Piloting sustainable financing solutions to invest in ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) for disaster and conflict risk reduction in Iraq

For generations, Qushtapa in Erbil, known locally as “Bird Hill,” a name believed to originate from the Turkman language dating back to the Ottoman period, has been a place where people and nature have crossed paths for centuries. Its rolling plains once supported thriving farmlands, migrating flocks tracing ancient routes across the sky, and traditional Kareez water channels quietly carrying water beneath the earth. But over the past three decades, with climate change impacts accelerating in recent years, this balance has steadily eroded. Waves of displaced people – from Iranian refugees to Kurdish IDPs and, more recently, Syrian refugee families – have sought safety in Qushtapa, settling in a landscape already strained by drought, erratic rainfall, and declining groundwater.

Today, the signs of environmental stress are unmistakable: rainfed agriculture has become unreliable, livestock rangelands have thinned, and the old Kareez systems, once symbols of resilience, ingenuity and stability, have dried, and eventually buried. The migratory birds that gave Qushtapa its name now find fewer resting places as vegetation shrink and all springs dried.

Yet this story is not only one of loss, but also one of renewal.  This project aims to help Qushtapa restore its natural strength by introducing ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions that reconnect communities to the environment that sustains them. Through scientific assessments, community engagement, and the design of sustainable financing models, the project will support communities in adopting regenerative, nature-based practices that restore ecosystems, improve land and water resources, and enhance livelihood security to reduce disaster risks and climate-related pressures to migrate.

By reviving local ecosystems, strengthening livelihoods, and exploring new, sustainable financing pathways, the project will help Qushtapa reclaim its identity as a resilient landscape – one where people, nature, and migratory birds can once again thrive together.

Project Status

The project has initiated the assessment and concept formulation phase for EbA in Qushtapa, Erbil governorate. A rapid environmental and socio-economic assessment has been undertaken, informing the identification of key climate risks and ecosystem vulnerabilities. Based on these findings, a set of integrated EbA approaches is being developed, focusing on sustainable agriculture, water management, and ecosystem restoration. Initial community engagement and awareness-raising activities have been initiated as part of the preparatory phase. The project is currently progressing towards the implementation phase, while continuing stakeholder engagement and coordination with government, private sector, and civil society actors.

Project Achievements

1. Undertaking of a rapid environmental and socio-economic assessment, including 14 key informant interviews and three focus group discussions, providing a strong evidence base for intervention design.
2. Identification of key ecosystem challenges such as land degradation, groundwater depletion, biodiversity loss, and unsafe wastewater use, clarifying priority climate risks in Qushtapa.
3. Development of a preliminary, integrated EbA approach, defining a package of solutions including conservation agriculture, managed aquifer recharge, constructed wetlands, and ecosystem restoration.
4. Implementation of community awareness-raising sessions for male and female participants, improving understanding of climate change impacts and capturing local insights on changing livelihoods and vulnerabilities.
5. Initiation of stakeholder engagement with government, private sector, and development partners to explore technical collaboration, implementation roles, and potential co-investment opportunities.