UN and Iraq sign development deal to boost stability, growth

The United Nations and the Government of Iraq have enhanced their partnership, joining forces to promote development in the violence-scarred nation.

UN Acting Resident Coordinator Naeema Al-Gasseer and Iraqi Minister of Planning Ali Baban yesterday signed a statement of intent to cooperate on a major development framework at a ceremony in the capital, Baghdad.

That ceremony also marked the end of the first-ever UN Common Country Assessment (CCA) for Iraq, which seeks to identify key challenges in the country’s efforts to consolidate stability and growth.

Focusing on the areas of governance, pro-poor economy and ensuring quality essential services such as education and health, the assessment examines the impact of almost three decades of suffering by the Iraqi people and the potential for reform, modernization and socio-economic revival.

“This statement of intent now signals a move towards a higher level of partnership with a more present UN working to provide greater strategic support and better value to the Iraqi Government and people,” Dr. Al-Gasseer noted.

The CCA is one of the building blocks of the UN Development Assistance Framework for 2011-2014, which seeks to speed up progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.