Iraqi officials strengthen their collaborative approach to water management and governance
Addressing Iraq’s water challenges requires a collaborative, comprehensive approach, high-level speakers told the opening session of a tailor-made IHE Delft course for Iraqi officials, noting that the course aims to develop capacity for a sustainable future. Officials from the Iraqi Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Water Resources and Agriculture are taking part in the Water Management and Governance course, which combines online learning with in-person onsite workshops. The course’s collaborative approach is geared to the co-creation of knowledge by exchanging ideas from various perspectives.
At the Delft-based part of the course, which began 12 February, participant Muhanned Ali Abdulla, Director of Water Resources in Diyala Governorate of the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, said the course was beneficial for the Ministry.
“We need to learn from these discourses about water management and governance including cooperation building processes on how to manage and administrate the catastrophic environmental and water situation,” he said. “Iraq has been severely affected by climate change. For the first time in history, there have been four consecutive years with very low precipitation. Previously, Iraq often suffered one year with comparatively less precipitation. Now a lack of rain has become normalised.”
Water is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. Solving water challenges affects food security, sanitation, industry and energy generation making it a multidisciplinary concern. Therefore, a holistic approach is required to resolve the increasing pressures on this precious resource due to urbanization, climate change and potential cross-boundary conflicts.
Addressing water challenges in Iraq
Course participant Humam Luay Abdul-Muhsin, Counsellor at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said water is the No. 1 issue in Iraq. The course helps negotiators from Iraq and both in the technical and the diplomatic field learn about integrated management of water resources. Participants gain “the tools required to form arguments and counter-arguments in dealing with the riparian countries, especially the upstream ones,” he said.
Judith Punte, a diplomat focusing on economic affairs at the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq, said the Dutch-funded project the course is part of aims to enhance the capacity of Iraqi officials to address water challenges in Iraq, particularly those related to collaboration within Iraq and riparian countries to address transboundary water issues.
“This training course is not merely a transfer of knowledge, it’s a collaborative effort to build a sustainable future,” she told the 29 January online opening session.
Among Iraq’s water challenges are those arising from water resources that are shared with neighbouring countries, and the water needs of the agricultural sector and the oil and gas industries. In south Iraq, salinity is a key issue.
Commitment to the MENA region
The tailor-made training aims to provide Iraqi officials and ministry staff with a deep understanding of water resource management and governance. The collaborative approach involving diplomatic intervention, technical measures and capacity-developing workshops reflects a commitment by both the Netherlands and Iraq to building a sustainable future in the MENA region through international partnerships.
The course is part of an ongoing project titled "Supporting Integrated and Sustainable Water Management in Iraq through Capacity Development and Research." This project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands through IHE Delft Partnership Programme for Water and Development.
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