Iraqi Commander's Emergency Response Program (I–CERP) funds are government of Iraq (GOI) funds for urgent reconstruction projects to benefit the citizens of Iraq while simultaneously growing and achieving Iraqi military and civil self-sufficiency. I–CERP uses U.S. procurement and financial systems. GOI allocates I–CERP funds by province based on population density.

I–CERP rules and guidance:

• Consider every use of I–CERP funds a training opportunity for participating Iraqi personnel.
• I–CERP rules and processes mirror current CERP guidance unless otherwise stated to include the following personnel: project purchasing officer (PPO); paying agent; and personnel from information operations  (G7), resource manager (G8), and civil-military operations (G9).
• Do not commingle CERP and I–CERP funds: 
  • To avoid potential confusion of rules, major support commands (MSCs) must also institute the internal management controls necessary to prevent confusion and to ensure timely data entry of I–CERP commitments, obligations, and disbursements in the automated finance and accounting systems.
  • All I–CERP financial documentation will include the statement: “These funds are the property of the government of Iraq.”
• I–CERP payments should be made in Iraqi dinar.
• Priority of payment method is electronic funds transfer (EFT), check drawn on an Iraqi bank, and then Iraqi cash. The final decision is a local, condition-based determination between the requirement owner, contracting officer or PPO, and finance.
• As much as possible, use the existing processes at the province level (for example, provincial reconstruction development committee reviews) to obtain local provincial government participation in planning, coordinating, prioritizing and transitioning the project without placing additional requirements on commanders that defeat the I–CERP rapid reconstruction model.
• Upon completion of each project, MSCs will secure documentation recording the time and date of each receipt as well as the value of the project from either the provincial governor or relevant Iraqi minister. This letter in form and content mirrors the commander's project closure letter.
• Fiduciary responsibility remains in effect. Everyone involved in managing, accounting for, and executing I–CERP funds remains accountable for his or her actions.
• Prominently feature the new Iraqi flag and use other techniques to associate I–CERP projects with an Iraqi government that is working to live up to its promise of essential services.
• I–CERP expenditures are set up on a province basis. In the isolated instances where a province boundary and an MSC boundary do not match and the multinational division commanders cannot reach a consensus, the Multi-National Corps–Iraq (MNC–I) commander will determine the resource allocation. Fund expenditures will always remain associated with their original province.
• Use of a warranted contracting officer is required for projects over $500 thousand (K) or when the technical complexity exceeds the abilities of the individual PPO.
• Contact the supporting resource manager for funding amounts and authorities.

Specific uses for I–CERP include the following:

• Schools; repair or reconstruction.
• Water purification plants.
• Health clinics; repair or reconstruction.
• City planning facilities.
• Protective measures necessary to secure permissible I–CERP projects.
• Other eligible categories by exception that require MSC commanding general approval include: 
  • Roads
  • Sewers
  • Irrigation projects
  • Non-reconstruction projects that promote small business development

I–CERP cannot be used for the following:

• Projects prohibited under Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations.
• Projects with a direct or indirect benefit to U.S., coalition, or supporting military personnel.
• Providing goods, services, or funds to national armies; national guard forces; border security forces; civil defense forces; infrastructure protection forces; highway patrol units; police; special police or intelligence; or other security forces (except contract guards such as the Sons/Daughters of Iraq).
• Weapons buyback programs or other purchases of firearms and ammunition (unless authorized by law and separate guidance).
• Entertainment (except light refreshment costs purely incidental to either an approved I–CERP project opening ceremony or a conference in support of an I–CERP project).
• Rewards programs.
• Removal of unexploded ordnance (unless incidental to construction or an agricultural development project).
• Duplication of services available through municipal governments.
• Salaries, bonuses, or pensions of Iraqi military or civilian government personnel.
• Training, equipping, or operating costs of Iraqi security forces.
• Support to individuals or private business (except for condolence, former detainee or hero payments, battle damage payments, or micro-grants).
• Conducting psychological operations; information operations; or other U.S., coalition, or Iraqi security force operations.

In addition to restrictions already imposed by I–CERP standing operating procedures (SOPs) any other categories not expressly permitted are prohibited

See Appendix C, MNC–I CJ8, Money as a Weapons System SOP.