A multi-million dollar initiative to rebuild and revitalize Iraq’s universities received its first donation from the State of Qatar, totaling $15 million. The grant has been transferred to the International Fund for Higher Education in Iraq.
Qatar’s First Lady and Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned launched the finance scheme in Doha with Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Koïchiro Matsuura.
The International Fund for Higher Education in Iraq is to provide immediate and longer-term assistance for the reconstruction of higher education in the country. Administered by UNESCO and governed by the Fund Directorate chaired by the Qatar Foundation, the fund is open to all interested donors for contributions in cash or in kind.
Several other countries have expressed their interest in participating in this initiative. Assistance provided under the fund will be closely coordinated with Iraqi universities themselves so as to ensure that priority needs are the first to be addressed.
The impact of war-related damage on Iraqi universities has been devastating. While levels of damage vary widely across the country, enormous investment will be required to serve the needs of some 300,000 students from Iraq’s 20 universities and 47 technical colleges and institutes.
The total cost of reconstruction and rehabilitation of higher education facilities is expected to top two billion dollars. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
