1. WFP_IRAQ - ICARDA Inception Workshop Meeting
Implementation Plan for a Strategic Review of Food and Nutrition Security in Iraq
WFP_IRAQ - ICARDA Inception Workshop Meeting
05 February 2018, Baghdad, Iraq
Boubaker Dhehibi (on behalf of ICARDA Team)
SIRPSP/AMMAN-JORDAN
Baghdad, Iraq| 05/02/2018

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE REVIEW
The overall objective of the Review are:
To prioritize actions that will be required to accelerate progress toward ensuring food security and enhanced nutrition and in-line with SDG 2.
Specific objectives will be as follows:
Undertake a comprehensive analysis of current food security, nutrition situation, and agricultural sustainability against targets of SDG 2.
Review current food security, nutrition and agricultural sustainability policies which are being considered and undertaken in Iraq for eradicating hunger;
Determine the progress and achievements of current food security policies and programs, and the adequacy of institutional setup and resources allocated; on this basis identify the required policy and institutional gaps, as well as resources needed, to achievement SDG2 objectives (and goals or targets that are implied or established both at national and regional levels) in Iraq.

3. THE STARTEGIC REVIEW PROCESS
A Preliminary Assessment of Food and Nutritional Situation in Iraq
(a) Food Security Indicators
Iraq prevalence of undernourishment was at level of 22.8 % in 2015, down from 23.2 % previous year (2014).
In 2016, number of undernourished people for Iraq was 10.1 million persons. Number of undernourished people of Iraq increased from 6.5 million persons in 2002 to 10.1 million persons in 2016 growing at an average annual rate of 3.24 % (Proportion of the population in a condition of undernourishment.
Iraq food deficit was at level of 235 kcal per person per day in 2016, up from 224 kcal per person per day previous year, this is a change of 4.91 %.
In 2016, dietary energy supply adequacy for Iraq was 110 %. Dietary energy supply adequacy of Iraq increased from 101 % in 2002 to 110 % in 2016 growing at an average annual rate of 0.62 %.
(b) Current Concerns / Challenges
Malnutrition, Disparity in malnutrition and Micronutrient deficiency
Obesity and non-communicable diseases
Yield stagnation/decreased (strategic crops: Wheat) & degradation of Natural Resources (Climate change)
Rising food price
Poor road infrastructure and marketing
Income inequality and disparities in income distribution
Gender inequality and equity

4. Action I: Improving Safety Net Instruments
Require a review of existing key safety nets:
Public Distribution System, targeting the whole population (costly and not sustainable),
Programme of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs which targets four million poor (Inefficient and not performant).
These programmes need to be made:
More effective and efficient with a much improved targeting,
Cost effectiveness and monitoring systems
Leadership, accountability and setting priorities

5. Action II – Enhancing Sustainable Agricultural Production
(1) Enhancing Agricultural Productivity
Low yields combined with low prices result in small profit margins for farmers (majority are smallholders): Farmers tend to minimize operation costs, which keeps yields very low.
Appropriate policies are needed to break this poverty chain, given many structural (size, finance, training, VC) and natural resources constraints (water scarcity, salinity).
(2) Strengthen Value Chain
Performing VC needs appropriate regulatory institutions (including policies and administration tools) and high levels of public goods provision (roads, logistics, accessible market places, etc.), especially in rural areas
High levels of subsidies for logistical storage and transportation (equivalent to low consumer prices) and creates bias for many producers (thus affecting the domestic production).
(3) Natural Resources: Availability & Quality
Climate projections suggest increasing water scarcity in Iraq
In salt-affected areas farmers are cropping only about 30% of their land and are achieving only about 50% of expected yields.
Current salinity levels are causing a loss of US$300 million per year.

6. Action III. Addressing the Double Burden of Poor Nutrition
Children and women are facing a major risk of becoming deprived of their basic human needs (access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, health care and quality education).
Age-specific vulnerabilities which may intensify the detrimental effect of poverty and affect the achievement of children’s full potential (focus and retain learned information).
Widespread malnutrition remains a critical barrier to children’s learning in Iraq.
Hungry children are less likely to stay in school.
Mother’s education and proper feeding awareness may have a major impact on her child’s nutritional status.
This will require addressing both malnutrition and obesity through awareness building, especially among the youth and women
Well designed school feeding programmes would reduce the school dropout rates, particularly among young girls in secondary schools.
In some cases micro nutrients supplementation of major food items would be necessary

7. Action IV. Increasing Employment Especially among Youth and Women
30% population lives in rural areas and 50% of the poor lives in rural areas. Targeting rural areas to fast track SDG2 results.
Robust investment needed to strengthening technical education, vocational training and skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities
Promote gender equality: mobilize female agricultural outreach workers to impart knowledge and establish agricultural groups
Support cooperatives and business incubators to increase employment in rural areas, diversifying their services and the importance of integrated activities involving women.
The balance between rural and urban areas should be coherent with the infrastructural development planned by different ministries and governorates plans. 
Increased number of jobs can be created in processing, packaging, transportation and storage of agriculture products in rural areas with a specific targeting of youth and women.
With much of the Iraqi population living in urban areas, efforts in rural areas need to be complemented by similar employment creation programme in urban areas.

8. Action V. Reforming Marketing, Trade and Pricing Policies
Current trade policies in Iraq tends to subsidize food consumers by importing and subsidizing strategic commodities (cereals, rice, oil, and meat).
Import of many food commodities is also liberalized.
These policies would affect:
Government expenditures and trade balances
Levels of national food production
Reducing consumer prices and removing distortionary trade and pricing policies that have high cost to the public budget, without commensurate returns to consumers, need to be reviewed.
The opportunities for more efficient purchase from the international market have to be reviewed and implemented.
No clear assessment is currently available about the impact of current trade policies food security in Iraq

9. WAY FORWARD
Next Steps
Data and information collected and analyzed (several sources)
Presentation and discussion of preliminary findings/ and recommendations (Adjustments, consensus and prioritization) by the end of March 2018.
Presentation of the final results and launching of the report by the end of April

10. Thank You ICARAD – WFP Iraq – IRAQI PARTNERS
A POTENTIAL SOLID PARTNERSHIP for CHANGE