The climate, food, water and security nexus: Pathways to peace in the Middle East and North Africa

About this project

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces severe and growing water scarcity, which is being intensified by climate change, rapid population growth and political instability. These interlinked pressures have critical implications for food security, social cohesion and sustainable development, especially for women and youth who are disproportionately affected. While global research has explored the interconnections between food, water and climate, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these dynamics play out in fragile and conflict-affected settings such as those in the MENA region. The potential for climate-resilient food and water systems to contribute to peacebuilding and long-term resilience remains largely untapped in regional policy and practice. This initiative addresses these gaps by generating actionable evidence and fostering inclusive, cross-sectoral policy dialogues on the four-way nexus of climate, food, water and security. The project will strengthen national and regional capacities, with a focus on the specific needs of women and youth, and build alliances to promote integrated, context-sensitive responses to compound risks. The project aims to shape regional and global policy frameworks, strengthen resilience and adaptation strategies, amplify evidence-informed solutions through strategic convenings and enable cross-regional learning to advance peace, sustainability and inclusive development in fragile and climate-vulnerable contexts.

Published by

International Development Research Centre · Other public sector

Countries

Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan

Sectors

Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution

Focus

Gender equality · Also contributesEnvironment · Also contributesGood governance · Main focusClimate mitigation · Also contributesClimate adaptation · Also contributesDesertification · Also contributes

Published by International Development Research Centre to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), last updated 1 Sept 2026 and imported automatically. IATI identifier: XM-DAC-301-2-110903-001.

No updates yet.