Water Security in IraqWater Security in Iraq

Anton StembergerAnton StembergerEU Delegation to IraqEU Delegation to Iraq

INDEXINDEX

1.1. Water situation in IraqWater situation in Iraq

2.2. Sector FrameworkSector Framework

3.3. History of EC interventions in IraqHistory of EC interventions in Iraq

4.4. CoordinationCoordination

5.5. Challenges and opportunitiesChallenges and opportunities

Iraq has experienced dramatic change in 3 Iraq has experienced dramatic change in 3 decades:decades:

from plentiful to critically lowfrom plentiful to critically low A decrease of available water A decrease of available water

but supply is sufficient to meet but supply is sufficient to meet demandsdemands

Iraq is depending on outside Iraq is depending on outside surface water supplysurface water supply

Lacking behind in terms of Lacking behind in terms of infrastructure and management infrastructure and management of its resourcesof its resources

Water behavior has not adjusted Water behavior has not adjusted

to the changing environmentto the changing environment Last but not least the political Last but not least the political

instabilityinstability

Water availability (m_/ per capita)

2,890

1,876

791 791

152 95

2,400

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Turkey Iraq Iran Syria Kuwait Jordan SaudiArabia

Status quo of the sectorStatus quo of the sector

Administrative structureAdministrative structure– Highly centralized system for 15 governoratesHighly centralized system for 15 governorates– Regional government arrangement for KurdistanRegional government arrangement for Kurdistan– Baghdad municipalityBaghdad municipality

Legal frameworkLegal framework– Constitutions 2005 Constitutions 2005 stipulates the right of local government units to stipulates the right of local government units to

acquire more power in delivering public services acquire more power in delivering public services – Old and outdated laws (from the 1960ies with few amendments)Old and outdated laws (from the 1960ies with few amendments)

PoliciesPolicies– National focus of policy makers is more on immediate emerging National focus of policy makers is more on immediate emerging

needs than engage into mid and long term planningneeds than engage into mid and long term planning– A national Development Plan was developed for the years 2010 to A national Development Plan was developed for the years 2010 to

2014 (a good start but more needs to be done)2014 (a good start but more needs to be done)

Continuation…Continuation… Institutional capacityInstitutional capacity

– Weak civil service management arrangement across the Weak civil service management arrangement across the board board

– Around 2.5 Million civil servants on GoI payroll (around Around 2.5 Million civil servants on GoI payroll (around 20,000 working for MoWR and MoMPW)20,000 working for MoWR and MoMPW)

Macro-economic environment; Macro-economic environment; – Iraq is not a Iraq is not a classicalclassical post conflict country; mid income level post conflict country; mid income level– More than 95 % of state revenue from oil and gas exportMore than 95 % of state revenue from oil and gas export– High youth unemployment ratesHigh youth unemployment rates

Public financial management Public financial management – Iraq ranks on place 175 out of 178 in the TI indexIraq ranks on place 175 out of 178 in the TI index– Political transition comes with fiscal fragilityPolitical transition comes with fiscal fragility

History of EU interventionsHistory of EU interventions

1.1. From 2003 – 2007From 2003 – 2007Funds were channeled through trust funds (International Reconstruction Funds were channeled through trust funds (International Reconstruction

Funding Facility for Iraq) managed by UN and WBFunding Facility for Iraq) managed by UN and WB

Focus on Humanitarian aid and post conflict reconstructionFocus on Humanitarian aid and post conflict reconstruction

2.2. From 2008 to 2010From 2008 to 2010Funds are channeled through bilateral programs (Art 23 DCI; special Funds are channeled through bilateral programs (Art 23 DCI; special

measures) mostly implemented with UNmeasures) mostly implemented with UNFocus on transformation from crisis situation to medium and long term Focus on transformation from crisis situation to medium and long term

planningplanning

EU current programmingEU current programmingCapacity buildingCapacity building

1.1. Public Sector Modernisation (Public Financial Public Sector Modernisation (Public Financial Management)Management)

A hole of government reform with special emphasis on Water and Sanitation A hole of government reform with special emphasis on Water and Sanitation (as well as education and health) (as well as education and health)

Policy& Legislation, Finance and Service Delivery reform for GoIPolicy& Legislation, Finance and Service Delivery reform for GoI

2.2. CSP 2011 – 2013CSP 2011 – 2013 Improve integrated ground water managementImprove integrated ground water management Introduce comprehensive water monitoring systemIntroduce comprehensive water monitoring system Raise awareness on water related issuesRaise awareness on water related issues

3.3. Instrument for StabilityInstrument for Stability transfer of EU know how in terms of management of shared watertransfer of EU know how in terms of management of shared water Support Support disaster protection and mitigation mechanismsdisaster protection and mitigation mechanisms

What are the others doing?What are the others doing?

After 2003, focus on infrastructure rehabilitationAfter 2003, focus on infrastructure rehabilitation Now most are either reducing the intervention in Now most are either reducing the intervention in

Iraq or completely withdrawingIraq or completely withdrawing GoI is still heavily investing into its long neglected GoI is still heavily investing into its long neglected

infrastructure (and is weak in coordination)infrastructure (and is weak in coordination) Coordination mechanisms are the IPF/sub group Coordination mechanisms are the IPF/sub group

water (Iraqi Partner Forum) UNDAF/Sub Priority water (Iraqi Partner Forum) UNDAF/Sub Priority Groups (United Nations Development Assistance Groups (United Nations Development Assistance Framework) and ad hoc meetings (I.e. US)Framework) and ad hoc meetings (I.e. US)

ChallengesChallenges

Political instabilityPolitical instability Limited access to the fieldLimited access to the field Limited numbers of companies/organizations able Limited numbers of companies/organizations able

and willing to operate in Iraqand willing to operate in Iraq Security costs of interventions are significantSecurity costs of interventions are significant Timing of strategy, programming and Timing of strategy, programming and

implementationimplementation

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Good reputation of the EU amongst the Iraqi Good reputation of the EU amongst the Iraqi population and GoI strategic interest to have close population and GoI strategic interest to have close tiesties

The countries ability to finance its recoveryThe countries ability to finance its recovery The countries’ potential to revitalize its The countries’ potential to revitalize its

capacity/raise its educational level (to “old” capacity/raise its educational level (to “old” standards)standards)

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention