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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
USAID Announces Grant to UNICEF for Education Services in Iraq
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2003-024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2003
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a $1 million, one-year grant to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to provide support for basic education in Iraq. UNICEF has been active in Iraq for over 50 years, working in the fields of primary and secondary education as well as education planning and management. The U.S. government has made reactivation and reform of the Iraqi primary education system a key priority in its reconstruction planning.
"The children of Iraq are the country's future," said USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios. "This grant will help ensure regular school attendance, a critical element in creating a stable and functioning society in Iraq."
UNICEF will promote a "Back-to-School" campaign aimed at the over 25 percent of children currently not attending primary school, most of whom are female. As security permits, UNICEF will conduct rapid assessments to determine the availability of school materials. It will also work to set up temporary schools where none presently are functioning, train teachers, and establish accelerated learning programs throughout the country. The grant will also assist UNICEF in developing an education management system to improve education planning and management countrywide.
For more information on USAID's humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq/.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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