DSRSG/RC/HC Ghulam Isaczai 6th Strategic Coordination Group Meeting on Food, Agriculture and Irrigation

Your Excellency Mithaq Al-Khafaji, Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture

Dr. Salah ElHajjHassan, FAO Representative,

Mr. Lennart Dreyer, Head of Cooperation, European Union,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the UN system, I would also like to welcome you all to the 6th round of this coordination meeting hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture.

I am glad to have finally been able to attend this coordination meeting after several previous attempts.

I would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture for their strong ownership and leadership of this group together with FAO and EU. This is especially important after we phased out the humanitarian coordination architecture.

This Strategic Coordination Group is a vital platform in bringing together all key actors including development partners and government entities to align efforts in ensuring a coherent approach in addressing challenges facing Iraq today in food security, agriculture, water and irrigation sectors. 

Through this forum, we contribute directly to Iraq’s National Development Plan, and Vision 2030, and through technical cooperation offered by development partners around this table. 

Since our last meeting, we have witnessed encouraging progress. Together, we have advanced discussions on climate-smart agriculture, water productivity studies, and value chain development.

It is essential that we sustain this momentum and ensure all initiatives complement the National Agricultural Investment Plan - our shared framework for collaboration.

I would like to commend the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO for their leadership in developing the National Agricultural Investment Plan.

This plan offers a strong opportunity for the Government, donors, and UN partners to strengthen investments, especially from the private sector in agriculture sector.  

At the same time, water scarcity and drought remain among the most pressing challenges for food security in Iraq.

In this regard, the UN Water Task Force is coordinating our activities across the UN system to ensure they are aligned with national priorities and meet the needs of the affected community particularly in drought-affected southern region. 

The United Nations remains committed to offering its assistance to protecting Iraq’s biodiversity, strengthening community resilience, supporting agricultural productivity and improve water governance. 

Our support is outlined in our new UNSDCF priorities.

In closing, once again I would like to thank you all for your participation and wish you a successful meeting today.  

Thank you.