Fostering Resilience in Iraq through Sustainable Water Management and Climate Smart Agriculture

Fostering Resilience in Iraq through Sustainable Water Management and Climate-Smart Agriculture (MURUNA) is a three-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The project supports the Government of Iraq in enhancing its capacity for evidence-based water resource planning, inclusive water governance, and climate-resilient agriculture.

MURUNA is designed to respond to Iraq’s pressing water challenges by promoting more equitable distribution of water, strengthening community-led governance, and piloting innovative agricultural technologies that address climate and environmental pressures.

Key Objectives

The project aims to:

• Promote efficient and equitable water distribution at the national level to support agriculture, livelihoods, and essential domestic needs.
• Strengthen inclusive, community-driven decision-making related to water management by reinforcing local governance systems and participation.
• Advance climate-smart agriculture and build institutional capacity to integrate these practices into existing cropping systems, enhancing the resilience of food production.
• Pilot innovative solutions such as nature-based approaches for mitigating soil salinity and the introduction of hydroponic farming technologies suited to Iraq’s conditions.

Expected Outcomes

1. Improved national-level water governance that is transparent, multisectoral, and aligned with socio-economic priorities, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
2. Strengthened local water management practices that are gender-responsive, participatory, and inclusive of marginalized and vulnerable populations, especially women and girls.
3. Increased adoption of climate-smart agriculture through pilot demonstrations and support for vulnerable communities, enabling long-term agricultural resilience.