As we enter this season of reflection and giving, we are reminded of the unique community—individuals like you—that makes our work possible. From policy professionals and Iraqi Americans to veterans and humanitarians, you are the reason EPIC can stand for peace, government accountability, and climate action in Iraq.

The challenges we collectively face are stark. Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections entrenched armed factions within the government, threatening progress on human rights. Globally, the COP30 summit failed to secure a path away from fossil fuels, pushing the world toward dangerous warming.

Yet, in the face of these realities, our resolve is stronger than ever. Why? Because of what you help us achieve. Your support has sustained hope across the seasons—from our Summer of Hope program nurturing orphaned children to our current initiatives defending Iraq’s environment and democracy.

The stories below are about your impact on the ground. They show how your support fuels frontline advocacy, groundbreaking analysis, and tangible solutions for Iraq’s future. This is a report from the field, powered by you.

As GivingTuesday begins, we’re launching our critical year-end campaign. Thanks to a generous match, every dollar you give will be doubled, amplifying your impact for peace and sustainability in Iraq.

Read on, see what you make possible, and learn how you can double your impact.

Confronting the Water Crisis (with Waterkeepers Iraq)

EPIC is proud to support Waterkeepers Iraq, our frontline partner defending Iraq’s waterways. Their powerful “Vanishing Rivers” exhibition, funded by a grant from SGP-International, makes the nation’s water crisis impossible to ignore. It juxtaposes breathtaking archival footage of Iraqi Waterkeeper Nabil Musa kayaking vibrant rivers like the Qiliasan, Chaq Chaq, and Sarchinar a decade ago with stark photos of their now-dry riverbeds. This visual journey tells an urgent story of loss driven by climate change and human activity.

Since its launch in Sulaymaniyah, the exhibit has drawn significant attention, including a visit from the British Consul General, and has sparked crucial conversations with officials, universities, and the public. This work goes beyond raising awareness. Their monitoring network recently exposed major toxic oil spills, spurring a government crackdown on 11 illegal refineries. Simultaneously, we are piloting a mobile wastewater treatment unit—a tangible solution to turn sewage into safe water. This is the dual fight for Iraq’s future: raising a voice for the rivers and building a blueprint for a cleaner tomorrow.

Learn more about EPIC’s work with Waterkeepers Iraq

Elevating Iraqi Voices in International Policy

Just two weeks ago in The Hague, Executive Director Erik Gustafson was a featured expert at the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) annual Specialist Network Meeting on Iraq, briefing the EU’s top Iraq researchers on the country’s security landscape. His presentation, developed with Program Director Omar al-Nidawi, was well-received, and policymakers consistently praised our Iraq Security & Humanitarian Monitor (ISHM) as a critical resource. The trip also provided a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow featured experts, including Dr. Mélisande Genat, a leading authority on Iraq’s history and Iraqi tribal justice, and Hayder al-Shakeri of Chatham House.

The visit to The Netherlands also further advanced our Environmental Advocacy Program through in-person meetings with SGP-International’s Elise Abbey-van Doorn and with Salman Khairalla, a co-founder of our local partner Humat Dijlah. We discussed the progress of our collaborative projects, which include supporting the Iraq Health Access Organization (IHAO) to restore public air quality data for Baghdad’s 9 million residents after a critical U.S. monitoring program was terminated, Humat Dijlah in leading an anti-pollution campaign for the Euphrates River, and Waterkeepers Iraq in raising awareness through their powerful “Vanishing Rivers” exhibition.

This trip underscores a key part of our mission: ensuring that analysis rooted in Iraq’s reality directly shapes the understanding of international institutions. From Washington to The Hague, we are making sure the voices of Iraqis and the facts on the ground are heard where it matters most.

From NYC to COP30:
Elevating Iraq’s Climate Struggle on the Global Stage

During this year’s NYC Climate Week (Sept. 21-28), Executive Director Erik Gustafson brought the urgent reality of Iraq’s gas flaring crisis to a global audience. Following a screening of The Last Gasp—a short film inspired by the real-life consequences of flaring across southern Iraq’s Rumaila oil fields—he joined a distinguished panel that included James Turitto of the Clean Air Task Force, Mark Davis of Capterio, Sean Shonkoff of PSE Healthy Energy, and Maxime Beaugrand of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. Erik shared EPIC’s on-the-ground research, amplified the efforts of Iraqi environmental defenders, and connected Iraq’s local struggle directly to the global fight against methane pollution.

That message resonated as the world’s attention turned to the pivotal COP30 climate summit in Brazil. For Iraq, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, the summit’s outcomes were a mix of promise and peril. The country took important steps, securing over $20 million from the Green Climate Fund and submitting an updated national climate plan (NDC 3.0). The plan commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5% through national efforts, and by up to 22% with international support, by 2035. Yet, with global temperatures tracking toward a catastrophic 2.5°C rise, bolder action is needed. A coalition of 83 countries—from small island states to major economies—demanded a clear roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, the root cause of the climate crisis. Regrettably, Iraq, a petrostate whose people are already suffering from extreme heat and drought, was not among them.

EPIC believes that for Iraq to achieve true climate security, it must champion a just transition away from fossil fuels. This is an environmental imperative and the only viable path to a future where peace and prosperity are possible. From New York to the Amazon, we will continue to advocate for this vision, pushing for Iraqi leadership that matches the scale of the crisis.

Analyzing Iraq’s 2025 Election: An Unsustainable Status Quo Prevails

Iraq’s November 2025 parliamentary elections have concluded, reinforcing a political order that is stable for the elite but unsustainable for the state. While Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s coalition placed first, its 46 seats represent a weak plurality. The most grave outcome is the formal political entrenchment of what Iraqis call fasa’il (armed factions). As reported by EPIC Visiting Senior Fellow Ahmed Ali, the fasa’il now control 106 of the Council of Representatives’ 329 seats. This result was fueled by the most expensive campaign in Iraq’s history, rampant vote-buying, and an electoral law designed to marginalize independents. The reform movement has been crippled—the main independent coalition, al-Badeel, failed to win a single seat—and the populace is disengaged, with 60% of eligible Iraqis not voting. EPIC’s analysis provides a clear-eyed assessment of a system failing its people.

▶ Watch Our Special Iraq Briefing: Who Really Won Iraq’s Elections?
▶ Read Our Analysis: Iraq’s 2025 Election: Stability at the Cost of Reform

Strengthening Our Governance and Expertise:
Welcoming Zain Alabweh and Shivan Fazil to EPIC’s Board

We are thrilled to announce two exceptional leaders are joining our Board of Directors, bringing profound expertise that will deepen EPIC’s work at the intersection of climate resilience and governance.

Zain Alabweh, a climate resilience researcher at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, leads the Cactus Adaptation and Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) project, an international initiative fostering cross-regional collaboration for food security and land restoration. Her work expertly bridges indigenous knowledge, environmental science, and policy, making her a perfect fit for EPIC’s data-driven and community-engaged approach.

Shivan Fazil is a doctoral researcher in Political Science at Boston University, specializing in governance and conflict dynamics in Iraq. With over a decade of experience, his extensive fieldwork provides invaluable context for EPIC’s mission to drive change through evidence-based advocacy. He has spearheaded research initiatives supported by numerous international donors and institutes.

Zain’s and Shivan’s perspectives will be invaluable as we advance our mission for a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Iraq.

▶ Meet Our Growing Board and Team

‘Iraq Matters’ Podcast Returns with a Critical Look at Iraq’s Water Crisis

We are excited to announce the return of EPIC’s Iraq Matters podcast. Kicking off a new season, Executive Director Erik Gustafson speaks with field researcher Winthrop (Win) Rodgers about EPIC’s groundbreaking report, “Making Every Drop Count,” which he authored. In this compelling episode, they dive into the quiet crisis devastating Iraq’s farmers: a catastrophic drought fueled by climate change. Learn about the simple technology of drip irrigation that could save water and boost harvests, and discover the very real human and political barriers to its adoption. This is a conversation about resilience, innovation, and the fight for Iraq’s agricultural future.

▶ Listen to the Episode here or Watch on YouTube
▶ Read the full report: Making Ever Drop Count: Can Drip Irrigation Save Agriculture in the Cradle of Civilization?

A Critical Moment to Double Your Impact

The work highlighted above—from holding power accountable to piloting water solutions—is powered by this community. Your generosity has already created change this year, like the healing space of our Summer of Hope program for orphaned children. Now, let’s build on that momentum.

As we enter a season of global giving, we launch our Year-End Fundraising Campaign with a clear goal: to raise $20,000 by December 31st.

Thanks to two committed matching donors, every single gift made from now until the end of the year will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Your $50 becomes $100. Your $100 becomes $200. Together, we can turn $20,000 into $40,000 to enter 2026 with strength.

2x MATCH >> DOUBLE YOUR GIFT

Your tax-deductible gift, doubled in value, will directly power our 2026 work to:

• Provide essential analysis of Iraq’s new government and the ongoing struggle for reform.
• Equip Iraqi activists with data and tools to combat environmental threats.
• Amplify Iraqi voices in international forums, ensuring their struggles and solutions are heard.
• Produce groundbreaking research that holds power to account.

GivingTuesday (December 2) is a global day of generosity. It’s the perfect day for us to kickstart our year-end giving campaign. Join us and be part of this collective force for good.

We enter this period of political transition and climate urgency with determination. With your partnership, we can ensure the movement for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Iraq grows stronger.

Thank you for being part of our story.