Director-General QU Dongyu

Launch Event: Green Climate Fund (GCF) Funded Project Statement

by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

25/05/2025 , Baghdad (Iraq)

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I am so pleased to be here with you for this important launch of Iraq’s first Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project.

Today, we are not just launching a project – we are advancing a shared promise for a more climate-resilient Iraq.

It is a testament to our longstanding partnership, and the technical expertise that FAO provides to support Iraq for the transformation of its agrifood system to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

This project - Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Iraq - is the result of committed national ownership, interministerial coordination, and the collective determination for bold, sustainable solutions for the people most in need.

I commend the Government of Iraq, in particular the Ministries of Environment, Water Resources, Planning and Agriculture, as well as all other partners, for their contribution, support and leadership which has made it possible for us to be here today to launch this project.

FAO prioritizes support to countries, especially those in fragile situations, to access climate and environment finance.

These climate investments build upon and scale-up past successful emergency and resilience investments, and contribute to peace and recovery efforts through better adaptation.

Because peace is a prerequisite for food security and the right to food is a basic human right!

With a total investment of USD 39 million, this project will directly benefit rural households in Karbala, Najaf, and Muthanna – communities facing increasing drought, land degradation, and water scarcity.

This includes co-funding from the Government of Canada and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, whom we warmly thank for their generous support.

The project will create a paradigm shift by helping to transform Iraq’s agriculture sector, it will spur the creation of new business activities, and provide employment opportunities for rural people, including women and internally displaced persons.

Furthermore, women will also be trained as “agents of change” to gain and disseminate widely the required knowledge to manage climate risks at the community level - another clear demonstration of FAO’s support as we prepare for the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026.

Specifically, through this initiative, we will:

One: upgrade irrigation systems for increased water use efficiency;

Two: deploy and promote solar-powered irrigation systems;

Three: reclaim degraded farmlands and promote sustainable land and water management practices to increase crop and water productivity;

Four: strengthen Water User Associations, community-based organizations and local institutions;

Five: empower rural women and youth, including through the Climate Wise Women initiative; and

Six: introduce digital tools and early warning systems to reduce risk and build resilience.

This is climate adaptation in action!

It also aligns with Iraq's “Vision 2030”, the National Development Plan, and the Prime Minister’s Green Growth and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative.

This project is not the end of our journey, it is just a good start!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Launch event coincides with the Baghdad International Water Conference, because climate resilience begins with water.

FAO has made water a global priority, and in Iraq we are actively supporting digital water management through FAO developed tools and platforms, as well as promoting community-level governance of water through climate-smart solutions.

This event is also a reflection of Iraq’s rising profile on the international stage.

Through the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the FAO One Country One Priority Product platform, and the annual World Food Forum, Iraq is showing leadership and vision.

Your engagement is transforming the narrative from vulnerability to opportunity.

As we celebrate this milestone, I wish to thank all colleagues and partners at national, regional and global level, especially the GCF, for having turned this project from concept note into action plan.

This project further supports the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 at national level under the overarching Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all the people in Iraq – leaving no one behind.

Thank you – Shukran!