Iraq, UNFPA signs a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation

INA-  Baghdad

Planning Minister Mohammed Ali Tamim and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed, on Wednesday, a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation. 

A statement from the ministry received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) stated that " Iraq and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) concluded, today, a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation between the two sides in a number of areas, foremost of which is supporting the conduct of the general population census, where the memorandum was signed on the Iraqi side by the Minister of Planning, Mohammed Ali Tamim, while it was signed on the other side by Nestor Owomuhangi / representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Iraq".

Planning Minister explained during the signing that "this memorandum comes within the framework of strengthening joint cooperation between the two sides in support of population issues and transformation towards achieving development goals".

For his part, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund- UNFPA expressed his appreciation to the Iraqi Government for the high confidence and funding, and strengthening the partnership with the fund for the occasion of signing the memorandum of understanding, indicating that "the United Nations Population Fund will provide all kinds of technical support for the process of conducting the population census 2024, and work to mobilize resources from donors and existing international sides to make the process of conducting the general census of population and housing in Iraq 2024".

For his part, the head of the statistics and geographic information systems authority, Dhiea Awad Kazem, said after the signing of the memorandum of understanding: "This memorandum came in implementation of the decision of the Council of ministers, which directed to renew the contract with the United Nations Population Fund- UNFPA , for the memorandum of Understanding signed in 2020, to support the general population and Housing Census”.

He stressed " the importance of renewing the memorandum of understanding is in order to support and advocate the process of conducting the census, as this organization is concerned with supporting the conduct of population censuses in the world", pointing out that "the census this time will be electronic, and there is a need for international organizations support in order to achieve recognition and international acceptance of the results of this census”.

The head of the Statistics Authority expressed his "aspiration to increase support and cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund- UNFPA for the mechanisms of work and exchange of experiences and knowledge for the advanced expertise provided by the fund in the field of census".