Iraq unveils massive anti-corruption project
Iraq has lost $150 billion to corruption since 2003, according to Iraqi President Barham Salih.
![Iraqi President Barham Saleh attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on Jan. 22, 2020.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/2021-05/GettyImages-1195318598.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=YX4UKkiC)
Following remarks from Iraqi President Barham Salih, who admitted on Sunday that Iraq has lost $150 billion since 2003 to corruption, a new international project launched on Monday aims to curb embezzlement and bolster transparency in Iraq’s public sector.
The 15 million-euro ($18.3 million) initiative, led by the United Nations Development Program Iraq in partnership with the European Union Mission in Iraq, was designed to support Iraqi institutions and enable Iraqi civil society to play a more active role in identifying and fighting corruption.