Research
Out now: a new Water, Peace and Security (WPS) policy brief!
As Iraq continues to deal with a chronic water crisis, experts both inside and outside the government are mobilising to find and design durable solutions. Iraq faces a severe shortage in quantity and quality of water: this is partly caused by external factors, such as climate change and upstream damming, but also by internal water management practices. The impacts of water scarcity hit every sector of society, and left unaddressed, they can create tensions between different governorates and different levels of government. This is especially true in the southern governorates, which are impacted by upstream water overuse and pollution. In recent years, tensions over water scarcity have flared into protests against both provincial and national authorities, as inhabitants demanded action and solutions.
Addressing water-related tensions in southern Iraq can be a significant challenge, especially when it comes to addressing long-term systemic issues. However, critical improvements in water management can be made incrementally, without needing to influence external water-related factors or immediately engage in large-scale long-term structural changes.
In support of designing realistic and achievable first steps, this Water, Peace and Security (WPS) policy brief – based on 13 interviews with water experts in southern Iraq, 3 focus groups, and 3 working groups – outlines a set of entry-points for the development of long-term solutions.
To address this issue and reduce water-related security risks, this paper proposes three entry-points to start fostering collaboration at the interprovincial and national level on water management in Iraq, each of which requires collaboration between a variety of stakeholders at different levels. These entry points include:
- Institutional coordination;
- Improved communication between authorities and communities;
- Data-sharing & enforcement
Authors: Benedetta Benzoni and Sundus Al-Ogaidi
Contributors: Irina Patrahau, Meg John and Laura Birkman
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