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Welcome to Cluster 5 - Agriculture & Water Resources section of the UN Iraq Web Portal.

The purpose of this section is to provide information on activities related to Agriculture & Water Resources, undertaken by the United Nations and its partners. 

General information on the Cluster

‘Promote sustainable and environmentally sound development and ensure effective management of water resources and agricultural production, which benefits people, communities and their environment.’

The Challenge:

Years of sanctions, conflict and neglect have had a grave effect on agricultural infrastructure, water resources and the environment. Overall, the agricultural sector is under-performing, with diminished agricultural services and low productivity. Particularly acute has been the lack of a planned approach to assist vulnerable groups, who remain the highest priory for assistance. The water resources sector is characterised by inefficient utilisation of assets, obsolete equipment and substantial water losses. In the environmental sector, the country is experiencing severe environmental degradation, pollution and depletion of natural resources. However, the restoration of these key sectors has the potential to contribute significantly to the country’s income, food security, poverty reduction and overall quality of life of the Iraqi people.

The Objective:

The objective is to increase agricultural production and national food security, strengthen the institutional and human capacity in the water planning sector for the sustainable management of the environment and other natural resources and reduce reliance on agricultural imports. The cluster will focus on immediate needs such as providing critical inputs for the vulnerable rural and farming population, the rehabilitation of key infrastructure and the restoration of essential institutions and services in agricultural, water resources and environmental sectors. Major policy and institutional reform options, which form the backbone of the agriculture, water resources and environment strategies in the medium and long term, are also examined and analysed. At the same time efforts will be made to assure longer-term food security, increased productivity, water security and environmental sustainability

The Strategy:

The strategy builds on the extensive experience gained by the UN Cluster members in Iraq and the longstanding collaboration and networking with Iraqi counterparts, educational establishments and other sector related public and private institutions, including NGOs. As a matter of priority, the strategy addresses the most urgent needs of the vulnerable, while at the same time assisting in the establishment of the necessary policy and operational foundations (regulatory, legislative, institutional) for achieving a sustainable, economically efficient, , and environmentally sound rural development.
 

Activity objectives:

• Supplying rural and farmer vulnerable groups with agricultural emergency inputs.

• Assisting the government with legislative reform, policy and administrative capacity building in agriculture, environmental management, water resources and irrigation. Promoting integrated water resources management for sustainable and environmentally sound water use.

• Supporting the government in water policy development including international water issues.

• Supporting the government in water policy development including international water issues.

• Seeking a regional consensus on rehabilitating the Mesopotamian marshlands, and developing targeted responses for urgent environmental remediation (“hotspots”).

The future challenges:

The main challenge is to be able to continue programme implementation in the volatile political, social, economic and security situation, while continuing to provide support which meets the most urgent needs without compromising on quality.  In parallel with relief and emergency assistance, capacity building, policy guidance and rehabilitation of essential services will continue to be central in the Cluster approach to establish the conditions for a long-term sustainable recovery, development and management of agriculture, water and natural resources.

A selection of achievements so far:

Donor funded activities:

Strategic planning:

• On transition from relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction to sustainable agricultural development.

Assessments and Surveys on:

• Crop, food supply and nutrition.

• Main agro-processing plants viable for food security.

• Iraq’s short and medium-term agriculture, water resources and food security needs.

• Nationwide socio-economics of rural villages.

Emergency inputs distribution:

• Distribution of agricultural inputs to vulnerable rural families in the lower south.

• Rehabilitation of essential infrastructure (veterinary clinics, seed storage, etc.)

• Rehabilitation of irrigation pumping stations in various parts of Iraq.

Capacity Building activities:

• Capacity building on environmental emergencies and monitoring/assessment techniques workshop

UNDG Iraq Trust Fund Projects:

The UNDG Trust Fund Steering Committee approved 10 projects under Cluster 5, totalling approximately US$ 82 million. The water resources sector includes four projects for US$ 39 million covering the emergency rehabilitation of pumping stations, of irrigation schemes and drainage infrastructure, and a capacity building project of water institutions.  The four agriculture sector projects, totalling about US$ 27 million, concern the restoration of essential veterinary and livestock services, the promotion of cottage industries, and a pilot project for the rehabilitation of the dairy sector. The two remaining projects, for an amount of about US$ 15.7 million, aim at strengthening the environmental governance through environmental assessments and capacity building, and the application of environmentally sound technologies in the Iraqi marshlands.

The Cluster UN executing agencies have established project implementation structures and completed the inception phases, including:

• Project offices in HQs and in the field (Amman & Baghdad) established, including project teams, both in the agencies and in the line ministries, and procurement units.

• Work plans, procurement and disbursement plans prepared, and implementation modalities agreed with the counterparts.

• Terms of reference for service contracts and training, technical specifications for equipment and bill of quantities for works finalised and agreed with the Iraqi counterparts. Procurement process initiated for planned items.

• Training Programmes drawn up and agreed.

• Project inception workshops and policy workshops with line ministries, including Round Table on the Iraqi Marshlands, implemented.

• Outreach and public awareness campaign on the marshlands initiated.

Partners of the Agriculture & Water Resources Cluster

FAO, UNEP, UNIDO, UNESCO, WFP, UNHCR, ,UNICEF, ILO and UNDP who work closely with the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment, and Planning and Development Cooperation. Other key partners include municipalities, research centres, extension service providers, universities, NGOs, women’s associations, veterinarian associations, and the private sector –consultants, contractors and suppliers.

Cluster Task Manager :  Gian Paolo Caponera
Email address gianpaolo.caponera@fao.org

Deputy : Faris Nimry
Email address fnimry@jib.com.jo

Documents
Library of Agriculture & Water Resources related information - containing repots, assessments and related information.

Agriculture & Water Resources Sector Coordination Meetings Minutes

Note!  Questions / suggestions concerning the content of this section can be directed to the UNAMI Office in Amman through the feedback form
 

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