Media Contact: Sereen Juma (202) 473-7199
sjuma@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, November 9, 2004 ― The World Bank today signed a $7 million grant agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation to support a training program that will help Iraq’s civil service play a leading role in the reconstruction and development process and set the stage for economic reforms, including social protection measures, in the medium term. The Second-Capacity Building Project builds on the first phase of a training program launched last February aimed at building procurement and fiduciary skills, considered critical to managing internationally-financed development projects. The European Union contributed €3 million to the World Bank Iraq Trust Fund for the first capacity-building project. The proposed project, to be implemented over two years, will train senior Iraqi civil servants and policymakers in four key areas—economic reform and transition; poverty, social protection and social development; public sector management; and managing the project cycle. Training outside of Iraq will be supplemented by on-the-job training, timely advisory services, technical assistance and consultancies. “Iraq possesses a strong cadre of well-educated civil servants in key positions who will be instrumental in the government’s ability to take on the urgent task of reconstruction and to efficiently manage resources,” says Joseph Saba, World Bank Country Director for Iraq. “The second capacity building project will not only help Iraqis address the immediate needs for managing reconstruction, but it will also enable them to develop their own solutions and strategies and implement policies central to the success of their development priorities.” Iraq’s Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation, Dr. Mehdi Al-Hafedh expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s support to capacity building, indicating it was part of a comprehensive strategy for Iraq’s recovery and development. "We are building on the positive results of the first phase of the capacity building program, in order to enhance the administrative, financial and legal capabilities of the state,” says Dr. Al-Hafedh. “This initiative is a vital part of the Government's program of economic reforms, which is one of the key priorities for Iraq." In January, the Board of Executive Directors authorized the Bank to administer the Iraq Trust Fund on behalf of donors to finance a program of emergency projects and technical assistance based on an interim strategy. To date, donors have deposited approximately $370 million in the Iraq Trust Fund. In addition to training and technical assistance, the Trust Fund is currently financing two emergency projects in education. An additional four emergency projects in health, water supply and sanitation, urban development, and community-based rural infrastructure are expected to be launched by the end of the year. # # # For information on the World Bank’s activities in Iraq, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/iq For more information on the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, please visit: http://www.irffi.org |
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