Topic Outline
Drought is the world’s costliest natural disaster and affects more people than any other form of natural catastrophe. Due to climate change and associated effects, the duration and intensity of drought is expected to increase in the coming decades. In order to address this pressing issue, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC), are collaborating to implement a UN-Water capacity development initiative on National Drought Management Policies (NDMP). The objective of this joint UN-Water initiative is to increase the capacities in developing countries and countries in transition on the development of risk-based national drought management policies.
The first four regional workshops were for Eastern Europe (9-11 July 2013), Latin America and the Caribbean (4-6 December 2013) Asia-Pacific (6-9 May 2014) and Eastern and Southern Africa (5-8 August 2014). The 5th regional workshop for Near East and North Africa (NENA) was held from 17-20 November 2014 in Cairo, and was attended by 34 representatives from the: Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic republic of), Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
The purpose of this webpage is to present the detailed contents of the 5th regional workshop.
1. Background Materials
2. National Reports
Algeria | Country Report | Presentation |
Egypt | Country Report | Presentation |
Eritrea | Country Report | |
Iran | Country Report | Presentation |
Jordan | Country Report | Presentation |
Mauritania | Country Report | Presentation |
Morocco | Country Report | Presentation |
Oman | Country Report | Presentation |
Palestine | Country Report | Presentation |
Sudan | Country Report | Presentation |
Tunisia | Country Report | Presentation |
Yemen | Country Report | Presentation |
3. Presentations
Session 1: Opening Session & Overview
Introduction to the FAO Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity
(Pasquale Steduto, FAO)
Overview of the initiative, objectives and scope of the workshop
(Daniel Tsegai, UNW-DPC)
Session 2: Setting the Scene
Keynote address: Managing Drought Risk in a Changing Climate: The Role of National Drought Policy
(Donald Wilhite, University of Nebraska)
Biodiversity and Drought
(David Coates, CBD)
Session 3: Drought monitoring and early warning systems
Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Systems
(Robert Stefanski, WMO)
Efforts of Integrated Drought Management Programme in the Horn of Africa (IDMP HoA)
(Gerald Kairu, GWP)
Session 4: Vulnerability and risk assessment
Vulnerability and risk assessment
(Sergio Zelaya, UNCCD)
Session 5: Drought preparedness, mitigation and responses
Drought preparedness, mitigation and response
(Mohamed Bazza, FAO)
Session 6: Towards action plan – Developing national drought management policy
Towards developing national drought management policy:
The 10-Step Process
(Daniel Tsegai, UNW-DPC)
Links to other Regional Workshops
International Kick-Off Workshop
Regional Workshop for Eastern European countries
Regional Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean
Regional Workshop for Asia-Pacific
Regional Workshop for Eastern and Southern Africa
Regional Workshop for West and Central Africa countries