Iraq, Turkey finalize details of water cooperation mechanism that seeks to alleviate ‘worst crisis in decades’

BAGHDAD — Iraq and Turkey have finalized the executive mechanism of their framework cooperation agreement on water management, detailing how the two countries will implement joint projects aimed at improving water quality, irrigation, and resource governance.

According to the Iraqi News Agency, the mechanism builds on years of discussions and follows the framework agreement signed during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Baghdad on April 22, 2024. It is designed to strengthen coordination between both countries in addressing Iraq’s growing water crisis and the impact of climate change.

The document outlines a series of practical steps for cooperation between Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Municipalities, local governorates, and Turkish partners. It identifies four main areas of focus: improving water quality and stopping river pollution, modernizing irrigation systems, rehabilitating agricultural lands, and enhancing governance in water management and conservation.

A joint advisory team from Iraq and Turkey will determine the priority projects based on Iraqi government proposals. Iraqi authorities will announce tenders open to Turkish companies, which will compete under official contracting procedures in coordination with qualified Iraqi firms.

The funding mechanism will be managed by Iraq’s Ministry of Finance through a dedicated account financed by the sale of crude oil to a Turkish company approved by the State Oil Marketing Organization. The agreement specifies that if the oil sold to Turkey is later resold in the European market at a higher price, Iraq will receive 65 percent of the profit margin.

The joint committee from Iraq’s ministries of finance, planning, and water resources will oversee the projects’ progress, evaluate compliance with the agreement’s goals, and report to the Joint Planning Group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which monitors implementation across sectors.

The mechanism will remain valid as long as the broader water cooperation agreement between the two countries is in effect.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani described the signing as “one of the sustainable solutions to Iraq’s water crisis,” emphasizing that the initiative aims to launch “major joint projects to manage and address water scarcity.” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the mechanism would “allow both sides to implement practical projects that improve water management and infrastructure, ensuring fair use and sustainable development.”

Iraq faces its worst water shortage in eight decades, with reserves at their lowest levels in 80 years due to drought, climate change, and upstream dam projects in Turkey and Iran. The new implementation mechanism is seen as an attempt to turn years of dialogue into tangible action to secure Iraq’s long-term water sustainability.