WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Bank signed a 7-million-dollar grant agreement with Iraq on Tuesday to support a training program for the country's senior civil service.

    The training program will help Iraq's civil service play a leading role in the reconstruction and development process and setthe stage for economic reforms, including social protection measures, in the medium term, said a press release issued by the World Bank.

    This is the second Capacity Building Project, it said. Last February, a training program was launched aimed at building procurement and fiduciary skills, considered critical to managing internationally-financed development projects.

    The proposed project, to be implemented over two years, will train senior Iraqi civil servants and policymakers in four key areas including economic reform and transition; poverty, social protection and social development; public sector management; and managing the project cycle, according to the press release.

    Training outside Iraq will be supplemented by on-the-job training, timely advisory services, technical assistance and consultancies, it added. Enditem