The purpose of the exchange and networking visit is t expose senior representatives and decision makers from several ministries and governorates' councils in Iraq to participatory methods applied in a typical Italian Region and another Autonomous Region, in particular to "successful models" in regional/local development planning, budget and fiscal planning, monitoring the implementation of the respective development plans and monitoring the quality of delivery services to the general public.

Specific objectives of the activity:

1. Exposing senior Iraqi officials to "best practices" in development planning, for the specific sectors under their responsibility (health, water, education, sanitation, administrative services, etc.) at the regional/local level (governorates and municipalities);
2. Sharing of expertise with Italian counterpart institutions in the context of budgeting and fiscal planning (taxation/fiscal policies and relationship with Central Government);
3. Monitoring the implementation of the respective development plans (including the role of civil society) and monitoring the quality of delivery of services to the general public;
4. Brainstorming on capacity-building needs and exploration of potential twinning arrangmenets with international and national institutions (based in Italy) operating in the field of local development.