Iraq, UN sign deal to help investigate corruption

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced yesterday that it had concluded an agreement with the Iraqi government to enhance its capabilities to investigate and prosecute high profile and complex corruption cases.

The UNDP office in Iraq said in a statement that the agreement provides for the recruitment of international investigators to help train Iraqi investigators and advise them.

“Ending impunity is at the centre of our reform agenda. We have reached out to UNDP to provide technical assistance to strengthen our capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption cases,” the statement quoted the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Deputy Chief of Staff Naoufel Al-Hasan as saying.

UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said: “UNDP stands ready to support the reform process in any way we can. Reforms are difficult and sensitive but with Daesh nearly defeated, strengthening governance is a top priority.”