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Writing & Research

Publications & Engagements

Research, policy contributions, and public engagements at the intersection of climate security, peacebuilding, and governance in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Authored & Co-authored Work

Practical NoteFeatured
August 2024

Upscaling peace-positive climate action and climate-informed peacebuilding: Lessons learned and ways forward

Authors: Nina Schmelzer (adelphi), Beatrice Mosello (adelphi), Caroline Kruckow (FriEnt), Nina Strumpf (FriEnt), Ammar Zakri (Peace Paradigms)

adelphi / FriEnt / Weathering Risk

This practical note captures 8 key takeaways on peace-positive climate action and climate-informed peacebuilding, providing recommendations for multilateral and bilateral donors, policy-makers, and practitioners. It addresses the critical gap in climate finance reaching conflict-affected communities — currently, 90% of climate finance targets middle-income countries, leaving fragile states with a fraction of the resources needed to adapt.

Climate SecurityPeacebuildingPolicyIraq
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Conference PaperFeatured
October 2025

Climate Change and Social Stability: A Comparative Study of Chamchamal (Sulaymaniyah) and Midaina (Basra)

Authors: Ammar Zakri, Dr. Jwan Bakhtyar

Scientific Conference on Environmental Balance and its Role in Peacebuilding, University of Mosul

This study examines the relationship between climate change and social stability through a comparative analysis of two contrasting Iraqi contexts — Chamchamal in Sulaymaniyah and Midaina in Basra. The research highlights how climate impacts are mediated by local governance, resource management, and social dynamics, arguing that climate-related risks are shaped not only by environmental factors but by how institutions and communities respond to them.

Climate ChangeSocial StabilityIraqGovernanceResearch
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Institutional Contributions

Research and policy outputs produced through Peace Paradigms and partner organisations, reflecting field work and analytical contributions.

September 2025

Toolkit on climate-focused mediation and dialogue: Insights from Iraq

Peace Paradigms / Berghof Foundation

A practical toolkit offering insights, examples, and key elements of an approach to addressing climate change-related tensions and conflicts at the local level in Iraq through mediation and dialogue.

Role: Institutional contributor (Peace Paradigms)
December 2023

Climate security challenges in Iraq: Entry points for local-level dialogue

Peace Paradigms / Berghof Foundation

An in-depth study examining climate change and its links to conflict dynamics across nine districts in Basra, Kirkuk, Al-Qadisiyah, Salahadin, and Sulaymaniyah.

Role: Institutional contributor (Peace Paradigms)
September 2023

Climate change effects on conflict dynamics in Iraq: Study of Makhmur, Tal Afar, and Al-Rifai districts

Peace Paradigms / Berghof Foundation

Field-based research examining how extreme weather events — droughts, desertification, flooding, and dust storms — are driving conflict dynamics across three strategically significant Iraqi districts.

Role: Institutional contributor (Peace Paradigms)
October 2024

Power-Sharing for Peace? Between Adoptability and Durability in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq

swisspeace / Swiss Network for International Studies

A multi-methods collaborative research project exploring the conditions under which power-sharing agreements are adopted and whether they can deliver durable peace and functional governance.

Role: Country Facilitator — Iraq (KIIs with senior political figures and MPs, FGDs with civil society and academics)
March 2026

Local Peace Processes: Comparative Lessons for the Syrian Context

Peace Paradigms

A briefing paper examining local peace processes as an approach to mitigating and resolving conflict, drawing on comparative experience from Iraq to inform policy and practitioner discussions on Syria's transitional context.

Role: Institutional contributor (Peace Paradigms)

Speaking & Public Engagements

Panels, roundtables, and conference presentations on climate security, peacebuilding, and governance.

Speaker
June 2024
Berlin, Germany

Promoting Peace through Climate Justice

FriEnt Peacebuilding Forum 2024 — Shifting Power in Peace

Expert interview and group discussion on how environmental peacebuilding can address injustices and conflicts to promote a just transition. The session examined power asymmetries, climate finance gaps, and the need for conflict-sensitive climate action in fragile states.

FriEnt (Working Group on Peace and Development)View event
Co-facilitator
June 2024
Berlin, Germany

Upscaling peace-positive climate action and climate-informed peacebuilding

FriEnt Peacebuilding Forum 2024 — Roundtable

A 90-minute roundtable discussion encouraging reflection and knowledge exchange on programming and financing peace-positive climate action, co-facilitated with adelphi and FriEnt.

FriEnt / adelphi / Peace ParadigmsView event
Panelist
20 September 2023
Online (Zoom)

Iraq and Somalia: Local responses to climate change

Berghof Foundation — International Day of Peace Event

Panel discussion on how conflicts caused and exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation can be locally managed, drawing on field experience from Iraq. Co-panelists included Dr. Beatrice Mosello (adelphi) and Sharif Abukar Ahmed (Berghof Foundation).

Berghof FoundationView event
Presenter
6–7 October 2025
University of Mosul, Iraq

Climate Change and Social Stability in Iraq

Scientific Conference on Environmental Balance and its Role in Peacebuilding

Presented co-authored research (with Dr. Jwan Bakhtyar) on the climate-stability nexus in Iraq, under the conference theme 'Together for Environmental Balance and Sustainable Peace'.

University of MosulView event
Facilitator
February 2025
Baghdad & Erbil, Iraq

Climate Security Roundtable — Governorate-Level Needs Assessment

Peace Paradigms / Berghof Foundation Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable

Facilitated and steered multi-stakeholder roundtables bringing together governmental actors to assess governorate-level needs for effective climate security responses, consolidating inputs into structured outputs covering coordination mechanisms and implementation priorities.

Peace Paradigms / Berghof FoundationView event
Session Lead
13 April 2025
Grand Millennium Hotel, Basra, Iraq

Strengthening Climate Resilience in Southern Iraq — Programme Launch

GIZ / Tearfund Programme Launch Conference

Led the opening conference for the programme ‘Strengthening Climate Resilience in Selected Climate-Security Hotspots in Southern Iraq’, funded by GIZ and implemented by Tearfund in cooperation with AGO and local NGOs (Al-Namaa Al-Akhder, Ozon, IGCO). The event brought together partner NGOs, local authorities, the Directorate of Agriculture, Directorate of Environment, Directorate of Planning, the College of Agriculture, and the Agricultural Association to present planned activities and discuss expected outcomes for Basra Governorate.

GIZ / Tearfund IraqView event
Trainer
2023
The Station, Iraq

Mediation Training for Civil Society Practitioners

The Station — Professional Training Programme

Delivered a structured mediation training for civil society practitioners at The Station, a leading professional development hub in Iraq. The training covered core mediation principles, conflict analysis frameworks, and practical facilitation techniques for community-level dialogue.

The StationView event
Participant & Advocate
2013
Tigris River, Iraq

Tigris River Flotilla — Environmental Advocacy Campaign

Waterkeepers Iraq / Nature Iraq Flotilla

Joined activists and environmental advocates in the Tigris River Flotilla, a landmark campaign to raise awareness about the threats facing Iraq’s river systems — including pollution, reduced water flow, and the environmental consequences of upstream dam construction. Spoke on behalf of Nature Iraq on the ecological value of the river and eco-tourism opportunities.

Waterkeepers Iraq / Nature IraqView event
Facilitator
2017–2019
Ninewa, Iraq

PRWG Mandate and Terms of Reference — Facilitation

Sanad for Peacebuilding — Provincial Reconciliation and Stabilisation Working Group

Facilitated the session during which the mandate and Terms of Reference of the Provincial Reconciliation and Stabilisation Working Group (PRWG) were agreed upon, a key milestone in establishing a structured multi-stakeholder platform for reconciliation and return in post-ISIS Ninewa.

Sanad for PeacebuildingView event