Drought Response and Resilience - Innovations in the Horn of Africa and Beyond

More than 20 million people in Africa are being directly affected by some form of drought at this very moment. Conditions remain stressed in the Horn of Africa following the 2011 drought and the Sahel Region of West Africa is currently experiencing the onset of a wide-spread drought crisis. In other regions, climate change is aggravating localized drought conditions outside of normal seasonal cycles. Vulnerable and at-risk populations are the most affected with drought often resulting in large migrations and displacement.

Fortunately, there have been major innovations in hydro-meteorological forecasting and disaster risk management which has helped certain communities implement better drought response and resilience mechanisms. 

In this online forum, we welcome an exchange on innovative ways Disaster Risk Managers are responding to drought (including geo-spatial mapping), combined with local cultural practices, to improve overall drought resilience.

Leads: Abdishakur Othowai and Jonathan Kamkwalala

Use of innovations in enhancing communities drought response and resilience - Prof. Laban Ogallo

Drought, Thresholds and Early Warnings - Roger S. Pulwarty PhD

Food Security and Resilience - WFP’s experience - Niels Balzer