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enhancing understanding of iraq through programs, research and advocacy
Iraq’s 2025 Election: Stability at the Cost of Reform?
by Erik K. Gustafson Iraq’s November 2025 parliamentary election, the sixth since 2005, took place in a country enjoying hard-won stability despite regional unrest. The voting process was peaceful, and in the final results published earlier this week, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) confirmed a significant jump in voter turnout nationwide. The election was not a contest of ideas or policies, but a high-stakes financial transaction that reinforced the power of an entrenched political class, systematically marginalized reformers, and left a majority of eligible Iraqis disengaged. This fragile calm, however, was punctuated by a campaign season that revealed the
#39: Can Drip Irrigation Save Farming in Iraq?
After a long hiatus, we are thrilled to relaunch the IRAQ MATTERS podcast, dedicated to exploring the issues that matter most to the people of Iraq. For our return, we shift the focus from the political headlines to a quieter, yet more existential, crisis: the growing scarcity of water that threatens the very cradle of civilization. In this episode, EPIC’s Executive Director Erik Gustafson speaks with veteran correspondent Winthrop “Win” Rodgers, author of EPIC’s new ground-level research report, “Making Every Drop Count: Can Drip Irrigation Save Agriculture in Iraq?” Win recently traveled across the farmlands of the Kurdistan Region, from the pomegranate orchards
SIX YEARS AFTER TISHREEN: NEW REPORT ON IRAQ’S POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR REFORM
Six years after the Tishreen uprising shook Iraq’s political establishment, the popular struggle for reform continues. In October 2021, EPIC published The Long Game, a groundbreaking study on the birth of this movement. Today, as Iraqis prepare to head to the polls on November 11th, we are proud to release our latest report, which answers a critical new question: What is the state of the pro-reform movement today, and what are its prospects for the future? This report by EPIC explores the current state of pro-reform civil parties that emerged during that period and assesses their strategies and outlook ahead
NEW REPORT: Finding a Solution to Iraq’s Water Crisis
Our new report opens on a farm near Halabja, where researcher Winthrop Rodgers watched farmer Khasraw Mohammed turn on the pump to his 16-meter well. Within minutes, the clear water turned cloudy brown. The well was dry, sucking up mud. “It’s disastrous for us,” Khasraw said. His story is becoming heartbreakingly common. Iraq is grappling with its worst water shortage in 90 years. Intensified by climate change and continental drying, the drought is threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the food security of 46 million people. In the cradle of civilization, the ancient practice of farming is at a precipice. But what if a
Six Things You Need to Know About Iraq’s Upcoming Elections
By Ahmed Ali On November 11, Iraq heads to the polls for its sixth parliamentary election in two decades. This vote will take place at a pivotal moment: regional tensions are high, the political system remains fragile, yet the country enjoys a level of domestic security not seen in years. The elections will decide whether Baghdad can confront critical challenges such as delivering reliable electricity and clean water, tackling chronic youth unemployment, rooting out systemic corruption, and navigating a changing climate. Here are the six critical dynamics to watch as Election Day approaches. 1. The 2025 Elections: A Litmus Test
Mid-Year Impact: Your Support in Action Across Iraq
In recent days, temperatures in Baghdad have soared to 118°F (47.8°C) as the power grid fails, Basra’s water crisis has left two million people facing toxic salinity, and militias are brazenly trying to undermine government authority. Yet amidst these trials, hope persists. In Sulaymaniyah, 27 orphaned and conflict-affected children are discovering creativity and confidence through our Summer of Hope program. In the marshes of Hawizeh, activists are courageously documenting ecological collapse. And across Iraq’s political landscape, new voices are preparing to shape November’s pivotal elections. Even in fragility, Iraq’s future is being written by dedicated activists, emerging leaders, and communities
Remembering the United Nations Sanctions on Iraq
By Shannon Raymond This week marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the invasion of Kuwait by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The invasion provoked outrage in the international community, prompting the United Nations Security Council to institute a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq with the stated goal of forcing Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait. Even after the U.S. and allies defeated Saddam’s military and restored Kuwait’s sovereignty during the 1991 Gulf War, the sanctions continued in order to pressure Saddam to abandon his weapons of mass destruction programs and fulfill other obligations, including paying war reparations and border demarcation with Kuwait.
Defend Our Title: Join EPIC’s Record-Breaking 5K Team for Iraq’s Kids!
For twelve years straight, EPIC has rallied supporters to turn compassion into action for Iraqi children. The Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF)’s annual 5K benefit run/walk has long been a key point of partnership between EPIC and ICF. Last year, we assembled a team of 54 supporters to demonstrate our commitment to Iraqi children, earning the title of “largest team ever.” This year, following our successful partnership with ICF on the Summer of Hope initiative, we’re rallying again on September 6 to show the strength of our continued partnership with this admirable organization. The annual “In Their Shoes” 5K Run/Walk attracts
The Summer of Hope is fully funded—thanks to YOU!
We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of our fundraising campaign to support the Summer of Hope program, providing educational enrichment for 25 conflict-affected children in Sulaymaniyah. Partnering with the Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF), we had a goal of raising $20,000 in order to make this dream a reality. In a time where U.S. aid to Iraq has all but vanished, leaving those who relied on this assistance with an unstable path forward, this goal seemed lofty, but all the more necessary. Ultimately, 84 valued supporters donated a total of $7,895 to the cause. Each and every contribution to
Iraq’s democracy at crossroads as parliamentary polls near
This analysis by Omar Al-Nidawi was originally published by Amwaj Media. As anticipation rises ahead of Iraq’s parliamentary elections in November, so is deep seated concern that the polls could upturn the fragile recovery of the economy and security situation. Despite the seemingly improved conditions in recent years, there are strong indicators of democratic backsliding in state institutions, with potentially far-reaching implications for regional security. The upcoming polls will surely test public confidence in Iraq’s fraught political system. They will also provide a bellwether for the prospects of reform that could address an ongoing political legitimacy crisis among elites. Amid the exit of international observers, and seemingly declining interest among global institutions, Iraq risks
Create a Summer of Hope for 25 Orphaned Girls in Sulaymaniyah
In two weeks, twenty-five orphaned and vulnerable girls—ages six to eighteen—are set to begin Artful Mind, an eight-week summer program at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS). But their summer of healing and growth depends on us. Led by AUIS librarian Halbast Khan and a team of faculty, staff, and student volunteers, Artful Mind transforms empty classrooms into a refuge of English lessons, art therapy, yoga, and life-skills workshops. For children who have known abandonment, displacement, or violence, these eight weeks can be life-changing—if we act now. Here’s the urgent truth: U.S. foreign aid for critical programs like this has been frozen. The ripple
New Video: “Foreign Aid—Fact & Fiction”
We are excited to share our new video, “Foreign Aid: Fact & Fiction,” featuring a discussion with Erik Gustafson, a U.S. Army veteran and Executive Director of EPIC. We address recent calls to shut down USAID and examine allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse, explaining how U.S. foreign assistance is regulated by laws like the False Claims Act. Over the years, you and I have witnessed the tremendous difference that can be made when Americans and Iraqis collaborate—even under seemingly insurmountable circumstances. This spirit of working toward shared interests lies at the heart of relations between nations. From 2014 to 2017, we