Canada & FAO Sign Agreement to Enhance Climate Resilience in Southern Iraq

The Embassy of Canada to Iraq and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq have entered into a four-year agreement to implement a project aimed at strengthening the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural households in the southern Iraqi governorates.

The project seeks to empower women as change agents for climate-smart agriculture and address the food-energy-water nexus. The agreement entails a range of activities, including the provision of technical assistance, enhancing the leadership and active involvement of women farmers in promoting and adopting climate-smart agriculture, improving the efficiency of the agricultural value chain, and rural electrification. Additionally, the project will introduce updated digital tools to promote sustainable natural resource management in agriculture.

The implementation of this project will be carried out in cooperation and partnership with the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources, as well as other governmental bodies, local governments, agricultural federations, and non-governmental organizations. Together, these stakeholders will focus on promoting sustainability, raising awareness about climate change, and facilitating the adoption of climate-smart technologies and practices.

The project launch ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including the Minister of Environment, Nizar Muhammad Saeed, the Assistant Director General and Regional Representative of the FAO, Dr. Abdul Hakim Al-Waer, the Technical Deputy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mithaq Al-Khafaji, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water, Raed Al-Jashami, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Prof. Dr. Jassim Al-Falahi, the Director General of the Iraqi Women Empowerment Department, Dr. Yousra Karim Mohsen, and the Canadian Ambassador to Iraq, Gregory Galligan. Representatives from the Ministries of Planning and Health, the targeted governorates, non-governmental organizations, and the FAO in Iraq, Dr. Salah AlHaj Hassan and his team, were also present.

Dr. Abdulhakim El Waer, the Assistant Director General of the FAO, expressed the significance of the agricultural sector as a major source of income for the poor and food insecure in the region, as well as the largest source of rural employment in Iraq. He emphasized the importance of a strong and resilient agricultural development for Iraq's vision of a diversified and private sector-led economy. Dr. El Waer also commended the Governments of Iraq and Canada for their support.

Minister Nizar Muhammad Saeed of the Ministry of Environment highlighted the opportunity presented by the project to mitigate the impact of climate change and strengthen women's strategic role in driving climate action. He expressed his expectations that the project's technological innovations would improve natural resource management efficiency. Minister Saeed extended his gratitude to the Government of Canada and the FAO for their support.

Dr. Mithaq Al-Khafaji, the Technical Deputy of the Ministry of Agriculture, expressed his appreciation for the project's focus on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. He acknowledged the introduction of innovative approaches and technologies, such as Climate Smart Agriculture through Farmer Field Schools and the utilization of solar energy to enhance agricultural value chain efficiency and rural electrification. Dr. Al-Khafaji conveyed his sincere appreciation to the Government of Canada and the Canadian Ambassador for their generous contribution, as well as to Global Affairs Canada and the FAO for their efforts in making this project possible.

Raed Al-Jashami, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water, affirmed the ministry's readiness to support and assist in the implementation of the project. He emphasized the timeliness of the initiative in addressing the challenges arising from climate change.

Gregory Galligan, the Canadian Ambassador to Iraq, emphasized Canada's commitment to helping Iraq adapt to the impacts of climate change and water scarcity by strengthening the climate resilience of its agriculture sector. Recognizing the significant role of women as a source of employment in Iraq, he stressed the need to enhance their participation in promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. Ambassador Galligan expressed Canada's anticipation of collaborating with the FAO and the Government of Iraq to improve the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural households in southern Iraq and support women as essential agents of change.

Dr. Jassim Al-Falahi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, and Dr. Yusra Karim Mohsen, the Director General of the Iraqi Women Empowerment Department, both highlighted the pioneering role of women and civil society in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.