Drought, which occurs in nearly all regions, has affected more people worldwide in the last 40 years than any other natural hazard. It is a complex natural phenomenon with varying levels of intensity, duration, spatial extent and impacts. Severe drought episodes have drastic socio-economic and environmental impacts, including, for example, loss of crops, massive famines and migration, natural resource degradation, and weak economic performance. Drought cannot be stopped and is difficult to forecast.
Its impacts can, however, be mitigated through the adoption of a proactive, risk-based management approach aimed at increasing the resilience of communities and societies and their capacity to cope with drought. The scientific findings of the project are delivered by UNU-EHS, in cooperation with the respective partners, through a series of webinars, online lectures and online courses.
Webinars are organized for a more strategy-oriented purpose so they raise global awareness about drought risk reduction and management and stimulate active dialogue and engaging discussion among project partners, relevant international organizations, scientists, students, practitioners, policy makers and the public audience. Online lectures are planned for a more content-focused approach that is based on didactic teaching for different groups of target audience.
GlobeDrought Webinar series is based on 12 learning blocks that will be delivered sequentially. Each learning block covers a topic with three activities including a Webinar, online lecture followed by facilitated forum discussion.