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A joint statement from the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture announced the launch of the MURUNA project in Baghdad with financial backing from Global Affairs Canada. The initiative partners with Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources to deploy three linked strategies that encompass inclusive water governance at the national level alongside community-driven resource management and the adoption of climate-smart agriculture techniques. These components seek to enhance planning and infrastructure while introducing practical tools that allow vulnerable farming households to maintain productivity despite recurring shocks.
WFP assessments place the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance in Iraq at approximately 2.5 million as the country grapples with persistent food security constraints. Rising incidents of drought desertification and elevated temperatures have combined with reduced flows in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to shrink both agricultural yields and the extent of cultivable land. Rural populations that depend on traditional farming have encountered steadily mounting threats to their livelihoods according to the partners’ analysis of local conditions.
The MURUNA project will bolster water planning and decision-making processes at the national scale while collaborating directly with water user associations to craft tailored use plans and rehabilitate distribution networks the statement detailed. Activities will advance equitable allocation mechanisms and expand local involvement with dedicated measures to incorporate women into leadership and operational roles within these associations. At the field level the effort will equip farmers with innovative technologies and practices designed to elevate resilience and safeguard output against future climate variability.
ICBA contributes its specialized knowledge in biosaline agriculture and resource efficiency as the primary technical partner enabling the translation of research findings into actionable community programs. The project aligns with Iraq’s existing national policies on water resources and climate adaptation by focusing on institutional capacity building and targeted infrastructure improvements. Project documents further outline the establishment of best-practice hubs and deployment of hydroponic demonstrations to showcase salt-tolerant crop varieties including barley wheat quinoa and sorghum that support both food security and soil health.
“Water is at the heart of Iraq’s future food security” said Amit Singh WFP Iraq’s Acting Country Director. “By investing in sustainable water governance and climate-smart agriculture we are not only protecting livelihoods today but also securing resilience for generations to come.” Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi Director General of ICBA added in the announcement that the MURUNA project brings together stronger water governance community-led resource management and climate-smart agriculture to deliver practical solutions on the ground where science strengthens livelihoods and builds long-term agricultural resilience in Iraq.
The United Nations World Food Programme as the global leader in humanitarian food assistance has increasingly linked emergency response with sustainable development programs that address the root causes of hunger in climate-stressed regions. ICBA a Dubai-based research institution focuses on developing science-driven approaches to salinity water scarcity and environmental change across the Middle East Africa and Asia according to its organizational mandate. This collaboration underscores ongoing international support for Iraq’s efforts to modernize water management and secure agrifood systems against escalating environmental risks.
