International Expert Symposium “Coping with Droughts”

Recognizing the importance of international collaboration to the development of effective drought information tools and the critical need for these tools in an increasingly water-stressed world, these expert meeting aims at creating a community of practice to support the development and use of drought information tools. This community will be embedded in regional networks, such as Aridas-LAC, the Center for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) and the UNESCO Global Network for Water and Development Information for Arid Lands (G-WADI), in close collaboration with the Columbia University Global Centers.
The expert meeting has the following objectives:

-Exchange on the state of art and knowledge gaps on drought information systems (indices, monitoring, alert, data management, risk management).

-Evaluation of the value of information and the effectiveness of existing information strategies from a stakeholder perspective.

-Derive demand for innovation (research / implementation) regarding drought risk management for different integrated information strategies.

-Develop integrated approaches towards effective drought risk management considering the regional characteristics (climate, hydrology, cryosphere, storage, water demands).

-Establish a community of practice (research-institutions-policy) on drought management with the aim to develop solutions and proposals.

Main expected outcomes of the meeting are:

-Improved dialogue between science, policy, public and private sector regarding the state of the art to assess and manage droughts in drylands of Latin America.

-Formulated and documented research demand and need for action in the field of drought management in the region through the establishment of Regional Working Groups and the development of a ‘Declaration on drought Management’.

-Joint project proposals for the region are drafted and envisaged in line with donor requirements and funding options for drought risk management.