“Tidbits From TNT” Friday Morning 1-9-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: UN assessment: Iraq today is unrecognizable compared to years ago
The UN coordinator in Iraq, Ghulam Ishaq Zai, gave an optimistic assessment of the situation in the country, stressing that Iraq has strengthened confidence in its institutions and is moving steadily towards stability, while noting that the country has become "remarkable and unrecognizable" compared to what it was years ago.
The United Nations website, in a report seen by Shafaq News Agency, stated that Isaac Ze spoke about the transition from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), whose mandate officially ended last December, to a new partnership with the Iraqi authorities focused on development.
The report quoted the UN envoy as saying that "Iraq today is unrecognizable and wonderful, especially for those who lived through the turbulent early years of the transition," noting that a country devastated by war after the 2003 invasion has now succeeded in building confidence in its institutions and is moving towards greater stability.
Ishaq Zee explained that poverty rates in Iraq have decreased from 20% in 2018 to 17.5% during the period 2024-2025, noting that preliminary reports indicate that Iraq now occupies an advanced position in the Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, education levels and living standards.
The report indicated that the improved security environment helped about 5 million internally displaced people return to their areas, while those who remained in the camps were mostly due to housing or civil identity issues.
The UN envoy also touched on what he described as an "important milestone," namely the parliamentary elections held last year, in which the participation rate reached 56%, an increase of 12% over the previous elections, with a wide participation of women who constituted about a third of the candidates.
According to the report, the UNAMI mission was established in 2003 to assist Iraq in its transitional phase after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. It went through difficult phases that culminated with the control of large areas of the country by ISIS before its defeat at the end of 2017. The mission ended its work on December 31, 2025, while the United Nations will continue its activities in Iraq under the leadership of Isaac Ze.
The report noted that the new phase of cooperation is based on a five-year development agreement, signed with the Iraqi government on December 25, which constitutes a roadmap to support national priorities, including education, health, economic growth, environmental protection and good governance.
The report also quoted Isaac Zee as saying that the current goal of the United Nations is "to support the social and economic needs of Iraq and to build on what has been achieved over the past two decades," noting that Iraq will contribute to financing the implementation of these programs, in an indication of the development of the partnership and the government's shift from the role of aid recipient to partner and supporter.
The report concluded by noting that the United Nations team in Iraq currently includes 26 agencies, funds and programs of the international organization. link
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Tishwash: The Central Bank of Iraq is the first institution to implement a "programs and performance" budget.
The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Iraq approved the bank's budget for 2026, based on the program and performance budgeting methodology.
The bank explained in a statement: "Adopting this methodology aims to move from the traditional approach based on expenditure items to a modern approach that focuses on programs, results, and performance indicators, thereby contributing to increased spending efficiency, enhanced transparency and accountability, and supporting performance- and results-based decision-making."
He pointed out that "previous budgets were prepared according to the traditional method adopted by all state institutions," emphasizing that this approach makes the Central Bank of Iraq the first institution in the Iraqi state to implement a program and performance budget, a step that reflects its commitment to adopting the best international practices in managing its financial resources.
The bank explained that "the 2026 budget included strategic programs, institutional development programs, operational programs, in addition to oversight and regulatory programs, which were prepared according to clear programs, specific activities, and measurable performance indicators subject to periodic evaluation, thus contributing to improving the efficiency of plan implementation and achieving optimal resource utilization."
It affirmed that "adopting a program and performance budget is a pivotal step within the financial and administrative reform path pursued by the bank, enhancing the strength and sustainability of institutional performance and keeping pace with modern developments in expenditure management at the regional and international levels."
The Central Bank of Iraq expressed its readiness to provide technical support and training to Iraqi state institutions, assisting them in transitioning from the traditional method of budget preparation to modern, internationally recognized methods, thereby contributing to the development of public financial management and strengthening the principles of efficiency and good governance. link
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Tishwash: Parliament opens the file on non-oil revenues
With mounting pressure on the public budget and a growing need for long-term economic stability, Iraq is entering a pivotal phase in managing its financial resources. All eyes are on the parliamentary session next Saturday to discuss non-oil revenues. This step comes at a time when policymakers are increasingly aware of the importance of reducing overall dependence on oil and strengthening alternative sources of funding that support public services and protect purchasing power. For the citizens.
MP Dr. Ali Saber Al-Kinani told Al-Sabah: “Opening the file on non-oil revenues is a national necessity,” noting that focusing on these revenues contributes to reducing dependence on oil, which alleviates pressure on monetary policy and strengthens purchasing power. For the citizens.
He added that the parliamentary debate will provide an opportunity to evaluate the performance of the relevant authorities, improve collection mechanisms, and expand the revenue base from various sources. Diverse.
In this context, MP Alaa Al-Haidari pointed out that boosting non-oil revenues is an important step to address financial imbalances in the general budget, support productive sectors, revitalize industry and agriculture, as well as improve the investment environment and create additional job opportunities, which contributes to strengthening economic and social stability.
As part of the government's efforts to increase non-oil revenues, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the Prime Minister's advisor on financial affairs, explained that the government program to maximize non-oil revenues contributed to a significant increase in their share last year, as a result of adopting digital governance in the tax and customs sectors. Salih told Al-Sabah newspaper that non-oil revenues rose to approximately 12% of the total 2025 budget, compared to about 7% in previous years. This reflects the government's efforts to improve tax and customs collection and achieve greater financial stability, moving away from total dependence on oil.
Saleh added that this improvement includes multiple categories of revenues, most notably commodity taxes, public sector profits, and customs duties, stressing that the government seeks to raise the percentage of non-oil revenues to about (20%) of the total general budget in the coming years by diversifying sources, improving collection mechanisms, and combating financial evasion.
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Mot: . poor ole Earl!!!!!
