Baghdad: The Fifth Baghdad International Water Conference concluded its proceedings today, presenting a comprehensive list of recommendations aimed at addressing regional water challenges.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Water Resources has announced its commitment to the initiative titled “Protecting the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers,” which was launched by the Prime Minister. The initiative underscores the importance of water as a critical resource for the future.

The conference highlighted the need for strengthening regional cooperation within the framework of integrated management of shared water resources. It emphasized the establishment of a regional information center dedicated to sharing and exchanging climate and hydrological data. Additionally, the conference stressed the importance of creating national and international financing platforms to support smart water projects.

One of the key recommendations included integrating rural water and sanitation networks into the circular economy system. The conference also called for the adoption of artificial intelligence as a strategic national tool for managing water resources. It encouraged the localization of smart sensing technologies by promoting the production of low-cost, robust local devices.

The development of periodically updated interactive maps of water-vulnerable areas was proposed, alongside redefining drought as a sustainable structural phenomenon linked to environmental, climatic, and economic systems. The conference advocated for applied research in agriculture, particularly in fragile environments, and supported projects focused on rural women, marshlands, and youth in water management.

The conference urged the Ministry of Education to incorporate water culture into educational curricula and emphasized the necessity of developing a comprehensive strategy for institutional and legislative reform in various water sectors. A national guide to document experiences was also recommended.