The workshop aimed at guiding experts on developing automated impact-based drought bulletins that integrate multi-sectoral data. These bulletins will be aligned with the existing Eastern Africa Drought Watch platform hosted by ICPAC to ensure regional consistency, and will provide national data, forecasts, and analytical tools that support scientific accuracy and policy coherence.In addition, the training focused on empowering national experts to operate a multilingual, cloud-based communication platform called “Husika,” designed to bridge information gaps between government agencies and the local communities. The system is accessible through a mobile app, SMS, and web channels, and supports two-way communication, real-time alerts, and localized early warning dissemination. Husika supports widely spoken regional languages including: Amharic, Arabic, English, French, Swahili and Somali among others.The training was complemented by high level consultations with key policymakers and institutions involved in early warning and disaster risk management, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance drought resilience and strengthen Early Warning Systems (EWS) in the region.
The DRESS-EA project
The Horn of Africa is one of the most drought-prone regions in the world. Frequent and prolonged dry spells have deepened food insecurity, degraded ecosystems, and threatened the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and pastoralists. To confront these challenges, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa (GWPEA) and the governments of Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda, is implementing the DRESS-EA Project – Strengthening Drought Resilience for Smallholder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region.
