Transcript Water Security in Iraq

Water Security in Iraq
Anton Stemberger
EU Delegation to Iraq
INDEX
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Water situation in Iraq
Sector Framework
History of EC interventions in Iraq
Coordination
Challenges and opportunities
Iraq has experienced dramatic change in 3 decades:
from plentiful to critically low
 A decrease of available water
but supply is sufficient to meet
demands
 Iraq is depending on outside
surface water supply
 Lacking behind in terms of
infrastructure and management
of its resources
 Water behavior has not adjusted
to the changing environment
 Last but not least the political
instability
Water availability (m³/per capita)
3,500
3,000
2,890
2,400
2,500
1,876
2,000
1,500
1,000
791
500
791
152
95
0
Turkey
Iraq
Iran
Syria Kuwait Jordan Saudi
Arabia
Status quo of the sector
 Administrative structure
– Highly centralized system for 15 governorates
– Regional government arrangement for Kurdistan
– Baghdad municipality
 Legal framework
– Constitutions 2005 stipulates the right of local government units to
acquire more power in delivering public services
– Old and outdated laws (from the 1960ies with few amendments)
 Policies
– National focus of policy makers is more on immediate emerging
needs than engage into mid and long term planning
– A national Development Plan was developed for the years 2010 to
2014 (a good start but more needs to be done)
Continuation…
 Institutional capacity
– Weak civil service management arrangement across the
board
– Around 2.5 Million civil servants on GoI payroll (around
20,000 working for MoWR and MoMPW)
 Macro-economic environment;
– Iraq is not a classical post conflict country; mid income
level
– More than 95 % of state revenue from oil and gas export
– High youth unemployment rates
 Public financial management
– Iraq ranks on place 175 out of 178 in the TI index
– Political transition comes with fiscal fragility
History of EU interventions
1. From 2003 – 2007
Funds were channeled through trust funds (International Reconstruction
Funding Facility for Iraq) managed by UN and WB
Focus on Humanitarian aid and post conflict reconstruction
2. From 2008 to 2010
Funds are channeled through bilateral programs (Art 23 DCI; special
measures) mostly implemented with UN
Focus on transformation from crisis situation to medium and long term
planning
EU current programming
Capacity building
1. Public Sector Modernisation (Public Financial
Management)


A hole of government reform with special emphasis on Water and Sanitation
(as well as education and health)
Policy& Legislation, Finance and Service Delivery reform for GoI
2. CSP 2011 – 2013



Improve integrated ground water management
Introduce comprehensive water monitoring system
Raise awareness on water related issues
3. Instrument for Stability


transfer of EU know how in terms of management of shared water
Support disaster protection and mitigation mechanisms
What are the others doing?
 After 2003, focus on infrastructure rehabilitation
 Now most are either reducing the intervention in
Iraq or completely withdrawing
 GoI is still heavily investing into its long neglected
infrastructure (and is weak in coordination)
 Coordination mechanisms are the IPF/sub group
water (Iraqi Partner Forum) UNDAF/Sub Priority
Groups (United Nations Development Assistance
Framework) and ad hoc meetings (I.e. US)
Challenges
 Political instability
 Limited access to the field
 Limited numbers of companies/organizations able
and willing to operate in Iraq
 Security costs of interventions are significant
 Timing of strategy, programming and
implementation
Opportunities
 Good reputation of the EU amongst the Iraqi
population and GoI strategic interest to have
close ties
 The countries ability to finance its recovery
 The countries’ potential to revitalize its
capacity/raise its educational level (to “old”
standards)
Thank you for your attention