Green Climate Fund approves its first climate-resilient water project in Iraq

On 24 October the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a USD 39 million FAO-led project, which is aimed at improving water and food security in Iraq’s rural areas with climate-resilient agriculture. The six-year FAO-led project is the first GCF water project in Iraq, with more than 1.9 million beneficiaries, including highly vulnerable communities. The project will be implemented in cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources as well as with local government in the targeted governorates.

Iraq faces critical climate hazards such as rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and reduced water availability from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. According to the International Organisation for Migration, the country is facing a complex water crisis as a result both of drought and the construction of dams upstream. These challenges are compounded by poor water management and soil salinity, severely impacting the country’s agricultural productivity.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the project, entitled “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agriculture Livelihoods in Iraq’s Rural Communities” (SRVALI) seeks to address climate-induced water scarcity and improve food security in three targeted governorates – Karbala, Muthanna and Najaf – where climate change threatens agricultural production. These governorates are particularly vulnerable due to their dependence on irrigation and limited adaptive capacity.

The project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural households: it focuses on interventions aimed at increasing water efficiency through improvements in the irrigation networks, the introduction of modern irrigation infrastructure and the promotion of climate-resilient agricultural practices within local Water User Associations (WUAs). By transforming the existing irrigation network, the initiative is intended to help stabilize water availability and make water systems more efficient. In addition, the project will support the development of policies for both water and energy management – such as the introduction of solar-powered irrigation systems.

In a FAO press release on the project, Mr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa, stated that  “Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, conflicts, and population growth, poses a significant threat to our region's food security and sustainable development. Projections indicate rising temperatures and declining precipitation, further straining our already limited water resources. SRVALI project will help mitigate the impact of these challenges on water and food security in rural areas of Iraq through several well-thought-out and proven interventions for a better life and a better future for all”.

Cooperation with Iraq’s Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources, and with local governments will take place to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative, by aligning with on-going projects, building the capacity of public institutions for sustainable development, and working with international partners to drive governmental reforms. The project will also promote gender equity by empowering women as key change agents, fostering inclusive and sustainable community development.

Bapon Shm Fakhruddin, PhD, in an interview posted on LinkedIn on 28 October states that “ we are trying to enhance the locally led solution, integrating three aspects: water, agriculture and energy, so that we can actually support the most vulnerable and at the same time reduce the emission and fossil fuel dependency. Our climate solution package is producing climate-smart irrigation, with a closed canal instead of an open canal, putting the solar panel on top of it, reducing the dependency on the diesel power generation, as well as training the community how to use those things. We apply crop diversification and empower the local community, thus bringing an integrated approach to ensuring water supply, water efficiency, reducing water losses and ensuring energy efficiency as well as food security.”