2023
Client: FAO – Iraq

Awar Water Executive Director, Dr. Faraj El Awar, was contracted by the FAO Iraq Country Office to develop a national strategy for sustainable land management (SLM), in addition to an action plan for natural resources conservation and agricultural development in the marshlands (Al Ahwar) in Iraqi Southern regions. Dr. El Awar was also tasked by the FAO Iraq Country Office to develop training material and train staff members of the Iraqi public sector, at the decision and policy makers level, on sustainable land management. 

Project Scope of Work:

• Preparation of training material on SLM that is adapted for the Iraqi context.

• Conducting SLM training sessions for decision and policy makers in the Iraqi public sector.

• Executing the necessary preparatory work for, and drafting of, the national SLM strategy for Iraq and the action plan for natural resources conservation and agricultural development in the marshlands region. 

Project Results:

• Dr. El Awar developed training material on sustainable land management, which was adapted to the Iraqi context, and conducted three training sessions in Basra and Baghdad, Iraq, for a total of about 140 public sector staff members at the decision and policy makers level. 

• In preparation for the development of the national strategy for sustainable land management in Iraq, Dr. El Awar conducted a comprehensive review of relevant literature on best practices in land and water resources management, soil conservation, climate-smart and conservation agriculture, and marshlands conservation. This desk review was augmented by key informant interviews (KIIs) with a number of stakeholders among Iraqi public sector officials mainly from line ministries and regional offices of relevant public institutions. 

• Following data collection and analysis, Dr. El Awar then drafted the National SLM Strategy and the Marshlands Action Plan, which were reviewed by a national land management expert appointed by the Iraqi Ministry of Environment for that purpose. The Strategy includes 12 national programs that are focused on the following SLM practices and approaches:

1. Conservation and Sustainable Management of Water Resources
2. Sustainable Agricultural and Farming Practices
3. Protection and Sustainable Management of Rangelands
4. Enhancing Resilience to Sand and Dust Storms
5. Land Use Planning and Conflict Management
6. Urban Planning and Provision of Basic Services
7. Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change 
8. Restoration of Degraded Lands
9. Legal and Policy Formulation Processes and Instruments
10. Institutional Streamlining
11. Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Marshlands Natural Resources
12. Upscale of Climate-Smart and Conservation Agriculture and Agro-Ecological Practices