The whole of Iraq is prone to droughts, and severity of droughts has increased over the past decades. Droughts in conjunction with dust storms pose serious health, economic and environmental risks. The frequency and severity of hydro meteorological hazards could worsen in the decades to come due to climate change related extreme weather events.

The institutional capacity for the drought response and preparedness is critical, alongside the advanced early warning systems to safeguard economy and save lives.

the Institutional Survey and Assessment for Drought Early Warning in Iraq was prepared with technical support and guidance from Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES).  

The Institutional Survey and Assessment maps the responsibilities of key institutions involved in Drought Early Warning in Iraq, assesses the existing technical capacities on weather monitoring, drought forecasting and early warning systems, and provides an analysis of gaps, and priority needs for technical capacity development to strengthen the preparedness and response in Iraq. 

This document was supported and made possible by the support from the United Kingdom under the Catalytic Climate Change in Iraq project (2022-2024), implemented by UNDP.