Speech by the UN Resident Coordinator in Iraq – Ghulam Isaczai

Excellency Mr. Aoun Diab Abdullah, Minister of Water Resources,

His Excellency Dr. Hallo Al Askari, Minister of Environment,

His Excellency Mr. Abbas Jabr Al-Maliki, Minister of Agriculture,

Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization,

Distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honor to be here today and to join you in celebrating this important milestone for Iraq. 

The establishment of Iraq’s first-ever Green Climate Fund financing is a major achievement in national climate finance, and a testament to Iraq’s commitment to building climate resilience, improving food security, and transitioning towards a more sustainable, inclusive economy. 

I congratulate the Government of Iraq, particularly the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Agriculture on this achievement. 

I would also like to commend the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its vital role in supporting Iraq to design and mobilize this transformative project. The success of this endeavour is the result of close cooperation between FAO and national and local institutions. 

This project represents Iraq's broader priorities. It aligns with Iraq's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, the National Adaptation Plan, and national plans for food security. Equally important, it is closely tied to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Iraq.

I am particularly pleased that this project places strong emphasis on empowering women and youth in rural communities, recognizing that lasting change depends on inclusion and harnessing local potentials. 

Through integrated programming across our UN agencies, and by leveraging our collective expertise in agriculture, water, energy and environment, the United Nations, is committed to supporting Iraq’s climate action agenda.

Looking ahead, we reaffirm our support for expanding Iraq’s access to climate finance and working across the UN system to identify joint initiatives that strengthen resilience and reduce emissions.

Once again, congratulations to all who have contributed to this achievement. We look forward to continuing this journey together.

Thank you