Iraq and the United Nations Population Fund concluded today, Wednesday, a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation between the two sides in a number of fields, the most important of which is supporting the conduct of the general population census. The memorandum was signed on the Iraqi side by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Muhammad Tamim, while it was signed by Nestor Amo Hanji, representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Iraq, on the other side. Tamim explained during the signing ceremony, according to a statement by the Ministry of Planning, that the signing of the memorandum comes within the framework of enhancing joint cooperation between the two sides in what is related to supporting population issues and moving towards achieving development goals. For his part, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund expressed his appreciation to the Iraqi government for the high confidence and funding, and strengthening the partnership with the Fund on the occa sion of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, adding, 'The United Nations Population Fund will provide all kinds of technical and technical support for the process of conducting the 2024 population census, and work to mobilize resources from Donors and international bodies present to make the process of conducting the General Population and Housing Census in Iraq 2024 a success. On a related level, the head of the Statistics and Geographic Information System, Dhiaa Awad Kadhem, said after signing the memorandum of understanding: 'The memorandum came in implementation of the decision of the Council of Ministers, which directed the renewal of the contract with the United Nations Population Fund, for the memorandum of understanding that was signed in 2020, to support the general population and housing census.' . He added, according to the Ministry's statement, 'The importance of renewing the memorandum of understanding is in order to support and advocate for the process of conducting the census, sinc e this organization is concerned with supporting the conduct of population censuses in the world, indicating that the census this time will be electronic, and there is a need for the support and assistance of international organizations in order to achieve recognition.' and international acceptance of the results of this census.' He expressed his aspiration to increase support and cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund, given the memorandum's work mechanisms and exchange of experiences and knowledge, as the Fund provides advanced expertise in the field of census. Source: National Iraqi News Agency