Integrated drought risk management: national framework for Iraq

This study aims to assess the available information on drought in Iraq and analyse its severity, trend, and impact on key sectors and societal groups. This includes defining stakeholders and identifying information gaps. In this regard, the study analysed the spatial-temporal pattern of drought by introducing the first drought index applied for Iraq: the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). The index is used to assess drought patterns across the country in order to help the government to improve its capacity and performance in drought monitoring.

Overcoming water shortage remains one of Iraq's major challenges. Aggravated in recent years by drought and climatic variations, Iraq faces declining storage and irrigation capacities, while water scarcity has led to more arid conditions, saltier and eroding soils, and - as a consequence - to an aggravated desertification of the arable lands which dramatically affects agricultural productivity.