canals (TY00/DC1)
Project
(9)
Canals (TY00/DC2)
Project
(10)
Canals (TY00/DC8)
Project
(11)
Canals (TY00/DC10)
Sub Total 1078 22 168 363 72
Total Number of participants 1100
Community Development Groups
It was indispensable to form community-based groups ‘Community Development Groups
(CDGs)’ for the CFW projects, who consist of local leaders and community members who are
mainly; IDPs and Returnees. CDGs were formed in each of the targeted areas and for each
project in order to enhance the skills, abilities, and commitment of community members and
they helped in accomplishing a large proportion of the work and contributed to social
cohesion in a positive and sustainable manner through collaboration, communication and
cooperation. Despite the limited presence of women in such activities, women have also
participated but couldn’t occupy leadership roles due to community traditions and
conventions, in short 11 females have participated in CDGs, inasmuch as 1 women in each
development group which consist of 3 members with the percentage of 25%.

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Progress and current status of activities
In order to assess the effectiveness of the project in achieving the stated required objectives
and to examine the extent to which the projects' inputs have been converted into outputs and
results, in addition to extracting lessons learnt which can be taken into consideration in design
of future similar projects, we must have a clear view on the resulted achievements and impact
of the project. The project interventions will make an effective contribution to achieve project
goals and objectives by offering greater potential for increasing people’s access to essential
living items and protecting livelihoods in immediate term and it’s appeared to have a very
positive impact on direct beneficiaries and community members through enhancing the
personnel skills of workers.
With respect to the achieved work on ground, it reaches to 80% of planned (counting the
actual working days and allocated wages accordingly). The targets haven’t fully achieved due
to many work suspension factors including the security situation, and weather factor, as well
as the many religious ceremonies which prohibited the laborers from attendance assiduously.
The file below illustrates the actual project timeline:
Actual Project
Days.xlsx
Payment Modality
According the agreement with the WFP and in cooperation with the International Smart Card
(Qi), Smart Cards method have been adopted in order to deliver immediate cash assistance to
CFW laborers in Baghdad. This new, exemplary method could make the CFW programme
extremely successful, safe and transparent. Each beneficiary got a smart card, thus the total
number of issued cards are 1100, knowing that the smart card staff are distributed on two
stations, with a rate of issuing 60-70 card per day. Supervisors are entitled to receive 13.00 $
per day, while workers are paid 10.00$ per day. The smart cards will still in the beneficiaries
possession even after the completion of the project. Nevertheless, 700 cards have been issues
so far, while the rest are still in progress and more likely to be accomplished within the
upcoming couple of days. It’s also worth mentioning that Qandil has provided the Smart Card
staff with an office to facilitate their work, the office is in the Directorate of Irrigation and
Drainage projects. In order to help beneficiaries get their smart cards, and as already agreed,
Qandil has provided each beneficiary with an identification “Beneficiary Card” contains their
names, type of project, and number of household members. Etc.

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Sample of
Beneficiary Cards
The International Smart Card staff working on issuing the cards to the beneficiaries

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Success Story
Bahar Muhammed is one of the
inspiring cases Qandil team has met
in Al Rasheed district, he is 70 years
old, supporting a family of four
daughters and a wife. Bahar or Abu
Hanna (as he’s commonly known),
doesn’t have any steady source of
income like a pension, and no one of
his family has the ability to assist
him, he used to look for random
works just to help him get his daily
bread. During the beneficiaries’ selection stage, the selection committee
was wandering the area and interviewing the participants, while he
volunteered and was very excited to get such opportunity. We’ve
nominated him due to his good physical ability and dire need for work.
Bahar has worked with the groups, and was keen to get to be present at
the site every day with a great
enthusiasm. The project has already
completed, Bahar has done his tasks,
and finally got his smart card from
the company through which he will
get his payment. Bahar has
expressed his joy and gratitude to
work for the CAW programme and
wished that such interventions
continue for longer terms and
include more areas and
communities.

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Constraints and actual or proposed solutions:
There were numerous difficulties and challenges came across the program execution, but they
all were managed with ample awareness of the challenges and planning for solutions on time,
that now we have the full capacity to cope and reverse the difficulties into advantages and the
biggest challenge is to tackle such obstacles with determination...
The project was supposed to begin earlier than it has actually, but the implementation was
delayed due to the elections of local Government Council which caused deterioration in the
security situation and led to imposing curfew by the LA, in another hand recruiting the CFW
staff has also affected the project timeline somehow.
In order to fulfill the targeted objectives Qandil is committed to make every effort to
accomplish the intended work despite any binding constrains might be faced. The challenges
faced during the reported period could generally be summarized in the security, weather, and
large number of holidays, religious anniversaries.
As for the security situation, the overall conditions in Baghdad got gradually worsened. The
rates of security violation were increased, many explosions, assassinations, and civilian
targeting has occurred, which affected the project progress through street blocks, long lines of
cars next to each check point, and the traffic jams everywhere in Baghdad which is in its turn
affected Qandil visibility in a certain way. The district was exposed to the terror groups who
hindered the project activities, and threatened the inhabitants, especially in Siyafiya where 5
individuals were killed which brought fear into the area and affected the laborers attendance
somehow, in addition to the presence of security forces that restricted the movement of
workers and staff, and break up any gatherings in the area.
The other challenge that faced the project was the climate variability, as during November,
Baghdad witnessed heavy rainfalls which flooded most of Baghdad areas. This rain storm
crippled Baghdad’s activities especially in certain regions as the inhabitants of many quarters
were forced to remain at home when the rain surprised them and hindered their ability to
commute.
The religious ceremonies (Ashura) also affected the work progress and most of the workers
skipped the work days to attend these ceremonies for more than three days.

CFW Final Report-1

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