Benson Kathuri
Nairobi

The East African Standard (Nairobi)- The United Nation Development Programme and the World Bank have launched a multi-million dollar project to build and strengthen the civil service in Somalia.

"The civil war in Somalia destroyed institutions of governance, infrastructure and delivery of basic services such as education," said a statement from the World Bank, Nairobi, offices ahead of today's launch of an on-line distance-learning programme.

The war in the country that lasted over a decade has caused a big shortage of staff as well as drained the capacity of the existing staff to provide services.

"In this context, UNDP under the World Bank Low Income Countries Under Stress, Distance Learning and Connectivity Project, and in partnership with the African Virtual University, has been supporting tertiary academic institutions in building research capacities and enhancing diffusion of knowledge," said the bank.