By IRNA-PTI
New York : The Iraqi Government and seven United Nations agencies have launched a new initiative aimed at boosting the capacities of local authorities to implement development plans in partnership with the private sector.
The programme will be carried out in Sulamaniya, Babel, and the Marshlands in a bid to stimulate local economic development and improve local infrastructure and basic services, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said in a statement.
The pilot phase is operating on a contribution of USD 30 million from the European Commission (EC) channeled through the UN Development Group’s Iraq Trust Fund and should help guide expansion of the programme to other areas, UNAMI said.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Human Settlements Programme (UNHABITAT), International Labor Organisation(ILO), UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) are the participating agencies in the project.