Collaboration Programme Euphrates and Tigris

Problem Overview

The Euphrates and Tigris river basin shared between four countries (Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq) is one that is highly vulnerable to climate change. These countries are interdependent on the water from the system to sustain ecosystem goods and services, agriculture and energy production, municipal and industrial water supply, livelihoods and cultural resources. However, it is a system that suffers from salinity, land degradation and deteriorating marshlands and ecosystems. The basin countries hold different levels of development, capacity, preferences and behaviors when it comes to managing water at national and transnational scales. A common problem they share is the dependency on food imports which is on the rise. In tandem, growing technical uncertainties and complexities have made international policy coordination not only increasingly necessary but also more difficult. It is evident that an institution to manage water and strengthen cooperation across the four countries is necessary.

Project Description

Improve dialogue, trust, cooperation among the basin countries of Euphrates and Tigris and increase information and knowledge transfer regarding water management in the Euphrates and Tigris region.

Research Innovation Theme

Assessment of Natural Resources in Marginal Environments

Duration
January 2014 - January 2018
Project Lead
Project Region
Near East and North Africa
Project Countries
Iran
Iraq
Syria
Turkey
Partner(s)
  • Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)  
  • Country Partners Group  
  • Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
  • American University of Beirut (AUB)
  • International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and
  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)