In the Urmia basin, vulnerability context is depicted in water resources of this area as the starting component for policy process analysis through the sustainable livelihood and agriculture approach. The main reason for the focus on 3 elements (water, livelihood and sustainable agriculture) in this study was climate change which contributed to greater water stress and making people more vulnerable in the Urmia basin. The interactions of water, livelihoods and sustainable agriculture have shown that factors such as migration, social capital, business, development, existence level, food supply, health, minor industry, agriculture and services, income variation, variety of crops and horticulture, sustainability of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, crops and horticulture, livelihood security for poor farmers, cover crops, stability of quality, quality of water and soil resources, participation in planning, reduction of water and irrigation losses, reduction of evaporation losses (mulch), pastures regeneration, market security, access to food, environmental sustainability (quantitative and qualitative resources), sustainable livelihoods (sustainable production), development of technology and service activities, compatibility with changing market conditions, reduction of poverty, labor force diversity, job creation, equipping infrastructure, responsibility, investment development, insurance, allocation of resources, improving nutrition, water rights, water use culture are effective on water-livelihood-sustainable agriculture nexus.

Also interdepartmental cooperation in the Urmia Lake basin (Environment, Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Regional Water Company, Non-Governmental Organizations and Private Sector) with the aim of social participation and responsibility among all stakeholders, especially local communities to revitalize the Urmia Lake and carry out activities in three sectors of water, livelihoods and sustainable agriculture led to job creation, reduction of chemical inputs, and water savings in the field. As a result of training programs and capacity development on water-livelihood-sustainable agriculture nexus project, more than 80% of farmers had used the capacity development techniques. In East Azerbaijan, yield and water productivity were increased by 27.8% and 48.9%, and water consumption decreased by 25.3%.Also, in West Azerbaijan, water productivity increased 46.7% and water consumption indicator decreased by 29.2%. The yield decreased by 12.3%and 60% farmers in the whole of the basin were satisfied with their income received from their agricultural activities.