Othman Kareem

Energy · Climate · Policy — Baghdad, Iraq

Othman Kareem

Also written Osman Kareem · Othman Ali Kareem · عثمان علي كريم

Othman Kareem is an Iraqi energy and climate policy consultant based in Baghdad. He helps governments and international agencies turn climate commitments into investable, conflict-sensitive policy.

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Portrait of Othman Kareem, energy and climate policy consultant

About

Othman Kareem is an Iraqi energy and climate policy consultant based in Baghdad. His work turns national climate commitments into investable, conflict-sensitive policy. He contributed to Iraq's first Climate Investment Plan with UNDP and the Government of Iraq, integrated climate-induced human mobility into the National Adaptation Plan with IOM, and helped prepare Iraq's COP28 negotiation handbook.

Recent work includes policy and legislative recommendations to end the open burning of waste in Iraq for the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and household surveys, stakeholder consultations and sector assessments for EBRD, IFC and the University of Birmingham. He writes on Iraq's energy, water and political economy for Chatham House's Kalam and the Enlil Center, and leads the Enlil Center's free weekly Iraq Policy Monitor newsletter.

Othman holds a BSc in Energy and Renewable Energy Engineering from the University of Technology, Baghdad, and a Professional Diploma in Public Policy and Leadership from the American University of Sharjah, and is completing an MA in International Relations at Liverpool John Moores University. He is PMP, PgMP and RIMS-CRMP certified.

  • Energy policy
  • Climate finance
  • NDC 3.0
  • National Adaptation Plan
  • Article 6 carbon markets
  • Water security
  • Energy transition in Iraq
  • Programme management

Selected work

  • UNDP · Government of Iraq

    Iraq's first Climate Investment Plan

    National Research Assistant on the plan (emission-reduction estimates, project databases, climate-finance training) and its technical investment report, Pathways for Climate Investment in Iraq (2025).

  • IOM

    Climate mobility in the National Adaptation Plan

    Integrated climate-induced human mobility into Iraq's National Adaptation Plan.

  • Government of Iraq

    COP28 negotiation handbook

    Contributed to the Climate Negotiation Handbook used in Iraq's preparations for the COP28 climate negotiations.

  • IGES

    Ending open burning of waste

    Led policy and legislative recommendations to stop the open burning of waste in Iraq.

  • EBRD · IFC · University of Birmingham

    Surveys and sector assessments

    Managed large household surveys, stakeholder consultations and sector assessments as national consultant and project manager.

  • Training & facilitation

    Professional trainer

    Designs and delivers training on problem solving, critical thinking, time management and peacebuilding dialogue.

What colleagues say

Othman served as the essential bridge between Iraqi national stakeholders and our international project management team, and the project's central output depended on his coordination. […] He would be a tremendous asset to any team working in climate and environmental policy, international development, or government engagement, and I recommend him without reservation.

Miho HayashiSenior Programme Manager, IGES / CCETManaged Othman on the IGES open-burning-of-waste project, Iraq

Anyone who has done fieldwork in Iraq knows that getting the right people in the room is half the battle, and Othman made it look easy. He has genuine access to and credibility with national counterparts, he delivered clean, well-organised data on time, and he bridged the gap between international project requirements and local realities throughout the assignment.

Rzgar BewaniInternational consultant, zero waste and circular economyWorked with Othman on the IGES project in Iraq

Othman is an exceptional leader with a clear strategic vision and the ability to translate that vision into practical, well-organized work. […] He has consistently built and maintained strong professional relationships with senior government officials, institutional leaders, and other high-level stakeholders.

Batool K. HamdiResearcher and political analystWorked with Othman on the EY MSME project, where he was Lead Researcher and Project Manager

He approaches every task with a thoughtful, analytical mindset and consistently delivers high-quality work, no matter how challenging the assignment. […] Othman is the kind of person who follows through on his commitments and genuinely cares about doing things the right way.

Maryam AllamiCountry Operations, IFC (International Finance Corporation)Worked with Othman as a client

Read the full recommendations on LinkedIn

Writing

Education & credentials

  • MA International RelationsLiverpool John Moores University
  • Professional Diploma, Public Policy and LeadershipAmerican University of Sharjah
  • BSc Energy and Renewable Energy EngineeringUniversity of Technology, Baghdad
  • PMP® · PgMP®Project Management Institute
  • RIMS-CRMP®RIMS

Contact

For consultancy, research, speaking or training enquiries: