"The future we want" - Iraq vision for Sustainable Development 2030.

This Iraq Vision 2030, of an empowered Iraqis in a safe country, a unified society with a diversified economy, sustainable environment, justice, and good governance, is a nationwide multisectoral document aiming at (i) creating a better future in which Iraqis enjoy the fruits of development without depriving the coming generations of their right to development, resources, and environment; and (ii) acting as a road map for implementing Iraq’s development goals over the following 12 years. The development can be achieved by building a diversified economy not wholly dependent on oil and in which the State plays an active role and the private sector leads the process as a crucial partner, contributing to economic growth and productivity, expanding the middle class, and providing job opportunities which generate adequate income for all to lead better lives. Focused on the principles of sustainability, justice, and good governance, the Vision identifies five priorities with quantitative, measurable, and implementable goals: (1) build man; (2) good governance; (3) diversified economy; (4) safe society; and (5) sustainable environment. In addition, it meets the UN sustainable development pillars: people, prosperity, planet earth, peace, and partnerships.
At the level of individuals, the document aims to (i) alleviate poverty; (ii) create decent job opportunities for all unemployed people; (iii) provide high-quality and inclusive education and healthcare systems; (iv) provide decent housing and end informal settlements. A diversified economy shall base on sustainability, oil sector efficiency, a strong private sector, a developed agricultural sector for food security, a developed infrastructure, and a well-governed financial sector. A safe society shall grant (i) a culture of tolerance, dialogue, and community peace; (ii) appropriate development of families, women, and vulnerable groups; (iii) values of citizenship while reducing the aspects of inequality; (iv) initiative and voluntary work; (v) sustainable solutions for displacement and internal and external emigration. And finally, for a sustainable environment the document calls for (i) reducing pollution and greenhouse emissions; (ii) efficient use of water resources; (iii) environmental conservation; (iv) developing consumption and production patterns to achieve environmental sustainability and prevent wasting resources through (a) environmental planning and sustainable cities; (b) modern irrigation systems and effective water management; (c) investments in soil desalination practices; (d) promotion of plant and animal species resisting climate change; (e) risk management frameworks for the agricultural sector to be applied in case of an unstable market and production; (f) environmental awareness about the current risks of consumption; (g) environmental standards in the feasibility studies for establishing new industrial projects; (h) environmental monitoring systems; (i) improvement of the public transport system; (v) protecting biodiversity and reviving the Mesopotamian marshes.
Since agriculture can provide most of the future job opportunities, the sector requires (i) more sustainable use and better management of water and agricultural resources; (ii) investments and operational links with other sectors to reconstruct the agricultural infrastructure, reform the lands systems, increase access to loans and enhance market mechanisms to rebuild small companies; (iii) easier access for young people, women, and men. Furthermore, Iraq needs to adopt new policies to stimulate productivity and food production, create new opportunities to diversify the farmer’s income and ensure alleviating poverty in the rural areas and make the agricultural sector a competitive one, results that can be achieved through (i) the government transformation from a market player to a market supporter; (ii) improving the farmers’ access to the final goods markets as well as to supply markets; (iii) improving food safety; (iv) and supporting the producers of the crops which are connected to food security.